Youth services
Society Links drop-in City Base Youth Club sessions are somewhere for young people to relax and socialise in a safe and friendly environment staffed by qualified youth workers.
The City of London Corporation have commissioned SocietyLinks Tower Hamlets to deliver three weekly youth sessions and activities for young people from eight to 19 years old (up to 25 years old for those with SEND) in the City of London at Golden Lane Community Centre, Portsoken Community Centre and Iveagh Community Centre (Girls Group). An extra SEND Youth & Play Club takes place at Golden Lane CC from June to August.
For more information visit: SocietyLinks - City Base Youth Clubs - City of London Family Information Service
- Email: info@societylinks.org.uk
- Tel: 0207 702 0901
Who are we?
SocietyLinks works with the City of London Corporation to ensure that all young people who live, work, study or volunteer here have a voice in matters that affect them and that are important to them.
We work in collaboration with young people to deliver fun and practical programmes around social action, empowerment and youth issues.
We have been working in the City collaborating with young people across the City; empowering them to create change, and enabling them to realise their potential.
Who can get involved?
If you meet the following criteria, reach out today to get involved and make a difference:
- You live, work, study or volunteer in the City of London
- You are aged 11-19 (and up to 25 with learning difficulties or disabilities or a care leaver)
- You care about the future for young people in the City of London
Do you meet all 3 statements above? If yes, we would love to hear from you.
What can you get involved with?
Whether you want to improve the environment, reduce bullying, get involved with projects, make new friends or you see yourself as a future Prime Minister, there is a place for you in our Youth City Forum.
We want to utilise your skills and help you gain more!
The City Youth Forum is a group of young people who work together to make the City of London a better place to live, work and study for young people. The group is chaired by our Member of Youth Parliament and deputy, and our members set the focus and agenda.
We know that life can be busy. That is why how much time you have to offer is your choice. We have 3 levels of membership.
Youth Voice Consultant: (Time commitment: Around 30 minutes every 3 months)
We will call on you to ask you for your views and opinions on things that impact you and other young people. Answer our polls with as much or little information as you want. This option is best for those who don’t have time to attend meetings, but still want to have their voice heard.
Member of the City Youth Forum: (Time commitment: Around 4 hours per month)
Join our City Youth Forum as a standing member, attending monthly forum meetings and getting involved in change and social action to make a difference for yourself and all young people who live, work or study in the Square Mile. We sometimes meet in person or online.
Youth Leader: (Time commitment: Up to 6 hours per month)
Once you have been a member of the forum for a little while, you will have the opportunity to take on a leadership position. This will allow you to drive change about issues that are important to you and your friends and gain leadership skills and experience. If you are ambitious and passionate about improving the lives of your friends and other young people in the City, you could be our next Member of Youth Parliament.
What are the benefits of volunteering with City Youth Forum?
There are unlimited benefits of getting involved, as you drive the work that the forum delivers.
Benefits include:
- Have your voice heard by decision makers
- Great experience to add to your CV and application forms
- Earn Time Credits (which can be redeemed for cinema tickets, subscriptions and meals out)
- Gain demonstrable skills such as: negotiation, project management, leadership, campaigning, administration, marketing.
Why wait? Get involved now to start making a difference to the lives of young people in the City of London.
How to contact us
To find out how we can help you, contact us on the details below:
- Email: info@societylinks.org.uk
- Tel: 0207 702 0901
- Web: https://www.societylinks.org.uk/
This is one of the largest Scout Groups in North London with over 100 members. The group was founded in 1908 and is the only group within the boundaries of the City of London.
They are currently based near Aldgate and welcome young people of any faith aged between six and 18 into the group. Their website provides additional information for prospective members, youth members, leaders, parents and supporters of the group.
For more information, visit the 1st City of London Scouts website.
City YMCA passionately believe that every young person should have the opportunity to build a future of their own choosing. They provide accommodation to those made homeless and a range of interventions for young people in our communities.
Their holistic approach covers young people aged 12 to 25, of which 25% have left care and 15% run-away from home. The rest are either deemed at-risk from parents, are trying to divert from crime or have fallen on hard times.
They have been working with young people for the last 45 years, have housed over 10,000 and enabled another 20,000 to become meaningfully engaged.
For more information, visit City YMCA London's website.
Our Time is an all ability youth forum run for and by young people between the ages of 14-25 with special educational needs and disabilities. We welcome young people of all abilities.
Our Time was established in 2017 to make sure:
- Young people’s voices and their views are heard
- Young people gain new experience and skills
- Young people are able to make new friends and build their confidence
- Young people understand their rights in regards to special educational needs and disabilities
- Young people campaign for positive change
For more information, please visit: Tower Hamlets Local Offer :: Providers / Our Time Youth Forum (localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk)
UK Youth Parliament enables young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the better.
Open to 11-18 year olds that have been elected as Members of Youth Parliament by their communities, UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for young people to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning. Part of the British Youth Council's Youth Voice Programme.
elop Youth Mentoring service provides individual sessions to support LGBTQ+ young people aged 12-25 with issues and concerns relevant to their lived experiences. This could include a space and opportunity to:
- explore their LGBTQ+ identities
- develop strategies to build and sustain confidence and self-acceptance
- develop coping mechanisms for future coming out, or dealing with anti-LGBTQ+ hate
- gain increased knowledge and information on sexual orientation and gender identities and/ or LGBTQ+ rights.
- gain confidence to attend elop youth groups and events
- Allocated a LGBT+ mentor
Our LGBTQ+ youth mentoring is not therapy or a clinical intervention and should not be used as an alternative should either be needed. Instead, mentoring is more flexible, and an informal space for topics suggested by the young people themselves. Our mentoring service is free and can be held via phone or online via Microsoft Teams or a physical face-to-face service. Sessions are usually weekly for up to 6 months and last for up to one hour per session.
Youth Groups for LGBTQ+ young people aged 12-25. elop’s youth groups provide a safe, inclusive, and affirmative space to make friends, enjoy activities and share experiences with other LGBTQ+ young people. They run every Tuesday evening in Walthamstow, 56-60 Grove Rd, E17 9BN at the following times.
- 12-17s 4.30–6.30pm
- 15-25s 7-9.00pm
LGBTQ+ Youth activities and events programme. Any young person who has registered is open to our youth activities and events programme. This is free LGBTQ+ events such as board game cafes, meetups, bowling, films, LGBTQ+ specific activities
Youth Counselling: free for under 18s, or low-cost for over 18s. This is talking therapy with a counsellor.
How to register for an elop service for LGBTQ+ young people?
You can register by contacting us at youth@elop.org or calling 07720 461 158 (elop Youth line) and inform us of which services you’re interested in. Please also find the referral form in the Downloads section at the bottom of this page or click here.