Youth worker mobile unit is officially launched

A fabulous new mobile unit for youth workers has been officially launched in Trafford – on Youth Work Week!

The vehicle, launched by Trafford Council and Hotel Football, means we can offer support through youth work and informal education anywhere where young people choose to meet and in any weather.

The unit will be run by Street Talk, Trafford Council’s detached youth work team and part of Trafford’s Youth Engagement Service (YES). It is fully equipped with seating for 12 young people, lights, an exterior awning and facilities to provide hot drinks and snacks. The team go where young people choose to meet and engage with them in their space and on their terms. 

So far this year they have worked in Sale Moor, Broomwood, Sale West, Broadheath, Altrincham, Partington, Stretford, Gorse Hill, Lostock, Sale Central, Urmston, Old Trafford and Flixton and have engaged with 1,300 young people.

The unit has already enabled the team to deliver more targeted sessions in the community on:

  • drugs and alcohol awareness
  • conflict resolution and ASB reduction
  • sexual health
  • skate park redesign

The Council’s youth work team emphasises the importance of partnership work in the community and has so far worked with Foundation 92, Early Break, Grip Adventures, Trafford Young carers, Tuf*C, OT creative space, friends of the parks.

Cllr Cath Hynes, Deputy Leader of the Council and Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “It is extremely important to engage with young people in their own communities and the Street Talk mobile unit is allowing us to do just that.  We can now offer direct help and advice to young people on a number of issues including sexual health and drug and alcohol awareness.

“We would like to express our thanks to Hotel Football for supporting the purchase of this amazing new resource on behalf of the young people of Trafford and our diverse communities.  If you live in Trafford, please look out for our Street Talk Youth Workers and our fantastic new mobile unit.”

Hotel Footballs’ GM Chris Hull and Director of Sales Jess Southworth attended the launch and Chris proudly handed the keys over to the Street Talk team. Chris said: “Over the years, we have collected donations from our guests and supporters on a matchday, it is fantastic to see this project come to life using some of this resource.”

Jess added: “To be able to give back and make a difference to the wider community is something very important to us and will continue to be for years to come.”

 

 

 

 

Posted on Wednesday 9th November 2022