Pershore Riverside Centre

Pershore Riverside Centre CIO (no.1156413) helps local young people to increase their personal capabilities, gain confidence, raise expectations and improve their prospects.

“Good youth work helps young people to have fun, while quietly supporting them to face their personal challenges and to be the best they can be.” Liz Tucker, Chair of Trustees

Continuity of support for young people (9-25) has been vital in 2020 as the pandemic exacerbated existing issues and created new ones. In line with NYA guidance, our experienced youth workers kept in contact through a combination of online quizzes and workshops; 1:1 mentoring and remote learning support; then face-face in small-groups (‘bubbles’), Walk & Talk sessions and a very carefully managed series of barbeques. Summer Activity Weeks supported keyworkers’ children and those facing holiday hunger.  Please click here to view our Covid-19 response

This year we have helped more than 50 young people to make a positive difference in their lives. Continuing and expanding this work to meet demand requires constant fundraising and promotion, bringing together our youth work expertise, the Centre’s amazing facilities and the wider Community. “As an adult, I realise what a massive impact the youth centre had on me and really don’t know what I would have done without it.” Click here to read more.

A genuine community resource, the Centre is also home to St John Ambulance Cadets, Wychavon Kayak and Canoe Club, and watersports provider Bonkers Activities. The spacious venue with a variety of rooms and onsite parking is ideal for local groups in the daytime. Once restrictions are lifted, our private, riverside field and decking will be ideal for family parties and larger groups at weekend.

As an organisation that supports local people, we community involvement from individuals and companies. If you can help in any way, eg mentoring, volunteering, gifts-in kind, please contact us.

We are proud of our venue and are keen to share it with local groups. For our venue hire rates and a booking enquiry form click here.

Can you help us to raise awareness of the need for our services to expand to meet increased demand, and to secure sufficient funding to ensure it is affordable to those who need it most?

Pershore Riverside Centre is run by a group of local Trustees, Centre Manager Abi, Lead Youth Worker Brad and a small, dedicated team of youth leaders and regular volunteers. We share a belief that every young person in Pershore should have the confidence and skills to achieve in life.

For many local people this is not the case, with a range of often complex issues lowering personal aspirations and reducing opportunities. Our youthwork team is passionate about supporting, motivating and engaging with groups and individuals to help them find a way through any concerns – while having fun and eating pasta! The purpose-built Riverside Centre provides a welcoming space, with time to think, away from school and home.

The team’s concern for young people and their families was seen through 2020’s lockdowns. From the start, 3 youth workers provided community outreach: collecting and distributing Fare Share food; supporting SEND families unable to leave their homes; counselling families in crisis referred through Here2Help; securing funding to make food packs for families experiencing holiday hunger. Alongside online youth sessions and 1:1 support.

Can you help to make a significant difference to someone’s future? We are seeking qualified and trainee youth workers for regular youth clubs; plus tutors and volunteers to provide learning support. If you can help please contact us.

We are also seeking volunteers from any background to help 16-25s seeking employment to raise their aspirations and broaden their career options. Can you offer life-skill sessions – cookery, art, plumbing, mechanics etc?. If you work locally, can you spare time to can talk to a small group about your job, show a young person around your workplace or even offer a work-experience placement? If you can help please contact us.

NB: For any role that involves working alone with a young person, we will need references and will fund an enhanced DBS check.

We provide a sociable place where young people aged 9-17 can meet peers in a relaxed space to talk about options, life choices and other issues affecting their daily lives. Youth workers are on hand to provide food and advice as required. These sessions are an easy starting point for individuals to access our smaller groups, offering more focused ongoing support, and also for the youth work team to spot emerging issues in this community.

Anyone wanting to join one of our youth clubs, or in need of other support, call or text the Helpline 07391 974790 or visit Brad at the Centre Monday-Thursday 10-5.

To meet current needs we are offering the following youth club activities, pre-booked small-group sessions and 1:1s:

• Practical ways to gain confidence and skills, through water sports, cooking, fitness, team sports and other life-skill sessions for 9-17 year-olds.
• Educational support and catch-up sessions for 14-18-year-olds, with laptops, supervision and tutoring as needed. Including the Prince’s Trust Achieve Programme for Pershore High School pupils.
• Mentoring and practical activities to inspire and encourage 16-25 year-olds to consider their futures, try new things and broaden their training or job opportunities, in partnership with local colleges and companies.
• Uniquely, access to weekly sessions with an independent councillor for young people with mental health concerns and in need of additional support.
• Opportunities to feel part of the Centre and the wider Pershore community, through events, fundraising and young volunteer programmes.
• We also host disability inclusion groups at the Centre and run projects involving local schools to bring the community together.

Group size and session times adhere to Government Covid-19 regulations. Our experienced Youth leaders, staff, volunteers and visiting healthcare professionals are all DBS checked and work within safeguarding protocols.

Can you help?  We are seeking volunteers who can support young people through life-skill sessions, companies that can broaden career aspirations through visits or placements and youth workers with relevant qualifications or experience for regular youth clubs.  If you are interested in working with us please contact us.

We are very much looking forward to seeing former user groups and new faces, after a very quiet year.

Pershore Riverside Centre sits proudly between Asda and the Leisure Centre. This is a unique venue for the whole community – with its own car park, disabled access, outside decking and a private field leading down to our pontoon on the River Avon. Three evenings a week the Centre is home to our youth groups; on another it hosts St John Ambulance meetings; on Sundays, sessions provide a short break for parents of children with additional needs.

As well as being a base for youth work, rooms in the Centre are available to hire on a regular basis, for occasional sessions or one-off events. The large hall and social spaces that accommodate youth clubs and drop-in sessions work equally well for yoga classes, choirs, table tennis or a skittles nights. Our new Community Room suits catch-up learning, as well as being perfect for crafters, reading groups and language sessions. The meeting room is ideal for small groups and, combined with adjacent decking, provides scope for summer tea parties or riverside evening events. Add in the private field leading down to our own pontoon on the River Avon and access to watersports then you can have the best family party ever …. Once Covid-19 restrictions are finally lifted!

Venue hire is a very important part of our business and an opportunity for local community groups to support local young people. All of the income received goes directly to support our work with young people so please help us to help them! 

During lockdown, trustees have worked hard to redecorate and re-equip the Centre, creating a bright, welcoming space for all to enjoy. To book a time to look round the rooms, please email Centre Manager Abi: lettings@pershoreriversidecentre.org.uk

April 2021

We are continuing to work with Young People and the Community following NYA safe working guidelines. We have adapted our ongoing support groups, targeted work and open-access groups – to time slots throughout the week.
Anyone wanting to join one of our youth clubs, or in need of other support text: Call or text the Helpline 07391 974790 or visit Brad at the Centre Monday-Thursday daytimes.

The Covid Year
Click here to read a review of 2020/21 activities & funding

Articles from The Pershore Times

• Restoring our hall
• NEW Parent & Baby Group Thursday afternoons
• Healthy Living Project for SEND families
• Opening our doors again in Spring 2021
• Providing continuous support for young people & families