What we do
Saturday Activities
These are run during term time on a Saturday. Activities we
offer include, bowling, games, craft sessions, trips and pizza parties.
If you wish to attend these sessions, please
get in touch to register with us and for full details of the session.
All welcome and all activities are completely free
‘Sessions are a fun place to hang out and meet new people, there is no judgement, you can just be yourself.’
LGBT+ and Allies Social Group
At ESY we run a social group for LGBT+ young people and allies. This group (The Mercury Club) is a safe space where LGBT+ young people and allies can come together in a safe and inclusive environment to relax and socialise.
For details of this session, please get in touch
Mental Health Support
At ESY young peoples’ mental health is a priority. We encourage young people to embrace the idea that it is ‘OK not to be OK’ and we have a range of mental and emotional health support available. This includes an ESY counselling service, drop-in mental health sessions at The Sir Robert Woodard Academy, group well-being sessions and online workshops for young people and parents/carers on improving and supporting mental health.
If you are interested in this kind of support, please get in touch
Youth Forum
All of our services and activities are planned in partnership with our youth forum, this group of young people helps us to make sure we are meeting the needs of local young people and that our work is relevant to them.
"It is a great group and everyone is included in everything we do. It's also good to be able to help plan what ESY does"
Detached work
ESY has a team of youth workers who undertake detached youth work sessions at the skate park, local parks and other
areas in Lancing and Sompting. We have a mobile provision van which we use to carry out this work and it provides a visible point of contact out and about in the community.
Our detached work forms part of a south coast violence reduction partnership and through this work we hope to safeguard young people at risk of county lines dealing and youth violence and provide a team of workers for young people to talk to on their own turf.
We are also there to support and listen to any young people who are worried, want to talk, or just need to warm up with a hot drink.
‘I enjoy seeing the ESY team at the skate park, they make us feel safe as sometimes the older young people can be a bit scary. I know if I tell them something I need help with, they will try to help us sort it out.’
School holiday activities
In the school holidays, although we do not run sessions, we still offer a range of activities including things like Crazy Golf, Sailing, Bowling, Beach Afternoons,
Theatre and Flip Out trips. We also hold Skatejam competitions at Beach Green Skate Park which allows young people of all ages to showcase their talents.
To find out more just
get in touch
‘The bowling was great this summer, the best bit was when the kids team beat the staff and won the game!'
Young Carers
In partnership with Sir Robert Woodard Academy, we run weekly young carers support. We have two members of the ESY team who meet with young carers to provide a supportive environment and on a confidential, one-to-one basis, to discuss anything that is troubling them.
We work with these young carers to try to build their self-confidence and ensure they know that they are not alone and that we will support them where we can. We also run dedicated Young Carers activities during school holidays.
To find out more get in touch today
“YC provides help and support for young carers who have had a bad week or month and want to talk about it but may not even know how to start. It is a safe space for 1-2-1 chats in a confidential, non-judgemental way.”
In the Community
We think it is important that young people feel part
of the local community and that the community gets to see all the good work young people can do.
ESY staff and members take part in many community activities including The Village Trails, The Community Garden, Space at the Table meal scheme, Remembrance Day activities, work with residential care homes, care packages for the homeless and of course the ESY Skatejam events.
To find out more or to tell us about your community project please
get in touch!
Space At The Table
In 2019 we began our Space At The Table project. This was originally a Coop local cause and through Coop members nominating us as their chosen cause, we raised £6639.
Since then, along with Lancing and Sompting Churches Foodbank, Lancing Tabernacle, St Michael and All Angels, St James the Less, Sompting Community Church, Lancing Art Club and Lancing and Sompting Lions, we have been participating in the scheme during school holidays, providing weekly hot meals for local families who would normally depend on free school meals during term time. The scheme also provided vouchers during the school holidays to families in need during the Covid Crisis.
Friday Bolt hole
A group for Year 6 to Year 11 aged young people. A great space to hang out with friends and make new ones in an informal and relaxed environment. Free snacks, games galore and a PS5 all on offer.
A great place to chat to peers but also ESY staff about anything and everything. Free to just turn up or contact us before hand with any questions you may have.
To find out more about Bolt Hole, please
get in touch.
3.15pm to 4.45pm term time only
What Parents Say
"Thank you for everything you are doing. I am so grateful for the support you are giving my daughter"
"It's so good that you guys provide all this [sessions] for free - my kids love it!"
"Being part of ESY has really helped my daughter come out of her shell"
"It's great there is so much on offer, sessions have really helped my son's confidence and helped him make new friends"
