Finding connections and opportunities in your local community
For all young people, community is important. Communities can give us new experiences, friendships and memories.
To you, your community might be a sports or arts club. It could be a local youth club or activities at your school or college. It might a community online with people who have similar interests to you.
Whatever community looks like though, it is a great way to meet new people, get involved with something you care about, and have new experiences.
Being in care can sometimes make you feel a bit different to other young people your age – and some of you may feel like you want to avoid getting involved in activities in your local community for this reason. Others of you may have moved around a bit and just not know what is happening in your local community or how to get involved.
Your foster carers, residential support workers, social workers, PAs, youth workers, teachers or participation workers are all willing and able to help you find a community to connect with or try out something new locally. Have a chat with them and they can help.
How to get involved
If you are under 19, then you might like to get in touch with Space, Devon’s Youth Service. They have several youth centres around Devon and even an online youth club. Even if you aren’t sure if a youth centre is your thing, the youth workers will be really happy to chat with you and let you know about other activities in your local area.
If you are a young person living in Exeter, Space and Young Devon run a project called Community Connectors that aims to overcome loneliness, anxiety and isolation and improve wellbeing. If you feel like you may benefit from this, speak with your GP first and they may recommend it for you.
If you are over 19, Pinpoint Devon has details of community activities and groups right across Devon. Devon Connect is another website that has a wide range of groups and activities happening in local communities across Devon. You can use these websites to find out more about what’s going on and how to get involved.
If you would feel more comfortable meeting with other people who have care-experience, then you can join in with activities by checking out @standupspeak on Instagram, or get in touch with Avocados Advocacy.
Youth workers in Stand up Speak up and Avocados are all trained to understand what it is like going through care and can support you to access activities in your local community if you need an extra friendly face to help you make those first steps!
