A POP-up youth drop-in shop will provide youngsters in Teesdale with their own space to chill out, share opinions and take part in activities over the coming days.
The shop at 3 The Bank, in Barnard Castle, will be called The Zone, Your Break Out, is a joint project between The Bowes Museum, Teesdale YMCA, The Witham and the Hub.
Funding was provided by the Teesdale Action Partnership and the mayor’s fund and is open to all youngsters over 11.
Rachel Dyne, from Teesdale YMCA, said: “It’s a chance for young people to have a space to take ownership of and not a tick-box exercise.”
The venue, which will be kitted out with chairs, sofas, rugs and fold-away activity stations, will be open for business between Monday, August 26, and Thursday, August 29, before it heads up to The Hub for the Wellbeing Festival, where it will be housed in the YMCA teepee.
The drop-in shop is free and will feature workshops including Lumiere, Trashion, coding and digital media sessions as well as juicing and smoothie sessions.
Rachel Tweddle, chief executive for the Hub, added: “The idea came from our Speak Out youth sessions and we decided we needed a venue that we could get the youngsters to take ownership of.
“We have a core small group in Speak Out and we want to grow this as a small group can’t speak for everyone.
“We want to hear their opinions and tell us what they like or dislike about the area and how they feel they would like things to change. Or how they would get involved in community activities.”
There will be a youth worker on site at all times. The shop will be open daily between 2pm and 5pm and 6pm and 8pm.
