The Way Youth Zone is proud to launch its 2025/26 Impact Report, showcasing another year of life-changing youth work and highlighting the difference made possible by the generosity of supporters, partners, volunteers and staff.
The report reveals that 3,414 young people accessed The Way during the year, representing around one in 19 young people across Wolverhampton. Together, they created more than 41,000 moments of connection through activities, youth work support and opportunities designed to help young people thrive.
The report’s theme, “Because of The Way…”, shines a spotlight on the stories behind the statistics. From building confidence and making new friends to developing leadership skills and preparing for the future, the report demonstrates the positive impact that trusted relationships and professional youth work can have on young lives.
According to Paul Snape, CEO of The Way Youth Zone:
“2025/26 has been our year of refocus – a time to listen, learn and strengthen what matters most. We’ve expanded our reach, sharpened our offer and created more opportunities for young people to feel safe, confident and inspired.”
The report highlights a number of significant achievements from the past year, including:
- 3,414 young people calling The Way their place
- 618 sessions delivered to bring young people together
- 3,497 hours of youth work support
- 28,000 free meals provided
- 1,884 new young people joining the community
Young people have continued to benefit from a diverse programme of activities, with over 150 activities available each week across sport, arts and wellbeing. During the year, The Way also introduced new initiatives including Inbetweeners and Chill n Chat, helping more young people feel comfortable, included and supported.
The report also highlights the importance of targeted support, with 262 young people receiving mentoring or specialist support and 493 safeguarding concerns successfully managed by the team. Young people reported feeling less anxious (84%), more resilient (79%) and better able to manage their feelings (92%) as a result of their involvement with The Way.
Beyond the building, The Way’s outreach team continued to support young people across Wolverhampton’s communities, holding 1,816 conversations with young people and creating pathways into positive opportunities and support. Seventy-two percent of young people engaged through outreach later attended activities at The Way.
Looking ahead, The Way will continue its focus on refining its programmes, strengthening youth voice, developing employability pathways through TheWay2Work and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The publication also celebrates the businesses, organisations and individuals who support The Way as Patrons, recognising the vital role they play in making these opportunities possible for thousands of young people each year.
Speaking about the report, Paul Snape added:
“Every day, we see the difference this makes. Because of The Way, young people are building friendships, discovering new passions and becoming more confident in who they are.”
The full Impact Report 2526 FINAL is available to read now and offers a detailed look at the people, partnerships and opportunities helping young people across Wolverhampton to belong, grow and thrive.
