Listening to Young People

Last night I spent time with the young people and youth workers at Didcot TRAIN — a brilliant local charity that’s been standing alongside teenagers in the town for more than twenty years. It was an evening of conversation, laughter, and some sobering reflection. Above all, it was a chance to listen.

TRAIN exists to support young people who might be struggling — with school, with home life, with the pressures and expectations of the world around them. They do so through detached youth work, mentoring, drop-in sessions and practical support. Their approach is grounded in trust, built up week by week through simple, human connection.

I heard things I’ve now heard in nearly every Breakfast Conversation we’ve hosted across the county: that there are few places to go and even fewer where teenagers feel truly welcome. “We get moved on all the time,” one boy told me. “We’re not causing trouble — we’re just riding our bikes.” Whether it’s outside a shop, in a car park or near a play area, the message is often the same: you’re not wanted here.

The lack of youth-friendly spaces — especially indoors — was mentioned repeatedly. And while there was huge enthusiasm for sport and physical activity, the opportunities are patchy. Gyms don’t allow under-16s (or those that do are way too expensive), there’s limited access to pitches and courts, and even informal kickabouts are sometimes shut down by complaints. It’s easy to forget how small your world can feel at 14 or 15.

And yet, amongst the frustration, there was also a strong note of hope. The young people spoke with real warmth about the adults who make time for them. Youth workers, teachers, even the occasional police officer — people who don’t just tell them off, but ask them how they are. “It’s the ones who take us seriously,” said one young person, “the ones who bother to listen. They’re the ones who make a difference.”

What I took away from my visit to TRAIN is what I’m hearing everywhere: that early intervention isn’t just about services — it’s about relationships. It’s about trust, consistency, and giving young people the benefit of the doubt. We won’t always get it right, but we have to start from a place of belief.

Huge thanks to the team at TRAIN for the work they do — and for the reminder that listening is, so often, the best place to begin.