About Bury's Youth Service
Bury’s Youth Service helps young people across the borough to feel supported, included and inspired.
The team runs fun, friendly and safe sessions throughout the year in youth centres, local parks, and community spaces, giving young people a place to meet friends, learn new skills, and talk about what matters to them.
Led by Emma Russell, the team of dedicated youth workers are there to listen, offer guidance, and help young people build confidence and resilience as they move through life’s challenges.
Key services provided:
- Open access sessions: Youth clubs and activities in different areas of Bury, shaped by what young people say they want. Sessions include games, creative projects, sports and discussions about topics like wellbeing, relationships and online safety
- Targeted groups : Smaller sessions offering extra support for specific groups, including young women, LGBTQ+ young people, and young carers (with groups for different ages)
- SEND youth sessions: Inclusive activities and spaces for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, offering fun, friendship and understanding
- Onetoone mentoring: Support for young people who need someone to talk to about issues such as school, friendships, confidence or mental health. Referrals can come from schools, families or other professionals as part of the Family Help network
- Detached youth work: Youth workers also head out into the community, meeting young people where they are - in parks, town centres or local areas - to listen, talk and offer support with things like safety, relationships and local opportunities
Putting young people first
Every term, the Youth Service shapes its activities around what young people say they want to see. Whether it’s sports, games, art, music or open conversations, feedback at each session helps the team create safe spaces that feel enjoyable, relevant and welcoming for everyone.
As part of their ongoing support, the team also runs school holiday activities and summer trips to help keep young people active and connected during the break.
Highlights and achievements
The Youth Service continues to make a difference through creative projects and strong partnerships. Some of our recent examples are:
- Bury Pride 2025: The team supported over 80 young people and their families to join the celebrations, providing a safe, inclusive space to gather and celebrate
- “A Knife is a Life” film: Young people worked with the Community Safety Partnership and a filmmaker to produce a powerful film about the dangers of knife crime, now being shared in local schools
- The Vape Tree project : Young people helped tackle vaping awareness by collecting discarded vapes to create a sculpture with a local artist, now on display in the Elizabethan Suite
Empowering young voices
The Youth Service supports the Youth Cabinet and Changemakers, helping young people share their views, work with councillors and influence decisions about things that affect them.
Recently, Changemakers received awards from the Mayor for their campaign work supporting young people with SEND. The Youth Cabinet is also developing a new project to set up youth councils in Bury’s secondary schools - giving even more young people the chance to lead, shape change and make their voices heard.