One Year On: Teens & Tweens Home-ed Thursdays Prove a Success

One year after launching its ‘Teens & Tweens’ Home-ed Thursdays, Hailsham Youth Service is celebrating the success of the weekly sessions, which have provided a welcoming space for home-educated young people to meet, socialise, develop new skills and build friendships.

Sessions take place every Thursday from 11am to 1pm at the Station Youth Centre in Western Road, primarily welcoming secondary-age home-educated young people and their younger siblings.

Since their launch last year, the sessions have developed into a valued part of Hailsham’s youth provision, with regular attendance and a growing sense of community among those taking part.

The weekly drop-in sessions make full use of the facilities and resources at the Station Youth Centre, with activities shaped around the interests, ideas and needs of the young people attending. This flexible approach has enabled participants to have a genuine say in what they do, while providing opportunities to try new activities, develop skills and connect with others in a relaxed and supportive environment.

The sessions have also provided an important opportunity for home-educated young people to develop friendships and social connections with others in the local community.

“It’s fantastic to be looking back a year after launching Teens & Tweens and to see how much the sessions have developed,” said Deputy Youth Service Manager  Joel Cottingham. “What began as an opportunity to create an additional social space for home-educated young people has grown into a really positive and welcoming community.”

“The success of the sessions is down to the young people themselves. They have helped shape what Teens & Tweens has become, telling us what they enjoy, suggesting activities and bringing their own interests and ideas into the sessions. That sense of ownership is incredibly important.”

“We’ve seen friendships develop, young people become more confident, and participants try activities and experiences they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to explore. For us, that is exactly what good youth provision should be about – creating a safe and supportive environment where young people can be themselves, have fun, build relationships and develop new skills.”

“We are very proud of what has been achieved over the past year and grateful to the young people, parents and carers who have supported the sessions. It’s been wonderful to see Teens & Tweens become an established part of our weekly programme.”

Cllr Anne Marie Ricketts, Chair of the Town Council’s Communities Committee added: “The first year of Teens & Tweens has shown us just how valuable these sessions are to the young people and families who attend. There is a real sense of community within the group, and it has been brilliant watching that grow week by week.”

“One of the strengths of the sessions is that there isn’t a rigid programme. We listen to the young people and adapt activities around their interests, which means every week can be different. Whether they want to be creative, learn something new, play games, work together on a project or simply spend time with friends, there is space for them to get involved in a way that suits them.”

“It’s also about much more than the activities themselves. These sessions give young people the chance to practise social skills, build confidence, make connections and feel part of a wider community. We’ve seen some really positive relationships develop over the past year, and that’s been particularly rewarding.”

“We’re looking forward to building on that success and continuing to develop Teens & Tweens so that it remains a place where home-educated young people feel welcome, listened to and valued.”

The sessions take place on the lower floor of the Station Youth Centre and are designed to provide a relaxed, friendly and inclusive environment for young people and their families.