Giving young people their space - 5 June 2007
Young people need their space, and the South West Community Foundation is going to give it to them.
The newly established foundation is donating the money for a “mobile youth space” a custom-built caravan/trailer jam-packed with the latest sporting, musical and computer equipment designed to provide a range of youth activities.
Office for Children and Youth South West Senior Development Officer Deanna Giumelli said the trailer was presently being built and would soon be equipped and sent out to towns around the region.
“The aim of the mobile youth space is to provide fun activities in a positive environment,” Ms Giuelli said.
“We will be able to run workshops on making movies, have young people record their own CD’s or run a sports day from the youth space. It has been designed to be versatile so it can support as wide a range of activities as possible.
“It can also be used as a command post for events like Leaver’s Week or a mobile presentation area for workshops on health, education or training.”
The van will contain the biggest plasma screen on the market and will have an expandable annexe. It will also include an extensive information section to help link young people to a range of services.
Ms Giumelli said the mobile youth space would support youth events around the South West but that it will be especially helpful for smaller towns with limited resources for young people.
“It will be available for casual hire by local governments, community groups and youth organisations,” she said.
One of the first uses for the mobile youth space will be the Weekend Taste Tester Tour, which will see the van visit 12 shires, for 12 weekends over the next 12 months, thanks to funding from the South West Development Commission and other grants.
The taste tester will allow young people across the region to try out the space and experience what it has to offer.
The project will be managed by Jobs South West.
“I am delighted to be involved with the Mobile Youth Space,” Jobs South West’s Chief Executive Officer Posy Barnes said.
“It is an innovative project which will have a positive impact for young people throughout the South West”.
ENDS
Media contact:
Scott Maclean
Communications and Marketing