When young people from across the North East gathered for Youth Action Unlocked, one group from Middlesborough – calling themselves the Charming Brains – set their sights on a project to tackle the pressures faced in their local youth clubs. Their mission was clear: improve mental health and wellbeing by creating safe, calming spaces where young people could feel supported.

The group recognised that many young people often feel overwhelmed or overstimulated in busy environments. Without a safe outlet, this can sometimes lead to conflict or pressure. To address this, the Charming Brains designed therapy corners within youth clubs. These spaces would give young people a place to regulate their emotions, relieve stress, and recharge, helping them cope in healthier ways.

The funds secured through Youth Action Unlocked: The Hack were used to purchase the equipment and materials needed to set these corners up across four youth clubs in Middlesborough. Each club received its own calming space, ensuring the project had a wide and lasting impact.

But the project wasn’t just about creating spaces; it was also an opportunity for the young people to develop essential life skills. They took the lead on budgeting, decision-making, and organisation, while learning to work as a team and share responsibilities. By being trusted to control the project themselves, they grew in confidence, proving they could design and deliver something meaningful for their community.

Mia, one of the Charming Brains group members, explained why these corners are so important and how the comfy seats and fidgets in the therapy corners can help young people calm down when they are feeling stressed or angry.

The group’s facilitator also reflected on her experience as a facilitator: “Supporting them through it was really good because they all worked well together as a team, but even though they had disagreements… they all came together and eventually realised that we are a team, we need to do it together.”

She also highlighted the skills the young people gained: “Working together with them and communicating with them was a good skill. It was good to see them communicating with other people that they wouldn’t [usually].”

Alyssia, a young person who has benefited from the therapy corner, shared her experience: “I like that there’s a lot of fidgets; I like that there’s an area where you can sit down. It’s really relaxing and anyone who is very stressed can just come here and relax.”

For the Charming Brains, the therapy corners are more than just beanbags and sensory tools, they are a place where young people feel safe, understood and valued. By stepping up at Youth Action Unlocked, they demonstrated that when young people are trusted to lead, they can create spaces that truly transform their communities, building both confidence and lasting impact along the way.