Youth in Romsey
Youth in Romsey runs a welcoming drop-in centre right by the sports facilities on Southampton Road, sharing the site with Romsey Sports Centre. The building gives young people a proper space away from school or home where they can turn up unannounced, grab a hot drink, play pool or just chat with youth workers who actually listen without judgement.
The core of what they do revolves around one-to-one advice and emotional support. Trained staff handle everything from family rows and mental health worries to sexual health questions, bullying or future plans.
Counselling sessions and play therapy sit alongside practical help like careers guidance or signposting to specialist services. Most of this comes free and stays completely confidential, which matters when someone finally plucks up courage to talk.
They also put on regular youth groups split by age, usually starting from around year 6 upwards, with separate evenings for different needs. These sessions mix structured activities with free time – think cooking, art, games consoles or outdoor challenges when weather allows.
For anyone with disabilities or extra needs, targeted programmes build confidence and work skills through weekly personal development courses. The Romsey Youth Council meets at the centre too, giving teenagers a direct say on local issues that affect them.
The charity itself began as a company limited by guarantee back in the late 1990s and gained registered charity status to create a safe meeting point with access to proper information and advice. Over the years it has grown into the main go-to youth support service for the wider area, including Totton and parts of the New Forest.
Funding comes through grants and donations rather than council budgets alone, so the team works hard to keep doors open for everyone between 5 and 25 (though day-to-day focus tends toward 11-plus).
Feedback remains strongly positive. The Facebook page rates highly with full recommendation from the handful of public reviews, and parent testimonials on the website highlight real differences made to young peoples self-confidence and wellbeing after difficult periods.