Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) have grown in confidence thanks to the launch of a dedicated new local service.
Beth Mullins, manager of the Westbury and Warminster Youth Club, had noticed a reduction in opportunities for young people with additional needs over the past few years, so decided to create a dedicated service.
Beth said, “Having a child with SEN and working in the youth sector over the years, I have seen first-hand – as a professional and a parent – a lack of provision for SEN young people. This decreased even more post-Covid.
“I told anyone who would listen, with passion, about the need for SEN services. Mainstream youth club is something the majority of young people with SEN wouldn’t consider due to things such as noise stimulation and finding social environments challenging.”
Beth began to investigate funding opportunities to help make her dream of dedicated SEN youth club sessions a reality. She secured support from the Warminster Area Board and fought to ensure both Westbury and Warminster were included in the funding so that neither town missed out.
The SEN sessions launched earlier this year.
Beth added, “We’ve had some really positive feedback from parents. They’re grateful that we have given their children the same opportunity as those who come to our main sessions. The young people have made new friends and gained social skills they wouldn’t have otherwise.
“One thing we do find is that parents and the young people are anxious at first, as it’s a new experience, but as the weeks go on the young people feel more confident and the parents see a positive difference in their children.”
Beth first got involved with the Westbury and Warminster Youth Club eight years ago. She had read an article in the White Horse News with the headline ‘Youth club will close without volunteers’ and, being on maternity leave with a long-held desire to work with young people, she jumped into action.
Since then, she hasn’t looked back and has helped hundreds of children grow in confidence, alongside Youth Club staff, volunteers and supporters.
Beth added, “We are always looking for volunteers to help out during our term-time youth club sessions. Our SEN sessions are on a Monday in Westbury and a Friday in Warminster, from 4.45pm to 6.15pm. Our main sessions are Wednesdays in Westbury from 6pm to 7.30pm, and Thursdays in Warminster from 4.45pm to 6.15pm. We also do detached youth work in Warminster and run one-to-one mentoring in schools – both of which have volunteering opportunities.
“If there is anyone who would like to help but can only give a couple of hours a month, then why not support the charity and young people by becoming a trustee?”
The Westbury and Warminster Youth Club also hopes to enter several teams in the 2026 White Horse Soapbox Derby and is hoping to secure sponsorship from local businesses to make this possible.
To find out more, email: admin@westburyandwarminsteryouthclub.co.uk
