“A space of our own”: Sale Moor youth group gives young people a voice

Young people in Sale Moor are being given a space of their own – and a voice – thanks to a growing youth group that is quickly becoming a valued part of the local community.

The weekly group, which meets at Norris Road Community Centre, has been set up by Trafford Council in partnership with the Sale Moor Community Partnership. Supported by youth workers from the Council’s Talkshop Centre in Sale town centre, it offers a relaxed and welcoming environment where young people can spend time with friends, try new activities and access support if they need it.

Crucially, the group is shaped by the young people themselves.

“Our job is to give young people a voice and listen to them,” said Benjamin Atha, a young people’s worker at Trafford Council who helped set up the group. “There’s clearly a demand for these types of spaces. We don’t want it to feel like school. It’s voluntary, the young people choose how they engage, and if they ask for help or advice, we’re there.”

The group originally started at Sale High School before moving to Sale Moor Community Centre, making it more accessible to young people in the area. They now meet every Tuesday, with activities ranging from music-making and cooking to simply sitting and chatting.

“For some of the young people, this is the first time they’ve had a place locally where they can just meet up with friends,” Ben said. “It’s somewhere they can relax, chill out and feel comfortable.”

One young person attending the group summed that up simply, saying: “It’s the first time we have ever had a space where we can go and meet friends.”

Trafford Council youth worker Benjamin Atha

More than 25 young people are now regularly attending and Ben says one of the most important aspects is that they help set the agenda.

“Every week I ask them what they want the youth club to be about,” he explained. “We even ran a Dragon’s Den-style session where they pitched ideas on how to spend a pot of money on the space. That really brought out some clear young leaders.”

For Ben, that sense of ownership is central to the group’s success. “Sometimes young people can feel forgotten about. This is a trusted, safe space where their opinions genuinely matter. It’s important for adults to see the world through a young person’s eyes and gain a new perspective.”

The group is now looking to build on its early success, with plans to expand and to work more closely with the Sale Moor Community Partnership, including future collaboration with local artist and charity manager Jamie Rennie.

Cllr Karina Carter, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Babies, Children and Young People, said: “We are determined that all our children and young people get the best start in life. Youth groups like this are massively important to help young people find their voice and help them prepare for the next stages in life.

“It is a fantastic initiative and a great service to have in Sale.”

In addition to the Sale Moor group, young people from across Trafford can also access support at the Talkshop Centre in Sale town centre. The service provides a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space to talk about issues such as emotional wellbeing, relationships, education, money worries and housing, as well as offering group sessions and referrals to other services where needed.

For Sale Moor, though, the impact of having something local is already clear.

“They’re a great bunch of young people,” Ben added. “It’s genuinely a joy to work with them and I feel very lucky to be part of it.”