A new project to support young people across Swindon is set to go ahead.

The brainchild of a group of local charities, the Swindon Youth Voice project will run workshops, discussions, creative activities and a programme of visits and guest speakers, all designed to help young people grow in confidence and be able to make a difference to the world around them.

The project also aims to help bring together youth services in Swindon and to make sure that young people can access the help and support they need.

Planning has been going on for more than a year. Led by local charity Voluntary Action Swindon, the discussions have involved 26 local groups, over 100 young people, and representatives from the borough council.

With funding now confirmed, the final details are being put in place with the partners which will be starting the work: SMASH, Inner Flame, Prime Theatre, and Swindon & Gloucester Mind. Each week, one or more of these organisations will put on activities at different venues around the town.

“This project will be an important step in getting young people’s voices heard in Swindon,” says Andy Malcolm from SMASH youth project.

“We want to make sure that people from every background and every community can get involved.”

Helen Morley, creative arts programme lead at Prime Theatre, added: “This project is a great way for young people to be creative and explore how to use the arts to express themselves, share their views and have their voices heard."

Working with people aged from 11 to 25, the project will kick off with a series of mini-events in communities around Swindon.

“Our goal is to be as accessible as possible - we want to open it up to young people who often don’t feel that they are listened to,” said Elizabeth Postgate, general manager at Inner Flame youth training.

The project will work with 40 to 50 young people in the first year - as the work develops, more groups will be set up and communities will have the chance to get involved and work alongside the project.

The funding, totalling almost £400,000 over four years, is coming from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK and will go towards the already-hired project manager employed by VAS as well as covering the costs of activities. 

The project will kick off on April 11.