Youth Connect South West & Midsomer Norton TOwn Council

Youth Connect South West is a youth focused charity delivering services in Bath and North East Somerset. In Midsomer Norton they will be delivering community-based youth work sessions using Midsomer Norton Town Council funding. The project will operate on two evenings a week starting from 7th September 2021. Tuesday evenings between 6-8pm will be based at the container (HUB) at the skate park for a youth café session that includes cooking and participating in a range of table top activities. YCSW will be engaging with young people to develop the HUB and increase its use. On Friday evenings between 6 – 8pm will be a detached session (on foot). The team will cover hotspot areas identified from previous youth work and by the police and Town Council, such as the High Street. The sessions will offer young people improved access to support for physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, sexual health and relationship issues, improved access to employability and training support and access to positive activities. They will provide an opportunity to build positive relationships with trusted adults, have more access to relevant support services, and educate and discourage young people from involvement with serious violence, criminal activity and substance misuse.

The aims of YCSW are to reduce anti-social and criminal damage incidents related to young people in the High Street, skate park and Town Park, by engaging young people more with their community and increasing their feelings of community ownership. Youth Connect South West, Bath Rugby Foundation, Bath Area Play Project and partners also delivered a fun and powerful package of summer activities at the Astro Courts at Midsomer Norton Sports Centre, Gullock Tyning. This was open to all teenagers aged 12-16, with activities including sports, exercise and creative play, as well as nutritious food, for all attendees to enjoy. This ran on Mondays from August 2nd to August 23rd. Youth Connect provide a range of other services for young people, such as supporting unemployed young people or providing individuals with support with issues that affect them. More information on Youth Connect services can be found at www.youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk. Harry Parsons is the leader for the Midsomer Norton work and can be contacted via: harry.parsons@ycsw.org.uk