As part of his visit to Swindon, Minister for Civili Society Rob Wilson MP joined North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson as they visited the BIOS Mobile Youth Club.
BIOS is a Swindon based youth project which started in 2010, and aims to target vulnerable and disaffected young people living across Swindon by working with them to address their issues, and make positive life choices.
The idea of the youth club van is to offer geographical flexibility in order to get out and go to where the young people are. Working in partnership with other organisations, the youth club van provides a range of activities to help address the causes of anti-social behaviour, and help young people to become active members of the community.
The van itself offers a hub around which young people gather and engage in positive activities alongside youth workers. The sides of the van fold up to provide games consoles, internet access, information services, music, sports equipment and refreshment facilities.
The project is staffed with one full time fully qualified youth worker alongside volunteer youth workers who deliver 12 youth club sessions each week.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “It was great to show the Minister this innovative way in getting out into communities and appealing to young people. Many young people often face difficult challenges when growing up, and as a community it is important that we don’t leave them behind. I am proud that here in Swindon we have the mobile youth club van which is doing it all it can to help youngsters by providing support and guidance. No young person should ever feel neglected and it’s projects like this which help to ensure that nobody loses their way.”
