Who We Are...
Who...
The Bell Tower was launched by individuals from local Churches, businesses, The University of Chichester and the Chichester Cathedral in response to government funded youth centres closing.
The charity is governed by a board of 6 Trustees working to support Project Manager Sam Harding who leads our team of staff and volunteer youth workers.
Our beneficiaries are local young people aged 11-17 who are welcome regardless of their background.
What...
The Bell Tower provides a safe place in the centre of the city between finishing school and parents coming home from work, where any young person can attend free of charge.
While attending, young people can engage in a wide range of activities. These include arts and craft, computer gaming, use of internet facilities, group based games, assistance with homework, ping pong and separate quiet spaces. Alongside the drop-in, we run a young leadership programme and a weekly evening meal/ targeted mental health support group.
All of this is facilitated by our team of youth workers, committed to providing a consistent and relational safe space, with a focus on supporting and safeguarding the wellbeing of the young people.
Sam Harding
Project Coordinator
Each young person we encounter have their own specific needs and challenges. Our commitment is to recognise each individual, make a connection with them and be there to support them, be it through long term relationship building and encouragement, or working to directly shape them through engagement in our more focused initiatives.
Please see our annual review page for our latest impact information, stories and stats.
Vision and Values
In 2024, to mark our 10 year anniversary, the Trustees and staff team worked in collaboration with some of our core beneficiaries to review and rewrite our vision, mission and values statment, based on their experience at the Bell Tower and how they think the charity should look in the future.
Vision...
A ‘Home Away From Home’; a safe, supportive and fun space for young people.
Our Mission
Our mission at the Bell Tower is to be a welcoming place where young people belong and are accepted. We do this by offering consistent, long-term and relational youth work, free of charge, in the heart of Chichester.
Values
Recognising the dignity of all young people, our values flow out of the consistent and radical hospitality we seek to offer. They are:
Compassion
Generosity
Kindness