Key Thoughts

Mental Health Awareness Week has come and gone, bringing important conversations about movement, mindfulness, and what it takes for young people to thrive. But if we want real, lasting change, we need to go beyond surface-level solutions—and start listening more deeply.

This year’s theme, “Movement: moving more for our mental health,” opened up valuable discussion. But for those of us working alongside young people, it also raised a bigger question: What kind of movement truly matters?

When a group of Year 11 students came together for their KEY+ Stage 1 project, they had one clear goal – to honour their friend Kye, who tragically passed away from leukaemia.

They decided to do something powerful in his memory: a charity football match that would raise money, bring people together, and celebrate Kye’s life in the best way they knew how.

The Wizards, a Stage 1 KEY+ group made up of eight sixth form students, set out on a mission to tackle food poverty in their local community. With big hearts and even bigger ideas, this inspiring group wanted to improve nutrition for those accessing foodbanks. Their plan? To create a budget-friendly recipe book packed with easy, tasty meal ideas.

At The Key, we believe that every young person has the potential to succeed - but too many face barriers that limit their opportunities. That’s why we’re proud to launch our new three-year strategy.  

Over a year ago, Lauren trained to become a KEY+ Facilitator and has been supporting young people at Newcastle United Foundation to take on the KEY+ Challenge ever since. Read her story here!

When Erin first took on the KEY+ Challenge, supported by NE Youth, she had no idea how much it would shape her confidence, leadership skills, and future plans. What started as a way to try new things with friends soon turned into a journey of personal growth, community impact, and new opportunities. Read more about her journey here.

We’re excited to launch our Youth Advisory Board and are looking for passionate young people to join! Find out more here.

We’re excited to announce that Well Done Visits are back for groups completing Stage 3 of the KEY+ Challenge! These visits are the perfect way to celebrate your group’s achievements, recognize your hard work, and hear about your journey.

Save the date! On Thursday, 10^th July, we’ll be heading to Newcastle Crowne Plaza again for an evening of recognition, inspiration, and celebration. With 10 awards up for grabs, there’s a category for everyone – so if you know a young person, facilitator, or project that deserves the spotlight, now’s the time to get nominating! 

This KEY+ group got stuck in, painting the shed, revamping the garden, and fixing up the benches to make the space more inviting for everyone. Some of them had never worked on an allotment before or had this much creative freedom in a community space – so they had to step up their game!

‘Care and Cup’s Society’ is a group of six young people who hosted a pop-up café at a residential home called ‘Little Sisters of the Poor.’ Their goal? To bridge the gap between generations, share stories, and bring some warmth to the residents’ day with good company and great conversation.

The Funky Flamingo's planned a group trip to an escape room alongside other volunteers from The Box. Not only was this a great opportunity to build problem-solving, communication, and time management skills, but it also served as a well-deserved reward for the hard work that the volunteers put in.