Building a social network of care

David Ditchfield, 'Yoof' platform specialist.

Warrington Youth Zone is blazing a trail to launch a new digital platform to support young people across Cheshire – with help from a local community fund.  

The Yoof platform will give children and young people a virtual space to connect with support, advice, activities and ideas created especially for them from charities across Cheshire, with access to qualified youth workers and counsellors only a click away when needed.

Young people will be able to access high quality social opportunities to develop their interests, friendship groups and support their re-engagement with education in a safe space curated and managed by the Youth Zone team.

To help bring the ambitious project to completion, the charity recruited a platform specialist with a grant from our Assura Community Fund.

The fund, led by the Warrington-based healthcare premises specialist, has now distributed more than £1.3m to health-improving projects in the communities across the UK. 

Dave Ditchfield, Platform Specialist for Warrington Youth Club, said: “YOOF was a really exciting idea that’s turned into a fascinating project. Content sharing sometimes doesn’t reach past your own traditional base so this is a real coup for Warrington and Cheshire organizations and their young people to get onboard and access YOOF. Coming at a time were engaging with children and young people about mental health and wellbeing after what we’ve been through is essential. With the content also created by the audience each of the YOOF members have a way to shape the platform."

As well as providing a space for young people to access content and connect with one another, Yoof will also offer a safe space for any vulnerable young people to get support if needed.

There is a feature on the platform which enables anyone who is feeling isolated or feels that they need support to reach out to qualified youth workers and counsellors which will be handled in a discreet manner.

The platform will allow children and young people’s organisations across Cheshire to expand their reach and support even more young people, sharing content which is age appropriate and easy to access.

Claire Rick, our Head of Public Affairs, said: “Members of our team were able to help in the development phases of the app so not only is it exciting to see it ready for launch, we’ve also learned lots about the power of digital to help different age groups access mental health support and to connect communities. We’re delighted that the Assura Community Fund has been able to support this project and look forward to seeing the app helping young people across Cheshire who’ve had to cope with so much over the last two years.”