Experiences of adolescent participation in community-based workshops designed to improve psychosocial skills: What are the key benefits?

The present study sought to explore the experiences of young adolescents who participated in a community-based workshop designed to improve psychosocial competence.  The workshop involved fourteen adolescent children aged between 10 and 14, who lived in socially disadvantaged areas of Liverpool, UK.   Focus groups were employed to assess whether participation in Skills for the Street workshops improved adolescents psychosocial functioning and personal development.  A number of themes were identified in the analyses including increased confidence, increased self-awareness admiration, and team building. These themes are discussed, and we argue that the findings attest to the benefit of community-based approaches for young people living in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the UK.