The Services for Young People (SfYP) YouthZone Saturday Projects are safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces for young people to develop new interests and life skills, and access opportunities to improve their life chances.
Ten three-hour projects are running every Saturday for three 10-week terms between January and December 2026, equating to 900 hours of additional youth work. The projects are ‘open access’ meaning that all young people from the area around each venue aged 11-17 are welcome to attend – no booking or referral is necessary. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and care leavers can attend up to the age of 25.
The YouthZone projects focus on emotional wellbeing, informed choices, personal safety, exploitation awareness, and aspirations. Through interactive workshops and fun activities, including music, dance, sports and creative arts, our qualified Youth Workers help young people to:
- Develop essential life skills including decision-making, communication, and conflict resolution
- Learn techniques to improve their emotional wellbeing and build resilience
- Make informed choices and build healthy relationships
- Keep themselves safe from exploitation
- Increase their awareness of the consequences of substance misuse and antisocial behaviour
- Identify and achieve their aspirations
- Find out about opportunities in their local area, including other SfYP youth work projects such as youth councils, through which they can become active citizens and changemakers in their communities.
The young people are enabled to shape the content, delivery, and development of the projects at every stage. This level of involvement builds their confidence, leadership skills, and sense of agency, as well as promoting a sense of ownership and belonging. Providing a safe space for the young people to express their views also ensures that the projects remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to emerging needs.
The young people are also being supported to design and carry out their own social action projects which enable them to engage with their local communities resulting in long-term positive outcomes for everyone.
The 2026 spring term YouthZone projects are running every Saturday between 17 January and 14 March at these venues.
Baldock Community Centre, 11.30-2.30pm Simpson Drive, Baldock, SG7 6DH
Bishops Stortford Young People Centre, 1-4pm 14 Northgate End, Bishop Stortford, CM23 2EU
Borehamwood Youth Football Club, 3-6pm 82 Aycliffe Road, Borehamwood, WD6 4JW
Hemel Hempstead Young Peoples Centre, 1-4pm XC Centre, Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4JS
Pioneer Young Peoples Centre, 1-4pm Heathlands Drive, St Albans, AL3 5AY
Stevenage Young Peoples Centre, 12-3pm St George's Way, Stevenage, SG1 1XY
Waltham Cross Young People’s Centre, 12-3pm Stanhope Road, Waltham Cross, EN8 7DJ
Watford Young People’s Centre, 2-5pm 206-210 Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2EL
West Hyde Young People’s Centre, 11am-3pm Old Uxbridge Lane, WD3 9XL
Ludwick Family Centre, 12-3pm Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4PH
Young people can just come along to their nearest project - no booking needed.
The Million Hours Fund is a £19 million joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to deliver over a million additional hours of youth work in areas with high rates of anti-social behaviour. It gives young people more places to go and positive things to do.
