About Us

What we do at Trelya

Trelya is the Cornish word for change. We support children and young people from severely disadvantaged areas in West Cornwall since 2001. With an outstanding track record of engaging the hardest to reach children and young people, we can help to turn their lives around.

Trelya connects with children and young people through existing relationships in the community and through extensive detached youth work. We start by building relationships with children and young people on their territory, where they feel most comfortable.

Trelya has excellent staff, high standards and an undoubted ability to engage with very disadvantaged young people and make a discernible difference to their lives and aspirations.

National Youth Agency

Trelya also takes referrals from social care, schools, education welfare officers, youth justice and family services.

We motivate children and young people into a programme of positive activities where they can build confidence and self-esteem. This is the first step to achieving in education and employment. We also address issues such as drug and alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour.

Trelya means different things to different children and young people. For some, it is the only safe, warm place in which they feel at ease. For others it is a chance to enjoy exciting activities otherwise unavailable to them, like a trip to the beach or guitar lessons.

At Trelya, we want every child to be able to look back and say "people were there for me when I needed them", and "I had a lot of fun".

Trelya in a nutshell

• We are open six days a week, from 10am to 10pm.
• We offer a regular weekly programme of activities that young people can rely on.
• We give young people holistic support on all issues they might face such as substance misuse, homelessness, debt and sexual health.
• We never turn a young person in need away.

Trelya have the only photos of me as a kid, and it's me having a laugh.

Young woman, aged 15

Trelya was the place I came to when I needed help. I know everyone here – I wouldn’t have gone for help somewhere I didn’t know the people.

Young man, aged 16.