Seeing What’s Possible: Our Youth Project Visit to Canary Wharf Winter Lights
A big part of youth work is helping young people see what’s possible for them. When you’re living through change, uncertainty or the stress of forced migration, the world can start to feel very small. Everyday routines shrink horizons and future opportunities can feel distant or unreachable. At New Arrivals Support CIC, we believe that one of the most powerful things youth work can offer is exposure to new places, new experiences and new ways of imagining yourself and your future.
As part of our Ukrainian Youth Project, we organised a visit to the Canary Wharf Winter Lights, one of London’s largest free public art festivals. For many of the young people we support, this was their first time visiting Canary Wharf and their first experience of a large-scale cultural event in the city. Walking through illuminated docks, modern architecture and interactive light installations created a sense of excitement, curiosity and belonging that is difficult to replicate in a classroom or meeting room.
Youth work in London is not only about providing support; it is about widening perspectives. Many young people we work with have had their education interrupted, their social networks broken and their sense of stability shaken. Experiences like visiting Canary Wharf help young people feel more confident navigating the city, using public transport, exploring unfamiliar areas and seeing themselves as part of London’s social and cultural life. These moments quietly challenge the idea that certain spaces or opportunities are “not for them”.
The Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival offered more than visual impact. It sparked conversations about creativity, design, technology and careers, while also giving young people time to connect with each other in a relaxed and inspiring environment. Public art becomes a tool for reflection and self-expression, encouraging young people to talk, ask questions and imagine futures that extend beyond their immediate circumstances.
Our Ukrainian Youth Project focuses on wellbeing, confidence-building, integration and long-term resilience. We use creative activities, mentoring and real-life experiences to help young people rebuild trust in themselves and the world around them. Visiting events like the Winter Lights Festival is a simple but powerful example of how youth work can reduce isolation, build independence, and remind young people that their lives are full of possibility.
For New Arrivals Support CIC, youth work is about creating safe, supportive spaces while also opening doors to the wider world. By showing young people what exists beyond their daily routine, we help them realise that London offers opportunity, creativity and belonging and that they have every right to be part of it.