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Young people in Haverhill and surrounding villages now have their own mobile youth project with a brand new truck, specially equipped with all kinds of activities for ages 13 to 19 - and you can't miss it.

The idea has come from young people who are out in the town of an evening and want to use facilities, but not be based in a building.

Simon Pickering, youth and community development officer at St Edmundsbury Borough Council said:
“We get up to 70 young people in Haverhill coming to a Wos Up night, which is a summertime, borough-wide mobile youth project, and when we asked them about what they wanted organising in Haverhill they loved the idea of their own vehicle.”

The Haverhill mobile youth project will operate four nights a week from a long wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter van that has been kitted out with seating, sports equipment and hot drink facilities.

It carries its own generator to run the DJ equipment, lap tops with internet access, games consoles, TV and DVD player and sound system on board.

The design for the van exterior has been created by Victor Murlis, a Haverhill artist.

He has worked with young people and local company Stylize, who have 'wrapped' the van with the design - using a technology familiar from Sky TV vans - which can be changed from time to time.

Kerry Young, a Suffolk County Council youth worker who runs the Hangar youth centre in Haverhill, said: “The van will be operated by Suffolk County Council youth workers and we’ll have all kinds of issue-based information and educational resources.

"We will be there to connect the young people to the information they need, both in the evenings and at events such as the Big Day out and U Festival."

She said the van would be on the Haverhill estates on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in the town centre on Fridays and some other times when there was a specific need.

Where it is stationed will be need-driven as the youth service decide, although Kerry said they worked very closely with the police in identifying the latest places where young people were gathering and where it might be effective.

Insp Andrew Mason, until recently the police chief in Haverhill and a prime mover in the project, said: "I am very proud to be a partner in delivering this exciting new facility. I think it's one of the best things I have ever done as a police officer and the young people of Haverhill should really enjoy using the van.

"The fact that it is going out so many days of the week, is available to all people and is taking activities and facilities to the young people is just fabulous. All activities are going to be free.

"Suffolk Police support this van in every way and I have no doubt it will be a huge success. Personally I can't wait to have a go on the X-BOX with the young people... I'm hoping I may even win!!"

The funding for the £48,950 project has been secured by St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk Youth Connexions Service, and Haverhill Police, from West Suffolk Community Safety Partnership, Suffolk Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT) and Suffolk County Council locality budgets.

The vehicle running costs will be met by Haverhill Town Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council for a minimum of three years.