Forum topic: A safe space for young people - Out of the Box

An update on O.T.B. and the Palmers Green Youth Provision sent to its supporters this week.

Dear All,

After 10 months of planning, meetings, attending training sessions, putting policies together, doing DBS checks, meeting amazing people who have become our volunteers and after receiving invaluable support from everyone in the local community, we are so pleased to announce that we are finally opening the Palmers Green Youth Centre this Friday for the first get together of O.T.B. from 3.30-5.30pm!

O.T.B. is the first part of the Palmers Green youth provision. O.T.B. stands for 'out of the box' and describes what we all know - we can't squeeze anyone, especially not young people, into a box or label them. Everyone is their own person; an individual with a story to tell; with hopes, dreams and aspirations and at O.T.B. we aim to be able to provide a space for all 14-18 year olds to come together, grow, take ownership and have fun in a safe environment! It's a preventative measure to get young people off the streets where they can feel vulnerable.

We are working closely with Enfield Council and have had a training session with them for our volunteers. Enfield will also provide 2 youth workers for the first year so we can work alongside each other and learn and grow together. All our volunteers are undergoing or have undergone a DBS check to comply with safeguarding regulations and to keep young people safe. We have also got a couple of volunteers who are working on applying for grants for us.

Once we are up and running, we will start our Life Skills alongside O.T.B. get togethers, where young people can learn important life skills from local volunteers, so those of you who have volunteered to offer a skills workshop - thank you! - we will be in touch soon!

The second phase of the actual provision will be the free-spirit mentoring, which will start soon. We have had an overwhelming response to our call-out for volunteers who would like to be trained up as mentors and we will be letting them know soon how this part of the project and the training will proceed.

The third phase will be a fortnightly support group for parents and carers of vulnerable young people who have got involved in gang and knife crime. This will also start as soon as we have trained volunteers to be facilitators.

When we were out and about telling people about O.T.B., we also heard from many parents that they wish to see a youth centre for 11-14 year olds, which we are exploring and hoping to open in the Autumn.

We have created an Amazon Wishlist which has already helped us get the many things we need. If you would like to take a look please find it here, there are still some items on there:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1A8J01GIQB8TR?

Please feel free to share our Wishlist with anyone you know might be interested.

If you are still interested in helping on a Friday afternoon and have not been in touch with us or attended any of the training sessions, please let us know by emailing .

If you know anyone aged 14-18 years, please tell them about us

We wanted to thank you all for your support, for believing in us, for your help, encouragement and for all the donations we have received. Without us all coming together, this project would not have happened.

Thank you very much from the bottom of our heart to all of you,

The O.T.B. Standing Committee

We were seriously looking forward to bringing the #OTB – Out of the Box Youth Centre to Palmers Green today, but due to the ongoing health concerns surrounding the Coronavirus, we are regrettably having to reschedule the opening until further notice as we know that this virus is spreading fast and we don’t want to open just to close again in a week or two or put anyone at risk.

We will re-assess the situation after Easter and will be in touch with all our helpers and volunteers soon.

We truly apologise for any inconvenience caused to the young people and volunteers.

Best wishes,
Rev Julie Coleman and Jenny Godfrey