Community bus project on the lookout for more staff in Cambridgeshire
Fancy helping out with a regional project for the local community?
The success of a community bus project for children has led to the need for more youth workers, course leaders and even volunteer drivers.
The Connections Bus Project has expanded to now reach up to 250 youngsters a week across 14 Cambridgeshire communities. Its two double decker buses offer weekly youth clubs to children in villages, giving them the chance to meet with friends to play games consoles, karaoke, sports and take part in craft activities, quizzes and discussions.
The service also gives young people the chance to take courses and access information about issues such as alcohol, smoking, eating disorders and homelessness.
The charity has secured funding from parish councils to offer its bus services to the Eversdens, Oakington, Sutton, Haslingfield, Cottenham and Warboys.
The additional visits, along with its youth club work in Histon, Milton, Sawtry, Willingham and Caldecote, means the Connections Bus Project needs some fresh faces to help provide the services. The roles, some paid, include youth workers, course leaders, volunteer drivers and trustees.
A spokesperson for the project said: “More and more young people are relying on the youth services of The Connections Bus Project, attending weekly youth clubs aboard our double decker buses, building-based projects and our courses.
“Our services are staffed by appropriately trained youth workers who take time to get to know the young people and actively engage them in activities and discussions.
“Due to the success of our projects, we need to expand our team with staff who have a passion for supporting young people to achieve their potential and get the most out of life. They will also need a willingness to listen and not judge.”
The project was set up following the deaths of three young people who lived in the villages of Histon, Impington and Girton. One of the parents decided she wanted to do something for the young people who ‘hang around’ on street corners and the idea of a mobile youth resource was created.
