A youth shelter is a structure designed to meet the social needs of young people - a sheltered place to sit and talk. Sports equipment could be included and a litter bin is often asked for to help keep the area tidy. The roof provides shelter from the weather, but most shelters are open on all sides, enabling all round visibility, ‘natural policing’ and safety for users. The most successful shelters are those that are linked to some type of sporting facility - these complement each other by becoming a place to go for both physical and social activity.