TESTIMONIALS

“I started attending Durham Area Youth when I was in year 8, I was a shy girl who had no confidence. I was also a girl with extreme struggles when it came to my mental health. Home life was difficult with parents who were no longer in love, school was no better with my anxiety and feeling no confidence to speak up and the friends I had weren’t supportive or a good influence on me. Attending sessions gave me a place to escape the negatives in my life but also understand them. With the help of the Youth Workers, I started to understand my emotions and how to turn them into a passion for helping others who were going through the same experience. I've had the amazing opportunity to go to so many fascinating places such as Yorkshire Zoo and learn the most valuable life lessons such as what I wanted to do career-wise as a young adult who is now in year 13. I’ve received volunteer awards for helping when I could over the 6 weeks which was a phenomenal experience being surrounded by fun activities and getting the chance to get to know the juniors better. I also received mental health training to help me pursue my dream of becoming a social worker. Durham Area Youth has helped me become the confident, independent and stable person I am today. They have supported me through some of the worst moments in my life and helped me get back up again when being knocked down, if you have a passion they will help you follow it out and if you need help they are there to support you. I could not recommend them more to anyone”.

“In October 2020 I was encouraged to attend Durham Area Youth sessions. Before I attended youth club I didn’t have many friends and was very shy nor did I have any self-confidence and would refuse to speak up. I’ve now been attending for around a year and a half nearly 2 years and I've had many opportunities from this including volunteering and being part of the new volunteer program which has given me a better understanding of youth work, why it’s important and helping other young people.
I have been elected onto the Youth Forum which gives me and many other young people a voice, I've also been able to achieve a mental health project and become a mental health ambassador through a project that we highlighted was an area of concern, I worked with staff and the Live Well North East team on this. My favourite highlights of youth club would be attending the sessions, in general, this is because I feel safe and comfortable and it’s given me chances to interact with more people and build up friendships. After attending youth club I've been able to speak up a lot more, my self-confidence has increased massively and I've made the best of friends and gained amazing experiences from this that I never thought I'd make due to staff and their encouragement, it has helped me grow a lot as a person and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them”.

“EG is a young person who joined Durham Area Youth in the Summer of 2022, they began by attending our summer holiday provision, and became a regular at the Monday sessions at West Rainton. Like a number of new young people who joined in the summer, EG has continued to stay involved with the organisation and progressed to become a key member of the West Rainton junior session. The Staff team has been extremely pleased to see EG come out of their shell and build positive relationships with other young people and staff alike, they have also consistently shown an enthusiastic attitude to getting involved and trying new activities.

At the end of 2022, EG even stepped up and volunteered as a representative of DAY at the Jubilee Hall Christmas Market, with a big smile and positive attitude they were a credit to both DAY and the young people of West Rainton. We look forward to working with EG in 2023 and seeing them going from strength to strength”.

“Before I came to Durham Area Youth I wasn’t very confident, I only talked to people who talked to me first and I kept my friendship circle small. I first came to Durham Area Youth as an 11 year old, just before leaving primary school. I came to the first ever session I was very nervous and quite shy. I met the staff and they helped and encouraged me to grow. Durham Area Youth has given me opportunities such as; making new friends and maintaining strong friendships, as well as opportunities to volunteer in a range of different sessions across Durham. I was nominated for NE Youth’s Young Volunteering Award and the Young Achiever Award for my support during the pandemic. I was the winner of the young volunteer of the year. I was elected to be part of the Youth Forum and last October I was elected chair this gives me a chance to identify needs and support more young people within my village and surrounding villages. My favourite highlights of youth club would be the trips, we get to discover new things and places across the northeast.

They give us the opportunity to make memories to last a lifetime. I have attended a range of different training courses such as mental health ambassador, peer mentoring, introduction to youth work and young reporters. As a person now, I have come out of my shell and become louder than I was when I joined, I'm able to talk to more people and make more friendships. I volunteered my time during the lockdown to help deliver food and activity packs to those in need. I think that Durham Area Youth has helped me grow and change in many ways by growing my confidence and helping me become a better version of myself”.

BS has been attending West Rainton Youth Club since 2025. When they first joined, they presented as reserved and anxious, particularly in unfamiliar environments and around new people. Their guardian was understandably apprehensive about them attending as BS is autistic. With consistent support from youth workers and a welcoming peer environment, BS has made amazing progress in a short period of time. They have grown significantly in confidence, becoming more comfortable initiating conversations and engaging in group activities; they have also developed positive peer relationships and meaningful friendships within the club. Beyond social development, BS has taken advantage of new opportunities that have broadened their experiences such as taking part in our cooking project. They have developed a range of new skills from attending our sessions and has even volunteered alongside staff at a community event demonstrating increased independence, responsibility, and community engagement. Today, BS participates fully in sessions and interacts confidently with both staff and peers; their guardian has shared how reassuring it has been to see them thrive in a space that once felt daunting.

AM joined Bournmoor Youth Club in 2023 and initially presented as a quiet member, attending regularly and engaging well in sessions. Over time, their confidence has grown significantly, and they now participate enthusiastically in activities and consistently contribute creative ideas for sessions and trips. Throughout their time at the youth club, AM has shown resilience and personal growth, developing strategies that have strengthened both their confidence and self-belief. With the support of staff, they have turned challenges into strengths and now actively encourage and support others, offering reassurance and advice to peers who may be facing similar experiences. In 2026, AM took the remarkable step of becoming a volunteer while still attending as a participant; they provide valuable support to staff during sessions and have also volunteered at wider community events. AM has become a strong ambassador for DAY; their initiative, creativity, and emerging leadership skills demonstrate exceptional potential, and we look forward to continuing to support and work alongside them.

EM has attended West Rainton Youth Club since 2022. While they do not attend every session, they make consistent and meaningful use of the provision, engaging positively with staff and peers whenever they are present. They regularly seek and engage in informal conversations with youth workers, discussing topics such as college, friendships and wider life experiences. These trusted conversations have supported their personal development and confidence, while encouraging active participation in a wide range of activities that happen within the sessions. In 2025, EM shared their concern about homelessness in the local community and with support from staff, this developed into a youth-led social action project. EM was one of two young people who planned, budgeted, organised and delivered care packages to a local homeless charity, demonstrating empathy, initiative and strong organisational skills. In recognition of their commitment and positive contribution to the community, EM achieved an AQA Unit Award. EM’s journey highlights the value of providing safe spaces where young people feel heard and supported; it also demonstrates that youth work is not defined by frequency of attendance alone, but by the quality of engagement and the relationships built.