New website will help Youth Collective support more teenagers

A youth service that acts as a one-stop shop for teenagers in Brighton and Hove is hoping its new website will encourage even more young people to get in touch.

The Brighton and Hove Youth Collective co-ordinates a range of support services and events aimed at locals aged between 13 and 19, including clubs, advice groups and counselling sessions.

And this month it has launched its brand new website, www.brightonandhoveyouthcollective.org.uk, which has been part-designed by young people from across the city.

The collective is made up of eight well-known local youth organisations: Brighton Youth Centre, The Crew Club, The Deans Youth Project, Hangleton and Knoll Project, Tarner Community Project, The Trust for Developing Communities, Sussex Central YMCA and the Young People's Centre (YPC).

Back in October 2012 these groups changed their approach and while they still deliver the same youth work, they now do it collectively, sharing best practices and resources.

They are funded by Brighton and Hove City Council and work alongside the council's own youth service.

Now the hope is that by launching a new website, the collective will be able to engage more young people. Working with Brighton-based web design company Face Media Group, young people from the collective helped work on the look of the website, offering opinions on colour palettes, fonts, functionality, style and content.

Lisa Seymour, operations director at Face Media Group, said: 'We jumped at the opportunity to work with the young people that form part of the Brighton and Hove Youth Collective.

'The initial project meeting was engaging, enlightening and fun. Throughout the design and build of the website we encouraged everyone to have their say, so we could deliver something that worked for everyone. We are extremely proud to have been part of this project and wish them every success for the future.'

By using information from a survey held three months prior, the design team knew that digital media was one of the top three best ways to communicate with young people.

And the survey revealed the content they most wanted to know about was: 1) What activities are on offer; 2) Events they can go to; and 3) Local community activities in their area - all of which the site now hosts.

A group of young people gathered together to design and test the new website. Ashley Ridley, 13, who contributed to the website design, said: 'It was fun and enjoyable, a really great experience to be involved in. My greatest achievement to date and I'm quite proud.'

It was a sentiment shared by 14-year-old Ethan Storey-Davidson, who attends Dorothy Stringer School. He said: 'It was interesting, good fun and a good experience to be part of the learning and I'd love to do it again'.

The new website has lots of information about all of the groups, their location and what they have to offer young people.

It will also pin-point important youth services on offer, including counselling services, advice on sexual health education, training and applying for jobs.