Liverpool Youth and Play Service website

Street Mates

Liverpool Youth Service started the Street Mates programme in 2005 as a peer mentoring initiative. The programme recruits a group of 16-19 year olds each year who support children aged 8-12 into a range of positive activities and projects across the city.

Part of the role of the Street Mates is to promote positive relationships and children's participation.

The programme aims to:-

• Engage children in youth and play activities.
• Employ young people as positive role models.
• Increase young people's involvement in sporting activities.
• Provide advice and guidance to children.   

Liverpool Youth Service has received funding from Liverpool Children's Fund and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to operate the Street Mates programme.

Young people appointed as Street Mates take part in a dedicated training programme before the summer designed to equip them with the relevant skills for working with children, building relationships and running games, sports and arts activities.  

Case study - Hollie

Hollie is currently working at Croxteth Gems as a Streetmate, although she remembers attending the centre as a young person herself. Experiencing youth work first hand before taking part  in the peer mentoring scheme has given her an insight into how young people benefit, and the kinds of opportunities on offer to young people throughout Alt Valley.

 

 

"I first came to Croxteth Gems to meet other young people in my community. I had seen lots of them around where I live but only became friends with them when I started to attend the centre.

 

Since I first started coming the centre has undergone lots of changes and now it is even more welcoming to young people - everyone in the community knows that the Gems is somewhere to try new things, chill out or have a chat with youth workers and get advice.

 

I am now based at the centre as part of my Streetmate role, which has really helped me to feel part of a team and has given me a different perspective on youth work.

 

It's great to work with other young people as I feel like I can relate to them, whilst picking up new skills and having fun along the way."