Stonehenge Area Board community event brings young people together

More than 100 people attended a recent community youth event bringing young people together to enjoy sports, games and pizza and find out about activities in their local area.

Wiltshire Council Stonehenge Area Board Local Youth Network organised and funded the event working closely with Durrington Town Council who provided the recreation ground and pavilion. The event aimed to raise awareness of the wide range of local youth provision, clubs and organisations available in the Stonehenge area for young people.

People from Perham Down, Tidworth and Larkhill, Amesbury, Durrington and nearby villages attended alongside Afghan young people who are currently living nearby as part of the government’s ARAP scheme. Activities including football, cricket, circus club, girls brigade and air cadets, with many signing up to join the clubs. A minibus was organised through South Wilts community transport to transport the families to the event.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This was a fantastic atmosphere showing a community really coming together and ensuring young people know about all the activities happening in the area. The area board wanted to raise awareness of the wide range of sports clubs, uniformed groups and local youth organisations that are available to young people in the Stonehenge community area and to improve cohesion by delivering a youth fair open to all the community. All the young people and families enjoyed the event and the organisations taking part are keen to have a similar event next year as it was a great success.”

The Ministry of Defence also supported the event. Major Lauren Elias, Assistant Joint Regional Liaison Officer South West Region, said: “The Youth Fair was a fantastic opportunity for young people from across the local area to engage in a variety of activities. It was a pleasure to be able to extend the invite to members of the Afghan community to showcase all that Wiltshire has to offer young people. I am sure that meeting the various clubs and organisations has given them the knowledge and confidence to join local clubs and groups. This is especially positive for those young people on the ARAP scheme to help with their integration to life in the United Kingdom.”

Youth organisations attending included Shrewton Cricket club, Amesbury Junior FC, Buzz Action Foundation, 1^st Amesbury Girls brigade, District Sports, Dorset and Wilts Air Cadets, Army Cadets, and the Neighbourhood policing team for Larkhill, Durrington, Bulford & Figheldean.