Space for teenagers to realise their goals

Project
Hot Chocolate

Funding
Around £250,000 a year, funded mainly by the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund, Children in Need, Inspiring Scotland, The Tudor Trust, and Creative Scotland

Background
In October 2001, church youth worker Alison Urie started sharing hot chocolate with teenagers congregating on the grass in front of The Steeple Church in Dundee city centre. They talked about what they could do if they had some indoor space. The following year the church set aside part of its building for youth work activities. The charity Hot Chocolate Trust was formed in October 2004.

Action
Hot Chocolate has a team of 10 staff, including seven youth workers, supported by about 25 volunteers.

Young people generally hear about Hot Chocolate from friends and start by going to “open sessions”, which take place three times a week and are each attended by 40 to 70 young people. They have the opportunity to take part in arts, music and sports activities or simply hang out with friends or talk to youth workers.

Young people’s conversations with youth workers can lead to one-to-one meetings or group sessions, offering more specific support and helping identify goals. Issues include career dilemmas, problems at home or school and mental health issues. Workers may refer some to specialist services, but continue to support them.

Director Dave Close says the project enables young people to build a community where they can “express themselves positively, try new things, and be someone different”, supported by youth workers connecting them with resources and services. “It’s that interplay of community, opportunity and support that we see making the difference in young people’s lives,” he explains. “Young people we work with are frequently very wary of programme approaches. We just commit to a relationship with them, rather than to fixing or changing them.”

Young people may engage with Hot Chocolate throughout their teenage years and beyond, dipping in and out as needs change. The organisation also offers accredited volunteering opportunities in its youth work team.

Outcome
Hot Chocolate worked with at least 300 young people last year, providing 321 one-to-one sessions for 63 young people and 51 group sessions for 60 participants.

Staff record observations after every session. Of 245 young people with these evaluation records, 164 displayed increased self-worth, 148 had increased self-knowledge and 166 improved social skills. Meanwhile, 120 had improved their ability to plan ahead and stick to goals.

The team supported 27 young people into education, 29 started employment, nine went into training and 43 into volunteering.

A further 55 were supported to remain in education, employment or training, overcoming barriers such as money, housing and family issues.