Spennymoor Youth and Community Centre has extended a big thank you to organisers, funders, organisations and everyone who attended Spenny Youth Fest ’24 last month. Almost 500 children, young people and their families attended the one day event designed to connect residents with local clubs, groups and services.
Forty stall holders attended to showcase what they do, offering taster activities and demonstrations. Among the organisations taking part were cadets, dance groups, arts, theatre, learning organisations, churches, youth and sports clubs. Funding from Spennymoor AAP and Durham County Council paid for street food and sweet treats throughout the event which proved very popular again this year.
As well as connecting families with what’s out there for them, children and young people were pampered with free hair, make up, nails and body art. Included this year was a VIP photo booth to capture makeover results, with souvenir photos to take home.
Centre Co-ordinator Michael Fishwick said: “To have more stands and twice as many people visiting Spenny Youth Fest this year was brilliant. We hope that more residents were able to connect with local clubs, groups and services. Ultimately, if we can get kids into activities which they enjoy and helps them to realise their potential, that’s good for them and the organisations they become part of. It’s what our Communities Together project is about.”
The event was the second year of Spenny Youth Fest and it is hoped that if funding can be secured again, it will become an annual event. The Youth and Community Association is now hoping to extend evening outreach youth work on the streets and in Jubilee Park, involving where possible the Youth Fest network of organisations and the families who attended, to be able to connect more young people with youth activities.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
