We take a look at the new vehicle taking youth support to where it’s needed, with Barry Thomas, deputy team manager of Islington Council’s Targeted Youth Support service.

“You might have seen our brand new Youth Van parked up in a street or estate near you already. It enables our teams to offer support, advice and a friendly face to young people where they’re at in the community, who otherwise might never know about – and never access – some of the vital services they need.

“The van will generally be situated in a specific spot at a specific time and day. That continuity helps us build those relationships far more quickly. It’s got WiFi and a TV, so if we need to do a bit of work around CVs, we can have a laptop linked up, or just look up some information for young people there and then.

“It’s got a kitchen area where we can make some hot or cold drinks or provide a small snack. Sometimes we’re meeting the young people directly after school, so it’s a conversation starter: it’s social, it’s got radio and Bluetooth speakers, we can have a games console or board games in there.

“It’s really trying to drive home that we can bring the services to where they’re needed. For example, in the past we’ve had specialists come with us to talk about substance misuse, we’ve done sexual health screenings, we’ve had careers workers come on. So instead of a formal appointment being set up, they’ve accessed that advice right there on the spot, in a safe space in the community.

“Targeted youth services is a big part of what we do. For some young people with their situations – the trauma they’ve experienced, or additional needs and reluctance to engage with services – something like the youth van and detached youth working is vital. When the information’s in front of them, and you’ve got skilled practitioners engaging and liaising with them, they’re more likely to engage and understand it, more likely to give it a chance – and that’s when you can signpost them to other things, because they’re not wary anymore as to what we do and the professionals they can see. We can be that small bridge to get them to access services.

“We know that it’s making a difference. I was in a local café recently and bumped into a past service user who I hadn’t seen for probably five, six years. It was really rewarding – he remembered me and the work we did with him and what we were able to do for him more broadly as a service. He’s now a qualified electrician. You’ve got others that have also gone on to be successful, whether it’s hairdressing and barbering, working for London Transport, or working for the council, doing adventure playground work and so on. That’s all stemmed from us working with these young people in in their community, on their estates with the youth van.

“It levels up that playing field; we can reach them, we can target them, we can help them understand what it is we do and receive the support or access that help. And I think it’s done in such a unique and child-friendly way. It can help create an attitude switch, perhaps, so if they had a positive experience with the youth van, they’re more likely to be willing to access support services throughout the rest of their life.

“The van’s arrived just as we’re launching our new Youth Safety Strategy for the next five years. The van means our team can play a really important part in helping to steer vulnerable young people away from getting drawn into criminal lifestyles in the first place, with things like signposting to early mental health support and improving their sense of safety where they live and when they’re out and about in the borough.

“My colleagues in the council spent last summer listening to 450 young people about what it’s like to live in Islington and how we can make changes so they feel safer. So, the strategy is made for them and with them, too – and the van is a big part of that.”

Read more about the Youth Safety Strategy 2025-2030.