Community projects

Safe Spaces consultation - March 2026

P4YE worked in partnership with Croydon Council to engage young people in conversations about what makes them feel safe, where they feel unsafe and what needs to change within their communities. The consultation provided young people with an opportunity to share their lived experiences, raise concerns and identify the places, situations and issues that affect their sense of safety. It explored their views on safe spaces, community environments, violence, antisocial behaviour and the support they would like to access.

About the project

P4YE partnered with Croydon Council to understand how safe young people feel in their communities and what would help them feel safer. The project recognised that young people are often directly affected by issues such as violence, antisocial behaviour, exploitation and feeling unwelcome in public spaces, yet their voices are not always central to decisions about community safety.

The consultation was developed to give young people a platform to share their lived experiences, identify concerns and influence conversations about creating safer, more inclusive communities.

What happened

P4YE engaged young people in the consultation activity. Boys and girls were separated into individual groups, creating opportunities for open and honest conversations about safety, safe spaces and their experiences of the local environment.

Young people were encouraged to:
- Identify places where they feel safe and unsafe.
- Share concerns about violence, antisocial behaviour and community safety.
- Explain what makes a space welcoming, accessible and inclusive.
- Highlight the support, facilities and activities they would like to see.
- Put forward ideas and recommendations for improving safety in their communities.
P4YE helped facilitate these conversations, ensuring young people felt listened to and able to express their views openly.

Outcomes & impact

The consultation created an opportunity for Croydon Council to hear directly from young people and better understand safety through their experiences and perspectives.

Key impacts included:
- Amplifying youth voice: Giving young people a platform to influence conversations and decisions affecting them.
- Identifying local priorities: Highlighting young people's concerns, perceptions of safety and aspirations for their communities.
- Informing decision-making: Providing insight to help shape discussions around safer spaces and community safety priorities.
- Building trust and participation: Strengthening opportunities for young people to engage with local decision-makers and influence positive change.
Ultimately, the project reinforced P4YE's belief that young people should not just be consulted about their safety – they should help shape the solutions.