About Barefoot

Barefoot was founded in Plymouth as an arts education charity in 1996 and for 12 years ran a city-wide arts festival for young people.
Barefoot shifted to youth work in 2013, the charity now runs its SpaceShot youth work programme in an increasing number of communities across NW Plymouth. The Barefoot staff of two are supported by a well-established Board of Trustees and the charity employs a dedicated team of youth workers who are supported by volunteers and youth work students on placement.
Long before Covid 19 appeared Barefoot recognised the needs of teenagers living on the isolated estates North West of the City and these needs became more acute with the decline of Council services for young people nationwide.
Barefoot made the decision to provide services directly and move to premises in Ernesettle.
From there we reinstated a youth club and created drop-in advice services as well as creative and sporting events and we're always keen to work with other providers in similar neighbouring estates.
Plymouth still has fragmented council and charitable youth services in various parts of Plymouth, but only Barefoot provides this concentrated range of activities and the commitment to expand to other areas through collaboration and the sharing
of resources.

Our Vision, Mission and Outcomes

Our Vision

Young people believe in themselves, feel safe and can take control of their futures

Our Mission

  1. To build trusting relationships with young people and provide a safe space to enable them to take control of their future
  2. To work with young people to break down barriers through activities, projects and events

Our Outcomes

  1. Young people feel more confident with more self-belief
  2. Young people feel safer
  3. Young people feel they have more aspirations and control of their lives and their future

Our Partners

From the beginning we’ve been determined that Barefoot works in genuine partnership with other groups and organisations, ensuring that involvement with any aspect of our work brings mutual benefit to all partners.
Over 24 years we have developed wide and evolving networks of partners encompassing many different sectors.

Current partners include: Ernesettle Community Forum, Whitleigh Big Local, Plymouth City Council Youth Service, Plymouth Octopus Project, Clarion Housing, Greenbank Youth Group, Bollo Brook Youth Club (London), Plymouth Community Homes, Ernesettle Community Forum, The Eddystone Trust, Exim Dance, FotoNow, Livewire Youth Project, the University of St Mark and St John, Ernesettle Community School, Marine Academy Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.