Young people are leading the charge to improve youth centres across Enfield, as the Council proudly relaunches its Young Inspectors Programme, a dynamic initiative designed to put youth voices at the heart of service development.
To continue the celebration of National Youth Work Week, Enfield Council is shining the spotlight on the power of youth participation, co-production, and active involvement in shaping services for their peers. The Young Inspectors Programme will continue to exemplify this commitment, giving young people direct influence over how youth centres and services are run.
The programme trains young leaders to independently inspect and evaluate youth facilities, providing constructive feedback and recommendations to ensure spaces are safe, inclusive, and engaging. It’s a key part of Enfield’s ongoing investment in high-quality youth work.
To kick-start the programme, young inspectors visited Ponders End Youth Centre on 13 November to take part in one of the first inspections under the new 2025 framework.
The visit forms parts of Enfield’s ongoing investment in high-quality youth work, which places young people at the heart of service improvement.
Councillor Abdul Abdullahi, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, attended the first inspection to discuss the findings.
Councillor Abdullahi said, “The inspections are being rolled out across youth centres including Craig Park and Ponders End, marking the start of a borough-wide quality mark standard for 2025.
“This commitment to youth participation sits within a wider vision for Enfield’s youth offer.The Council recently secured over £22,000 from the Better Youth Spaces Fund to enhance facilities across youth clubs in the borough, ensuring spaces are modern, safe, and reflective of young people’s needs.
“Together, these investments underline Enfield Council’s pledge to strengthen youth work, celebrate young people’s achievements, and keep their voices at the centre of local decision-making.”
This initiative is delivered by Enfield’s Youth Development Service, in partnership with Virtual Schools and the Service for Disabled Children. The Young Inspectors Programme brings together young people from KRATOS - a group of children in care who meet to improve services - Our Voice SEND, and Young Leaders.