From parks to cafes, shopping centres to the street, young people spend time in these areas more than most. Making these areas safe and empowering can change the way different generations cohabit Witney. The Station is a new detached youth service for the young people of Witney born out of discussions held with local authorities, youth groups and other organisations after a gap in youth support and provision was identified in 2023.
Detached youth work uses the principes and practice of informal education to engage young people in a constructive dialogue about their needs, interests, concerns, and lifestyles to support them in their personal and social development.
The charity Bright Futures Oxfordshire, an initiative of Witney Community Church, has been awarded a grant of £28k by Witney Town Council towards this invaluable service in Witney.
Jason Huffadine, a Trustee of Bright Futures Oxfordshire said,
‘Our focus is on making connections with and for young people enabling them to journey well in life. Detached youth work is like most other youth work except that it takes place in the areas that young people might identify as their ‘own ground’. Basically, we go to young people and encourage and support them. We are always on their side and provide a voice for them in the community.’
The Station is committed to four key outcomes:
- Positive formation of self
- Constructive behaviours
- Healthy relationships
- Greater confidence and resilience
You can read The Station’s five statements about how their detached youth workers support young people online at www.thestation.life
Detached youth work takes place in non-institutional settings –in the street, in parks, cafes, shopping centres, and other spaces young people have chosen to be. This makes it more accessible to young people and removes some of the barriers for those who are unlikely to attend building-based provision or cannot accessit for whatever reason. Detached work has the potential therefore to reach a wider demographic of young people.
The Station is up and running and made its debut at the opening of the town council’s wheeled sports park earlier in the year. A trained and trusted team of detached youth workers along with volunteers will be out engaging with young people and hope to build meaningful relationships as per the provision aims.
Cllr Owen Collins, Mayor of Witney said:
“Witney Town Council is delighted and proud to be able to support The Station in their detached youth work, which will be vital in supporting young people in our community.
Since the closure of many other beloved youth work groups, the need for expanded support has been evident, and we were thrilled when The Station came forward to step into the gap.
Young people are regularly stigmatised and demonised and, to be blunt, deserve far better – they have suffered the sharpest end of the Covid-19 pandemic, are routinely criticised for every choice they make, and face a greater set of pressures than most of us.
Without the crucial work of organisations like The Station, we risk an ever more detached, ever more unconnected generation, and I thank The Station and all who have supported them so far, for picking up the baton of helping these young people, for their own good and for the good of our entire community.”
Watch out for details of ‘KICK’ run by The Station which will offer free football sessions for all at the Witney ATP on Gordon Way throughout the summer holidays. We will be keeping you up to date with further detached youth works sessions planned for later in the year.
