Young People’s mental health was top of the agenda when Okehampton’s Member of Parliament recently caught up with Mike St John Cooper, Senior Youth Worker at Room 13 Youth Centre in Okehampton. Catering for young people aged 11-19 in the town and its surrounding villages, the centre, run by SPACE Youth Services, always has lots of activities on, with music, pool tables, cookery, game consoles and the odd weather-permitting BBQ in the garden.
But the centre is also important for young people looking for advice or support around sexual health & relationships, moving into employment or education and training – all of which can be discussed confidentially with qualified youth workers at the centre. Central Devon MP and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride spoke with Mr Cooper about this support and the role the centre plays in supporting young people with their mental health. This could be helping young people who have become more reclusive since Covid-19, working to build up someone’s self-confidence and esteem, or signposting a young person to more targeted support if needed.
Mr Stride said:
“Room 13 is a fantastic facility in Okehampton and it was very useful to speak to Mike about the support it provides. This could simply be providing a safe and enjoyable space to hang out or it could be helping with something that a young person is worried about.”
Mike added:
“We are here to help and all our sessions have spaces for anyone wanting to come and see what we’re about. All of them are free.”
The centre is open to young people in Years 8 and 9 on Tuesdays between 6.30pm and 9pm, to young people in Year 10 and older on Wednesdays between 6.30pm and 9pm and to young people in Years 7 and 8 on Fridays between 6.00pm and 8.30pm.
For more information email [email protected], telephone 01837 657601 or visit www.spaceyouthservices.org/okehampton-yc.
