MORE than 600 Irvine youngsters enjoyed a free afternoon of entertainment this week as a mobile youth centre hit the road.
The 75-tonne custom built truck rolled up at the community centres in Redburn and Springside to offer lots of family-friendly funm kicking off an area-wide tour lasting throughout the summer holidays.
The youngsters enjoyed a petting zoo, inflatables and face painting, amongst many other fun activities.
And health, wellbeing and cost of living support and information was also available on the day, including a variety of exciting activities and opportunities to get involved in.
The mobile youth centre, run by North Ayrshire Council, will tour the rest of mainland North Ayrshire throughout the summer, with visits planned to Nethermains Community Centre in Kilwinning and to Kilwinning Library.
Part of 2023’s ‘Take Time’ campaign, the free summer activities for families are focused on a health and wellbeing theme, but most importantly, the van offers lots of fun without anyone having to travel far from home.
Set up by the council’s Community Learning & Development team, the mobile youth centre is now in its 15th year running and was established to provide youngsters with a friendly and familiar space for community collaboration and inspiration.
Dates and times for the coming events are as follows:
Wednesday, July 12: (1-4pm) Glebe Park, Saltcoats
Tuesday July 18: (2-5pm) Nethermains Community Centre, Kilwinning
Thursday, July 20: (2-4pm) West Kilbride Community Centre
Monday, July 24: (12-3pm) Dalry Public Park
Tuesday, August 1: (1-4pm) Kilwinning Library
Thursday, August 3: (1-4pm) Largs Pencil
Wednesday,August 9: (1-4pm) Ardrossan South Beach
Thursday, August 10: (12-3pm) Kilbirnie Public Park
Young people across communities and schools are invited to come along to take a tour of the exciting space and learn more about what Youth Services have to offer.
Young People’s Champion, Councillor Chloe Robertson said: “With many of us still feeling the pinch due to the cost-of-living crisis, it is understandable that families may be planning on staying home this summer, so our youth and community workers have been busy planning a whole host of sessions to beat the boredom of the holidays.
“I’m really looking forward to visiting young people over the summer break, as the engaging roadshow will be packed full of fun and will provide lots of great opportunities and a safe space for socialising, learning and accessing key council services.
“Giving us the unique ability to reach wider audiences, the state-of-the-art, youth hub on wheels helps our youth workers to deliver meaningful activities and provide young people with a place to relax, unwind and connect with others in their communities during the summer break.
“Our youth workers have hit the ground running with this fantastic community space, so why not come along and meet them this summer?”
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