Local young people are finding it easier to get involved in rewarding out of school activities, thanks to a trio of new initiatives from Sidmouth Town Council.
The Sid Valley is fortunate to have a very wide offering for young people, but a recent Town Council survey found that a lack of awareness, social anxiety and cost were all barriers that prevented some from participating in pastimes they would like to try.
So, on 28th March an Activities Fair at LED allowed over 500 young people to meet with representatives of 21 clubs and societies and find out what the different organisations had to offer. Sports, arts, music, drama and dance were all on the menu, as well as volunteering opportunities, cadets and Sidmouth Youth Club. The atmosphere was buzzing as students from both Sidmouth College, which co-hosted the event, and Sidmouth Primary School, discovered the wide range of activities available. The event was also a chance for clubs to network and build new relationships.
To ensure young people have easy, year-round access to information about what is on offer, Sidmouth Town Council has also launched a Youth Directory, listing even more options for young people. The Directory went live last week and the online version has landed in over 1000 homes in the Sid Valley, reaching an estimated audience of 3000 parents and young people.
And to help young people with fewer financial resources, the Town Council will be launching the Get Involved Grant later this year. The grant will target young people from low-income families for whom the cost of membership fees or kit is a barrier that prevents them from participating. Further information about grant criteria and how to apply will be made available shortly on the Sidmouth Town Council website.
Cllr Hilary Nelson, Chair of the Town Council’s Youth Provision Committee, said: “The Activities Fair and Youth Directory are an important part of the Town Council’s five-year programme for improving the lives of young people. We are truly fortunate to have such a rich network of activities available in the Sid Valley and we are all very grateful to the army of volunteers who give their time, skills and energy to enrich young people’s lives. As a Town Council we are committed to supporting those who are doing so much to make Sidmouth a better place to grow up, and we will continue to build links between our own youth provision, local organisations and young people. By working together, we hope to make sure that every young person has the opportunity to develop new skills, build friendships and discover passions that will last a lifetime.”
Organisations who work with young people and would like to be included in the Youth Directory should contact the Town Council by telephone or email.