Ullapool Young People Investigate Youth Bus Project

Four members of the Ullapool and District Youth Group travelled down to Manchester at the end of last year with youth worker Yvonne Boa, to visit a mobile youth bus facility in the hope of setting up a similar scheme in Ullapool and the surrounding area.

A youth bus is a mobile youth café that can be moved to different areas. Highland Council Youth Worker, Yvonne Boa said:  “These buses are the middle man between young people hanging around the street and having a permanent, safe youth café.  The aim of our trip was to find out as much as possible about practical arrangements such as how the bus operates, the training of staff and drivers, as well as details of costs and equipment needed. 

“The bus we visited was equipped with PC.’s and interactive software, music facilities which allow you to create your own music using state-of- the-art multimedia  mixers,  a TV including DVD, video games consoles,  it had full disabled access and one-to-one private counselling room, with sports equipment, a kitchen area and toilet.”

Gillian Slider, Darren Boa, Euan Peterson and Jed Leaver who accompanied Yvonne all thought their fact-finding trip was very worthwhile.  The trip to Manchester was funded by Ross and Cromarty Youth Bank and Youth Forum

Yvonne added:  “Our next step will be to investigate funding options to set up the scheme. If anyone would like to find out more about this project or want to get involved in the Ullapool and District Youth Group, then please give me a call on 01854 613351 or 07825754850.”