Enfield Council hopes youth bus will promote socialisation and development in young people, reports Fran Di Fazio

Gina Needs cuts the ribbon on Enfield Council's new youth bus — *Gina Needs cuts the ribbon on Enfield Council’s new youth bus*

A new “youth bus” will bring services and activities to young people living in areas of social deprivation after being launched this week by Enfield Council.

Funded through a £90,000 council investment, the mobile hub will create opportunities for young “passengers” to socialise and access state-of-the-art equipment such as digital tablets, games consoles and music stations.

The council will team up with partners including public health services, volunteers and community groups to deliver a range of support services, including help with jobs applications, health advice and bespoke workshops.

Attending a launch event outside Enfield Town Library on Wednesday (23rd) was Gina Needs, cabinet member for community safety and cohesion. In her speech, Cllr Needs said the bus will complement the services offered by the council’s existing five youth centres, and added: “We know that not all young people will be able to come to our youth centres for various reasons, and it is important to bring youth provision to young people in their local communities.”

The youth bus is being championed by Adam Rai, who was recently ‘highly commended’ as a young role model at the 2022 Ignite Awards, recognising the inspirational work of young people in Enfield. Adam gave Cllr Needs and other attendees a tour of the new youth bus and will act as a first point of contact between the bus users and council youth services.

“The community has given a lot, not only to me but to other kids as well,” Adam said. “For me, doing this is a way of giving back.”

Explaining why the youth bus was needed in Enfield, Adam explained: “I’m working in youth services to stop kids being antisocial, or committing crimes. I feel like it could be better though, we could do way more than what we’re doing now. But of course, that’s going to come with time. I was told about the youth bus a year ago, and today it’s actually here.”

Kroy, a member of social enterprise Everybody Loves Music (ELM), will deliver programmes on the bus to teach passengers how to produce music. He said: “It gives young people the opportunity to express themselves, and to freely access equipment that they don’t really have at their fingertips all the time.”

Ahmed and Dylan, two boys from Enfield Grammar School, attended the launch event with some friends. For them the youth bus launch was an opportunity to familiarise themselves with Enfield’s youth services, and they said they will use it in the future.

“It’s a nice way to start, because a lot of young people don’t have a place to go to,” Ahmed said. “You can come here with your friends, maybe after school, and have fun, just like I did.”

The youth bus contains a music kit — *The youth bus contains a music recording kit*

In 2021 Enfield recorded the highest number of victims of serious youth violence across London. High rates of school exclusion, mental health problems and substance abuse have been blamed.

Abdul Abdullahi, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “With regular engagement activities, the professionals on board can build effective and meaningful relationships and help develop strategies so every person on the bus leaves with a sense of purpose. Our youth provisions and early help interventions will ultimately safeguard vulnerable young adults and prevent situations from escalating.”

The youth bus will operate five days a week, moving to different locations every twelve weeks. Timetables will be made available on the Youth Enfield website.

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