Silx Teen Bar Youth Project has been at the heart of the Blyth community since 1996, offering free support and activities for young people aged 11–25 through three core initiatives: Teen Bar, Employability Project, and the Detached Street Engagement Project.
Teen Bar
The Silx Teen Bar is a multi-award-winning project that provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for young people aged 11–19. Open four evenings a week (Monday to Thursday, 5:00–7:45 pm), we offer a wide range of free recreational and educational activities, all delivered by our team of qualified youth workers.
Activities include pool, arts and crafts, healthy cooking, team games, PS5 gaming, jewellery making, nail art, makeup sessions, and workshops on key issues such as relationships, drugs, and alcohol. Young people can also receive advice and guidance on any personal challenges they may be facing.
In addition to our weekly programme, we encourage young people to get involved in social action projects that benefit both themselves and the wider community. Past initiatives have included participation in the Blyth Town Carnival, local litter picks, and donations to food banks.
We also believe in broadening horizons—each month we organise at least one out-of-area trip, and during the summer holidays, we offer weekly trips or residentials. Wherever possible, we ensure these experiences are free or low-cost.
Employability Project
Running for over 15 years, our Employability Project supports young people aged 16–25 who are not in employment, education, or training. We provide practical, one-on-one support to help them overcome barriers and take positive steps forward.
Our drop-in sessions run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00–2:45 pm, staffed by experienced youth workers who offer support on a range of support including:
-
CV writing and job applications
-
Interview preparation
-
Budgeting and managing debt
-
Housing and benefits advice
-
Access to training and qualifications
Young people have free access to laptops, internet, and printing facilities during these sessions.
We also partner with Central Training to offer in-house CSCS training, where participants gain a CSCS card along with the IOSH Safety, Health and Environment for Construction Workers qualification. In addition, we offer a wide range of FREE online courses across various subject areas.
To help boost confidence and strengthen CVs, we work closely with local employers and providers to secure meaningful work experience and volunteering opportunities for the young people we support.
Detached Street Engagement
Alongside our centre-based work, our Detached Project involves outreach youth work three evenings a week. Our dedicated team engages with young people who may not access our centre, building strong relationships, offering support, and helping keep them safe.
We work closely with the local police, residents, and community partners to reduce anti-social behaviour and ensure young people feel valued, supported, and included in their community.
Our Vision
At Silx Youth Project, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. Through our holistic approach—combining recreation, education, outreach, and employability support—we empower young people to reach their full potential and play a positive role in their community.
(Updated September, 2025)
Registered Charity: 1118360
Silx Youth Project takes your privacy very seriously, you can access our data privacy notice here: https://www.silxteen.com/download/silx-data-privacy-notice/