find your space at cyz
We want all young people to feel seen, valued and heard; and whilst all of our Youth Clubs, projects and activities foster a sense of inclusion and belonging for everyone, we know that for some young people with additional needs, having a dedicated Inclusion Youth Club, offering a quieter and more structured session where parents and/or carers can also come along, makes coming to enjoy Carlisle Youth Zone feel more possible.
That’s why every Saturday morning from 10am to 12:30pm we run our Inclusion Youth Club! Our trained team of Youth Workers create a welcoming environment and facilitate a wide range of fun and engaging activities – think sports, arts, games, music, cooking and enterprise, all of which are designed to respond to young people’s needs, interests, and aspirations. For some, this will be the right Youth Club for them over the long term, and for others, it may be the introductory step needed to explore the wider programme of opportunities at CYZ.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT CYZ
Who can Come to Inclusion?
- it is open to young people aged 7 – 17yrs who have additional needs and who will benefit from a quieter and more structured Youth Club session including; disabled, learning disabled, and neurodivergent young people, young people who may be new to the area and need time to get to know others (for example young people seeking asylum or young people who are Looked After), and young people who are experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety
- it is also open to young adults aged 18 – 24yrs with special educational needs and disability (SEND) who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- like in all our Youth Clubs, our team of trained youth workers are there to create a welcoming space for everyone and facilitate a range of activities in small groups. They will always make time to chat to and get to know individual young people attending, but they are not able to provide dedicated 1:1 supervision or support. Where a young person needs dedicated 1:1 support and/or supervision, they need to attend with a suitable parent or care giver
- Parents and carers are welcome (and specifically asked if needed), to stay at CYZ during Inclusion Youth Club. For some, this means being alongside their young person throughout the session activities and for others, this may mean being close by and available in the building if needed
- Our building has a range of accessibility features to support inclusion, for example there is a lift to all floors, accessible toilet facilities, a changing table (parent / carer must be trained in its use), a hearing loop and a sensory room.
what's the building like
Coming to a new place can feel daunting, especially a big space like Carlisle Youth Zone. Some times of the day are lively and full of energy, while other times are a little quieter. No matter when you visit, we want you to feel comfortable and welcome.
🔹 Quieter times: If you prefer a calmer environment, our space is usually quieter on Saturday morning 10am – 12:30pm. You can also contact us to find out the best time to visit.
🔹 Getting around CYZ:
Our building has three floors, but most activities for young people take place on the lower two. All areas are wheelchair accessible – there are ramps to enter and exit the building, and a lift to move between floors.
We also have:
- A disabled toilet
- A sensory room
- Hearing loops installed in various rooms around the building
- Staff trained to support young people with visual impairments
Staff wear CYZ T-shirts and lanyards so they’re easy to recognise. If you’re blind or visually impaired, we’ll make sure you get the support you need. When you arrive, a member of staff will greet you at reception and offer help if you need it – whether that’s a tour, guiding support, or just answering your questions. We’re happy to arrange tours ahead of your visit too!
What does a typical session look like?
10:00am – arrive at the Youth Zone, settle into the space independently, say hello and catch up with friends
10.20am – whole group welcome on the blue recreation area, where we share news and updates and we talk through what activities are on offer today
10.30am – first activity block – a range of activities on offer for young people to choose from and move between. Details and timings are displayed in pictorial form on our notice board. Free food is also available at this time in our café.
11.15am – change round
11.30am – second activity block – a range of activities on offer for young people to choose from and move between. Details and timings are displayed in pictorial form on our notice board.
12.15pm – whole group check out on our blue rec area, where we share our highlights from the session and celebrate our stars of the week, as well as think about what’s coming up next week
12.30pm – session finishes
