Grassroots

About us

Grassroots is the city centre youth project for young people aged 16-25.  Based on Charles Street for over 40 years we offer a range of services to young people including Information, Support and Guidance for young people many of whom are often in crisis.  Qualified, passionate Youth Workers are always available to offer solution focused interventions whilst always keeping the needs of young people at the centre of our practice.  We often act as advocates for young people with other services, ensuring that they receive their entitlements as citizens.

We offer a range of activities including music recording, creative sessions; life-skills, parenting support and work with a range of key partners including Housing & Homeless services; Health & Mental Health; Into Work Services; DWP; Leaving Care; Flying Start and partners in the criminal justice system.  We are also ideally placed to signpost and refer young people onto other organisations and services where appropriate.  We also offer an emergency food parcel collection service for young people in need.

If it wasn’t for the staff at grassroots I wouldn’t know where I would be today they have helped me a lot in the 9 years I have been going there and couldn’t thank them enough for all the support they have given my little ones and myself they are the most loyal and amazing professional staff around, they do everything in their power to make you fulfill your dreams and set you in the right direction like I said dunno where I would be without grassroots’ (Young Person)

Baby Roots

The group is for young parents 16-25 years which runs weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 14:30. (Due to COVID we are unable to run the group indoors, so we are meeting in the Castle ground on the same day and the same time every week)

We offer a wide range of support for the group, we also have other services who come in and offer positive activities, strategies and courses to help the parent’s progress, working through some of the difficult stages that arise while being a parent. Showing parents they are not alone in their journey, there are services that can support them too. 

Some of the important support we offer parents can be: Bonding, children’s behaviour, healthy eating, feeding, play, positive activities for the children to take part in, confidence building, friendships, positive relationships and we will also support them with education employment and training if they wish to move forward with this.

Aspie Roots 

The group is for young people with Asperger’s 14-25 years and runs on a Thursday evening 16:30 to 19:30 term time. (Due to COVID we are unable to run the group indoors, so we are meeting at an earlier time of 16:00 to 18:00 in the Castle grounds on the same day)

Aspie Roots remains the only place I have been where all the other people are like me and was the only place other than home where what control I did have wasn’t taken away from me. My point is, I was allowed to be me. Nobody lives in the shadow of anyone else at Aspie Roots and, as cliché as it sounds, everyone is equal (Young Person)

The group is very much young person led and we feel they should have a voice when it comes to the group. We have a lot of volunteers who were members of the group and wish to help other young people who join, how they were helped when they arrived.

Activities are positive trying to help young people to learn social skills, which they may not be confident in doing, such as: Board and computer games, socialising, sharing experiences, relationships, and basic skills such as cooking and we also have a meal together at the end of the evening which encourages conversations and friendship building.

Opening times

Monday               10.00am – 4.00pm

Tuesday               10.00am – 4.00pm           Baby Roots 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Wednesday        10.00am – 4.00pm

Thursday             12.00pm – 4.00pm           Aspie Roots 4.30pm – 7.30pm

Friday                    10.00am – 4.00pm