Working with our community

The Community Futures Project is Street Teams’ early intervention programme, providing practical, community-based support that helps reduce the likelihood of harm and builds resilience in children, young people, and families. It connects our educational work in schools with wider wellbeing, mentoring, and family support, all rooted in the local community.

We aim to make the community a safer place overall by working directly within local neighbourhoods, bringing communities together, and promoting integration and unity across all communities in Walsall. By combining early help with positive engagement and community-led initiatives, we create environments where children and families can thrive.

What the Project Involves:

• Resilience Workshops for Children and Young People — interactive sessions to build confidence, emotional wellbeing, and coping skills.

• Positive Engagement Activities — fishing, arts, gardening, sports, and other creative opportunities that promote wellbeing, teamwork, and self-esteem.

• 1:1 and Targeted Group Sessions (Primary School Age) — tailored support for children identified through our Enlighten education project in schools.

• Peer-Led Mentoring — empowering young people to support one another and model positive behaviour within schools and the wider community.

• Early Access Support for Parents — self-referral wellbeing workshops, alongside guidance on housing, finances, mental health, and parenting through partnership support.

• Community Awareness Campaigns — initiatives that raise awareness of local risks, strengthen safety networks, and foster community cohesion.

Our Approach:

• Rooted in contextual safeguarding, addressing risks in schools, peer groups, and neighbourhoods.

• Focused on early identification and prevention, supporting children and families before problems escalate.

• Strengthens community resilience by building connections, fostering unity, and promoting integration across all communities in Walsall.

• Promotes social justice and equality, tackling the underlying factors that increase the likelihood of harm.

By working alongside families, schools, and community partners, we strengthen protective networks and tackle the inequalities that contribute to harm. Community Futures reflects Street Teams’ broader mission — to create safer, stronger communities where all young people can thrive.