New Space for Swindon’s Youngsters. A new 8-week project, titled Artsite Youth, launches this Saturday 6th June at Swindon Hub. The project will provide space for Swindon’s young people, with the aim of developing a longer-term dedicated space for them in the town centre.
The project invited local young people to come along and try out different creative activities each week. Or, if they prefer, to simply hang out. The idea is to support the young people to help shape the space. That way it will feel like it’s their own and something led by them. The project will listen to them about what they need from a longer-term town centre youth space and involve them in designing and developing it.
‘We want this to be an inspiring, welcoming and inclusive space and project for local young people” says Casey Hillier, project leader. “We know from things young people have already told us during previous projects that there aren’t enough spaces or positive things for them to do in the town. And we want to help change that.’
Age range
It’s for young people from 12-18. There’s a new Instagram account, @artsiteyouth to follow to keep up with events and activities. The project will use it to hare young people’s creations and voices throughout the project, so adults are welcome to follow it too.
When and where
Upstairs at Swindon Hub on the Parade in the town centre. From 1-5pm on Saturdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th in June and on Saturdays 4th and 11th July.
A range of activities including zine-making, sticker and banner-making, street-theatre, music and mural workshops and more will be on offer!
Alongside this, there’ll be opportunities for young people to have conversations with dedicated and experienced youth workers about their ideas, challenges, hopes and aspirations for future spaces and projects, and to help develop these.
There’ll be a further two sessions on Saturdays 18th and 25th July. But locations and activities for those dates are for the project participants to decide during the first six weeks. They will of course be advertised on Instagram.
Access
Unfortunately, Swindon Hub’s lift is currently out of order which means the upstairs is not fully accessible. There is an active crowdfunder to raise the necessary £5k to fix it. Every donation is being match-funded by Zurich Community Trust; the link to this is: https://zurichfoundation.benevity.org/community/fundraiser/9808
‘We’re so sorry we can’t make this a completely accessible and inclusive space at the moment, as this is very important to us. But we encourage anyone who can to please donate to the crowdfunder! The quicker we can get the lift fixed the quicker the project can become fully accessible and inclusive.’
The project is being delivered by Artsite, a local community arts charity. It celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and has been kindly funded by a grant from Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation. The project follows on from previous creative youth projects such as the HOPE mural in the town centre, created by young people during the COVID pandemic.
For those who would like to, there’ll also be an opportunity for young people to talk about their experiences of what it was like for them to live through the pandemic. With the aim of improving health responses for young people in the future.
There are two further ways the wider community is being called on to help support the project.
In the first instance, they’re in need of old magazines for cutting up and using to create ‘zines’ throughout the project. And, in the second instance, they need more comfortable, young people-friendly seating such as bean bags or big pillows.
If you have any of either you would be happy to donate or lend to the project, or if you have any questions you would like to ask, please contact the organizers by email: artsiteyouth@gmail.com
