Last Friday, we did something that can feel surprisingly hard when you’re running a busy organisation: we stopped.
We brought together our full Youth Talk family – staff, clinical team, trustees and senior volunteers – and took time out from the day-to-day pressures to reflect, listen and think together. And it reminded us why moments like this matter so much.
Looking back with pride
We started by reflecting on the past year – not just what we’ve delivered, but what people feel genuinely proud of. From the growth of our clinical and fundraising work, to the way teams have supported one another through challenge and change, there was a strong sense of shared purpose in the room.
These moments of reflection aren’t about back-slapping. They’re about recognising progress, resilience and the quiet, consistent work that often goes unseen — but makes all the difference to young people who come through our doors.
Listening beyond the counselling room
A key part of the afternoon was sharing the initial findings from our 2026 Growing Up Survey. Hearing directly from young people about what it’s really like growing up today is vital – not just to inform our counselling work, but to shape everything we do as an organisation.
It sparked thoughtful conversation about what these insights mean for Youth Talk now and in the years ahead. Listening isn’t a one-off exercise; it’s a mindset. And it’s something we’re committed to embedding across our services, strategy and voice.
The realities young people are bringing to us
Our clinical team then led a fascinating and insightful session that gave the wider team a deeper understanding of both the challenges young people are bringing to Youth Talk and the psychodynamic counselling approach that underpins our work.
It was a powerful opportunity to step inside the counselling room – exploring how young people’s experiences, relationships and past histories shape what they bring to sessions today, and why time, consistency and relationship are so central to meaningful change.
For many in the room, it was a valuable reminder that what we offer at Youth Talk is not quick fixes or surface-level support, but thoughtful, relational work that allows young people to be properly seen, understood and supported over time.
These conversations weren’t abstract or theoretical – they were grounded in the real, complex realities of young people’s lives, and reinforced why depth of support matters now more than ever.
Ending with laughter (and a lesson or two)
We ended the afternoon on a lighter note with a brilliantly fun quiz on youth vocabulary and emojis – hosted by our fantastic ambassador, Grace George. Let’s just say… we all learned something. And laughed a lot.
It was a perfect reminder that connection, curiosity and a willingness to keep learning are just as important as expertise.
Why days like this matter
Stepping back doesn’t slow us down. It strengthens us.
Days like this help us reconnect with our purpose, learn from one another, build deeper connection and make better decisions for the future. They remind us that while the work is challenging, we are stronger together — and deeply committed to making sure every young person has someone to talk to.
We’re Listening. And we mean it.
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