Why Safe Spaces Matter for Youth Development

Understanding Safe Spaces in Practical Terms

A safe space is far more than just an area for young people to hang out. A safe space has established limits, shows respect towards one another, and helps young people feel like they belong. The result is a place where young people have the confidence to say what they want, think what they want, and do so without the worry of being teased or rejected. They will receive the attention and respect they deserve because they will know they matter.

In terms of practicality, a safe space should try to incorporate the following:

• Developing environments which have well-defined (fair) rules and policies that outline expectations regarding unacceptable behavior.
• Acknowledging and respecting diversity among young people.
• Recognizing emotional safety is equally as important as physical safety, with a focus on eliminating exposure to bullying, intimidation, and isolation from peers.
• Accessibility is another factor when establishing a safe space. A safe space should be accessible to ALL young people regardless of socio-economic status, family dynamics, etc. By providing access to safe spaces, you create a barrier-free zone where no young person feels excluded from accessing help when needed.

Promoting Openness in Safe Spaces

The primary function of a safe space is to provide opportunities for openness. Many times, young people cannot articulate how they feel about situations within environments that feel judgmental. The purpose of a safe space provides the opportunity for young people to express themselves freely.

Openness in expression supports healthy emotional development. As young people are given the opportunity to express themselves, they begin to process their emotions in healthier ways. They become better at identifying their own emotions, understanding why they feel certain emotions, and learning to respond appropriately to their emotions.

Additionally, creative outlets such as art, music, writing and drama are used to promote self-expression in environments that may be less intimidating than direct communication. Creative expression can be especially helpful for individuals who prefer non-verbal methods of expressing emotion.

Building Emotional Stability

Emotional stability is an important contributor to overall well-being and safety plays an integral part in its development. When young people have a sense of security, they are more likely to be able to manage their feelings and react positively to problems.

Young people who do not have a sense of safety may find that stress and worry overwhelm them. The negative impact of stress and worry on concentration, behavior and relationships can be extreme. Safety reduces some of the pressure that young people face, because it gives young people a sense of what to expect and offers them someone to turn to in difficult times.

Safe spaces offer young people consistency with routine and structure. Consistency gives young people a feeling of being in control of their surroundings. Access to supportive adults (or mentors) reinforces the idea that there will always be support available.

Repeatedly experiencing positive interactions within a safe space can give young people confidence to handle future challenges. Young people develop a belief system that says they can rely on other people and themselves to get through difficult times. A belief in oneself’s ability to manage adversity is essential to maintaining long term emotional health.

Building Confidence and Self-Worth

The development of confidence and self-worth comes through many small positive experiences that remind a young person of their worth and capability. Providing a safe space encourages young people to participate in various ways such as recognizing accomplishments, giving constructive feedback, etc.

When young people are provided with a safe space where they feel accepted and supported; they are much more likely to take risks and attempt new ideas or projects. These could include public speaking, participating in group work, pursuing new hobbies or interests. Every time a young person has a positive experience in which he/she takes a risk or tries something new; his/her confidence grows.

A very important aspect of building confidence and self-worth is allowing young people to make mistakes. Allowing young people to explore different experiences without fear of harsh criticism or ridicule creates a growth mind-set. Instead of viewing each challenge as a failure, young people view challenges as opportunities for learning.

Positive relationships between peers and adult supporters are key to helping young people identify their strengths and abilities, ultimately contributing to a greater sense of self-worth and independence.

Supporting Social Development

Social development is best promoted within safe space. In addition to providing a positive and structured environment for young people to engage with one another, safe spaces provide opportunities for young people to develop many important social skills; including communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution.

When youth engage with each other in a safe environment, it allows youth to be exposed to many different viewpoints and experiences. This promotes empathy and understanding. Youth are able to recognize and respect the diversity of others and understand the value of working together.

Participation in group activities is highly effective at promoting social development. Group activities whether through team-building events, group discussions, or group projects promote both teamwork and shared accountability. Additionally, group participation affords youth opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Additionally, safe spaces have the potential to assist in addressing social issues related to bullying/exclusion. When there is clear expectation of behavior and when youth are supported in supervisory roles (i.e., program leaders/mentors), it ensures that negative behaviors will be addressed and that all youth will feel valued.

Providing Support and Guidance to Young People

In addition to promoting social development, safe spaces can also serve as a conduit to provide young people access to support and guidance. These supports/guidance can take on many forms; including mentorship, counseling, or having trained staff members who are able to provide advice to young people.

Having trusted adults to whom youth can turn to during times of change and uncertainty is vital during the adolescent years. The existence of such an adult resource has the ability to significantly enhance how well youth navigate challenging situations.

In addition to serving as a source of support for young people, safe spaces often serve as a “doorway” to additional sources of assistance; which could be educational support, mental health support, etc. While safe spaces do not necessarily eliminate the need for external support systems, they can certainly reduce the barriers that prevent some young people from accessing such support systems.

Lastly, safe spaces provide support in ways that respect the autonomy of the individual. Young people are encouraged to make their own choices, but are provided with support that enables them to thoughtfully consider those choices.

Encouraging Identity Development

Adolescence is a very important time in life for forming your identity. During adolescence, you will be beginning to learn about yourself by exploring who you are, what you believe, and where you fit in. It is during this time that safe environments allow adolescents to safely engage in the process of learning who they are and expressing themselves as they grow.

A safe space or setting provides an atmosphere where young people are able to pose questions regarding their identity and express their thoughts while investigating various components of their identity. This is one of the most important ways for a young person to build a confident understanding of who he/she is.

It has been proven that acceptance is very significant when it comes to the development of a youth’s identity. When young people feel that they have been accepted for who they are, they are far more likely to have a healthy and positive image of themself. A positive self-image will lead to a greater degree of confidence on the part of the individual and better decisions.

Additionally, safe spaces provide opportunities for positive modeling. The exposure to a variety of individuals who support each other provides examples of possible paths and options for the young person to pursue in the future.

Promoting Long-Term Growth

Safe Spaces create lasting growth and opportunity in young people by giving them a place to grow and learn. Safe spaces provide young people with the ability to build a good outlook on life as well as help develop healthy and good relationships. All of this will be important in helping them navigate through the challenges of becoming an adult.

Safe spaces can increase educational outcomes. When children’s and youth’s basic needs (emotional and social) are being met they are more able to focus on their education and meet their educational goals. As they become adults, having had a solid educational base provides them with many future opportunities.

As well, safe spaces give young people a sense of ownership/responsibility in developing themselves into active members of their communities. Young people who feel supported by their community are more likely to actively contribute back to their community. In doing so, they are more likely to take on leadership positions, offer their time or energy to help other young people or to get involved in initiatives that promote the overall wellbeing of their community.

Examples of Safe Spaces for Youth

There are different kinds of spaces that could contribute towards youth development. Some of these are:

• Youth and Community Centers: Many local youth centers have organized programs, activities and mentors that create an opportunity for kids to interact with their peers and adult role models in a positive manner, creating a place to be constructive with their time.
• After School Programs: After-school programs are designed to provide supervision and support for children after the normal school day is completed. The goal of these programs is to integrate educational support along with social and recreational activities, providing a safe and engaging alternative to being left unattended.
• One-to-One and Group Mentorship Programs: Safe relational environments that encourage young people to ask questions, share concerns and receive encouragement are provided by one-to-one or group mentoring programs. In addition, mentors provide stability, and become positive role models.
• Team Sports and Recreation: Team oriented sports and recreation can be safe places for young people if the focus is placed on team work, respect, and growing personally, as opposed to winning competitions. Developing confidence and social skills in a structured format is another benefit of participating in team sports and recreation.
• Music, Drama, Writing and Visual Arts: Young people are able to develop creative ways to express feelings and thoughts through music, drama, writing and visual arts. For many young people, especially those who find it difficult to verbally communicate; developing this type of expression will be extremely beneficial.
• Religious/Spiritual Organizations: Many religious or spiritual organizations provide community support, direction and a sense of belonging. When inclusive, supportive and well-organized, faith-based organizations can provide a strong network of care for young people and families.

The Wider Impact on Communities

Safe spaces benefit both individuals and the broader community. Young people who develop positively will go on to build stronger and more stable relationships with others; and build stronger and more stable family units; ultimately contributing to a more cohesive society.

Safe space initiatives assist in resolving some of the social issues that many communities experience today. Many safe space programs assist young people to find alternative ways to deal with stressors which may otherwise lead to an increased risk of developing violent behaviors; and/or disengage from educational opportunities.

A community’s overall involvement in the establishment and maintenance of safe space is critical. Parents, volunteers, other organizations and even local government agencies contribute significantly to establishing and maintaining these types of environments. As each member contributes to the creation of safe space, this creates an environment of cooperation among members; fosters a sense of community; promotes a culture of care and responsibility.

Where Safe Spaces Shape Stronger Futures

Young peoples’ development relies heavily on the existence of safe spaces. These types of environments allow young people to be able to learn, express themselves and seek out support without being afraid. Safe Spaces promote emotional stability, increase self-confidence and encourage young people to grow socially and personally. Ultimately, they establish a solid base for a successful life.

In a world filled with greater demands placed upon young people than ever before, there has never been a time when the necessity of safe spaces was greater. Organizations within the community; schools; and families all have an obligation to work together to create safe spaces. It is through working collectively that we can assure every young person has the ability to achieve his/her full potential.