What is Streetbase?
Streetbase is a youth-led peer engagement programme designed to connect young people with positive opportunities and services, while also gathering their views to inform local policy. Originally launched in Southwark and later adopted in Waltham Forest, the programme is managed by the Young Advisors teams and Youth Independent Advisory Groups (YIAGs) in collaboration with local authorities and other partners.
Streetbase was developed to help reduce youth violence by building trust between young people and their communities. Streetbase has been delivered successfully in Southwark and Waltham Forest for a number of years.
How does it work?
Peer-led Patrols
Streetbase operates through street-level youth patrol teams made up of young people aged 16–25. Each team, typically consisting of four members with at least one lead aged 18 or older, engages peers in local areas where young people gather, such as parks or community spaces. Patrols usually last around three hours and take place 3–5 times a week.
Drawing on their own experiences and local knowledge, patrollers work closely with services like youth engagement police officers, community safety teams, and other agencies to identify “hotspots” where young people regularly spend time. This partnership ensures that patrols are both safe and effective in connecting with their communities.
Training & Safety
Patrollers receive training in safeguarding, conflict management, risk assessment, observational awareness and self-defense. This equips them to handle various situations and engage effectively with their peers .
Engagement & Data Collection
During patrols, Streetbase members gather information from young people about their age, postcode, interests, and suggestions for the borough. They also identify individuals who may be considered “hard to reach,” such as those with special educational needs, young carers, or care leavers. This data is used to signpost young people to appropriate services and to inform local decision-making.
Policy Influence
The insights collected through Streetbase engagements are shared with local policymakers, influencing strategies on issues like equality, diversity, inclusion, and community safety. For example, feedback from Streetbase was instrumental in shaping Waltham Forest Council’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy.
Sustainability & Impact
Since its inception, Streetbase has engaged thousands of young people, providing them with opportunities for personal development and connecting them to services that support their well-being. The programme has proven effective in reaching marginalized groups and has been integrated into various council initiatives, demonstrating its value in community engagement and youth empowerment.
Building real relationships
What makes Streetbase unique is the shared lived experience between patrollers and the young people they meet. A simple conversation can quickly grow into a genuine connection whether through shared parenthood, similar experiences in education, or overcoming personal challenges.
These connections often extend well beyond the initial meeting, with patrollers staying in touch, offering support, and sharing opportunities as they arise.
Tackling violence together
Streetbase understands that reducing youth violence is not the sole responsibility of young people — it’s a shared challenge for the whole community. By engaging directly in the spaces where young people spend time, patrollers can influence attitudes, present positive alternatives, and connect individuals with opportunities that steer them away from harm. This is especially powerful when the patroller has “been there” themselves, having experienced risky behaviour, social challenges, or even the justice system. Their insight can be life-changing for someone standing at a crossroads.
Moving forward...
Streetbase is entirely youth-led, and its strength lies in that authenticity. The model thrives when partnered with a wide range of organisations, agencies, and community groups. Since launching in various areas, Streetbase has gained both local and national recognition, been invited to speak at major events, and built strong cross-sector relationships. The aim now is to expand these partnerships further, ensuring young people continue to have a real say in shaping the communities they live in.
Bring Streetbase to your area
If you’re interested in running Streetbase in your area, contact us to learn how to set up a Young Advisor team and bring this proven model to your community.