Youth Work in Bradley Stoke: Report by Graham Baker

Summer programme:

It’s been a busy summer for Bradley Stoke Town Council’s youth work team. As well as a continuation of the well-attended youth work sessions delivered throughout the year, the team offered additional sessions and opportunities over four weeks of the school summer holidays. Young people attended various youth work sessions at the skatepark, the Jubilee Centre hardcourts and our Girls and Young Women’s Project and had the chance to engage in a range of activities, including Art Workshops, ‘Street Doctor’ First Aid training sessions and local trips to Ice Skating and Ten Pin Bowling.

At the start of the summer, on Saturday 17th June, the annual Festival Skatepark Competition took place and youth workers, and local young people were delighted to host a popular package of Skatepark and Art activities. A mix of skate park skills and creative arts ran alongside the Skatepark competition. The competition was interspersed with rider demonstrations and ‘have-a-go’ opportunities, along with music and an MC. A range of competitions took place during the day, including Scooter’s, BMX, Skateboard and Roller Blades and the prizes were presented by the Town’s Mayor Dayley Lawrence.

The Art activities at the festival and during the summer programme, gave young people the opportunity to participate in workshops run by Olas Arts and those attending proudly produced their own piece of artwork to take home. The artist has worked with the Town Council in the past, running popular workshops and on this occasion used old vinyl records as a canvas for street art style creativity.

Local youth work sessions this Autumn:

As we move into Autumn the Town Council’s youth work team are currently delivering and/or planning the following Youth Work sessions (sessions currently delivered every week are in bold):

• Skatepark sessions; regular and ad hoc sessions (Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 to 6:30pm).

• Jubilee Hardcourts: street sessions with an informal sports focus (Thursdays 6:45 to 9pm).

• Girls and Young Women’s Project: weekly girls only sessions (Tuesdays 7 to 9pm).

• Detached and Street Work sessions: planned and ad hoc.

• Project work: eg Street Art project/s; skatepark construction projects.

• Events and competitions: eg two days of activities at our annual Festival

• Offsite trips: eg MoJo Active; Ice Skating; Air Hop, West Country Water Park.

• One to one and small group support – volunteering – school/college placements

• Residentials: eg Multi activity weekends.

If you are a young person living in the local area (aged 12 to 19) who would like to find out about youth work sessions and projects, come along for a chat, check out the Youth Work page or contact the Youth Development Worker on 07900 253826 or email [email protected]

Likewise, if you are interested in volunteering or becoming a part time youth support worker, use the contact details above.

Posted in Uncategorised