About Us

Urban Circle Newport is a forward-thinking creative youth development charity helping to build, promote and sustain constructive community relationships and individual involvement using a variety of creative platforms.

Overview

Urban Circle Newport is a fully constituted charity organisation based within Newport City Centre. We are one of the biggest youth initiatives outside of Council led Projects in South Wales.

Since the onset of COVID, we have experienced increasing demand for our services as young people present with ever more complex needs for support. Meanwhile, the developments surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement have brought questions of race and social justice to the foreground. As one of the few organisations representing young Black and Asian people in Newport, we see it as our responsibility to facilitate the process of speaking out and challenging injustice. 

Our Organisation aims to help build, promote and sustain constructive community relationships and individual capability for young people living in the different areas of Newport. Also, helping build relations between these young people in different communities, across a variety of platforms from performing arts to creative media (music, dance and multimedia).

Opportunities for young people

• Creative youth engagement - by which we mean creative arts, youth work and life support

• Cultural education and advocacy - including education events, courses and activities focusing on race relations, disability awareness and activism

• Events and public engagement - incorporating festivals, gigs, digital events and social media.

Creativity is a lens through which all this vital work happens. It provides the inspiration and the hook for young people’s engagement. Each dance move, each line delivered and each photography taken is a moment that can spark a young person’s lifelong interest, curiosity or passion for a discipline which could one day become their career and livelihood. We harness this spark and nurture these young people along a creative talent pathway leading to qualifications, paid work and opportunities to make a difference in their community.

Young people’s stories

Dan

The difference Urban Circle has made to my life is undeniable. I joined the team in a heat of the moment decision back in 2017 and I’m still so glad that I did. From the first Summerfest to all of the shutdowns and gigs, I’ve had an amazing time and learned so much, become far more confident and experienced and am so thankful to the team. There’s some great times ahead for everyone who joins.

Corie-Mya

My journey with Urban Circle began when I signed up to help plan and organise events for young people. I attended weekly meetings where we shared ideas, chose roles, and worked together to create unforgettable experiences. I volunteered at events like Summer Fest, the Valentine’s Shutdown, and the Halloween Shutdown. Being part of this organisation from a young age has been amazing, as not many young people get these opportunities. Urban Circle has always supported me to achieve my goals and put young people first. That’s why I became an official member and now serve as the Welsh Translations Officer and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

Iesha

I’m Iesha and I’ve been part of G Expressions since I was 12, starting out as a shy dancer and now, at 23, I’m proud to look back at how much I’ve grown. Being part of the first generation of dancers gave me confidence, unforgettable memories of competitions and battles, and lifelong friendships. G Expressions has helped me develop not just in dance but also in creating content and organising events, while supporting my goals in music and film. To me, it’s more than an organisation, it’s like family, a space where young people can express themselves, gain opportunities, and truly belong.

Adam

I first joined Urban Circle when I was 15 years old and doing my sports leaders course- I wanted to be able to give young people the opportunity to do something positive, and get off the streets and into sports- And it went from that to Urban. I can honestly say urban brought me out of my shell when I needed it the most. They helped me perform at shows- the same shows that I had helped to plan with them such as Summer fest, Halloween and Valentines day shutdown and it’s that, that has boosted me to carry on making music to this day and I appreciate them so much.