Young people across the county have been inspired and encouraged to do more in their communities- thanks to one very special van.
Steve Dewar launched Wiltshire's Youth for Christ's (YFC) Pop Summer Up Youth Work initiative around five years ago.
After squeezing as many pieces of sport and game equipment in a mini school bus, he began a road trip that would come to last for years.
That mini school bus has now been replaced with a dedicated youth vehicle, complete with brightly coloured branding, that makes stops across the county.
Popup Youth van Devizes Youngsters study the Wii golf game prior to playing at the pop up Youth van on the Green at Devizes 67543 2
Provision for young people has reduced greatly as the years have passed, which inspired Steve to take youth activities directly into communities.
He said: "Around 100 different young people attended throughout the week and they loved the space, conversations and opportunities to do activities with others.
"This includes those that will be going to secondary school or connecting with other year groups. Three of the teens will also be joining Steve at an Area Board meeting to give a presentation on the Pop Ups and asking for the local authority to review and consider youth work provision in Devizes and across the county.
Steve Dewar with his pop up youth van on the Green in Devizes Photo by Trevor Porter
"Several of the teenagers also spoke to local councillors and expressed there ideas and frustrations at lack of provision.
"I believe many organisations are struggling to meet the increasing demand (both financially and practically) and support is very sporadic across the county with villages often forgotten. The Pop Up is one innovative way to address some of those needs but we know we can’t do it alone and need help from the council, businesses and locals to do more and we want to do it better."
Steve and other youth workers spend time speaking with young people, as well as playing games and sports. Teens even had a chance to scale a towering climbing wall.
Morrisons Community Champion Geraldene Hunt, neighbourhood PCSOs and local councillors also took the time to visit.
Despite torrential rain near the end of the van's week in Devizes, it was still a massive success as young people braved the overcast weather to visit the van. The van will make its way to Trowbridge in the coming weeks.
To find out more go to https://wiltshire.yfc.co.uk/
What needs to be done?
Earlier this year, Wiltshire YFC released their findings from a new report that stemmed from conversations with nearly 300 11-18 year olds from Devizes, Trowbridge and the surrounding village.
The study, funded by Wiltshire Community Foundation, looked to understand both the immediate impact and longer-term consequences that the lockdown, and Covid social restrictions, have had on the county’s younger population.
The charity suggests long-term negative impacts of the pandemic may be mitigated by placing greater emphasis on building and strengthening friendships, in schools and in the community, by parents having access to peer-to-peer support groups and training and coaching, and by young people having people to talk to, including 1-2-1 mentoring and coaching as interventions to prevent young people’s problems escalating.
Read more here
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