Changes to Youth Clubs and Adventure Playgrounds in April 2022

About Youth First

Youth First has a contract with Lewisham Council to provide youth services in the borough. It includes youth sessions open to all young people that live, work or go to school in Lewisham.

Lewisham Council owns the Youth Clubs and Adventure Playgrounds where Youth First run sessions.

Why are things changing?

Lewisham Council started a new four year contract (maybe up to 6 years) with Youth First on 1 April 2021. It does not include sessions at Adventure Playgrounds, but it does require Youth First to run new targeted services. These include a new one-to-one programme and workshops focused on issues faced by young people.  Find out more at youthfirst.org.uk/targeted

The one-to-one service is a 12-week mentoring programme for young people. They work alongside professional youth workers, supporting progress in confidence, wellbeing, education and work. If you’re a young person, parent, or guardian, you can apply from 1 April 2022 at youthfirst.org.uk/121.

Youth First has a separate contract with Lewisham Council that pays for sessions at Adventure Playgrounds. Lewisham Council has extended this contract. It means sessions at Adventure Playground can continue for nine more months to December 2022. Lewisham Council are developing a Play Strategy that will help decide what happens after this.

What's changing?

Youth First has rearranged the teams and opening times at Youth Clubs and Adventure Playgrounds to deliver this new programme.

The changes to opening times and teams at Youth Clubs will begin from Fri 1 April 2022.

Due to staff changes, there may be some changes to adventure playground opening hours in April/May. The Adventure Playgrounds will run for two days a week (as they have the last 12 months) when they open again.

Youth Workers you are used to seeing might change, and some may work in different places. We encourage you to speak to your youth worker to find out what’s changing at your site.

Keep an eye on social media for updates and last-minute changes.

You can find the latest opening times at youthfirst.org.uk/lewisham/whats-on/opening-times.