Dedicated activities for children and young people will be set up in each of the borough’s 20 wards as part of Mayor Chris Cooke’s Middlesbrough Childhood Guarantee.
The Middlesbrough FC Foundation’s Youth Bus is set to launch in both Acklam and Marton this month and provide regular outreach sessions.
In Acklam, attention will focus on the Coniston Grove and Acklam Shops area and on Church Lane near Mill Hill. In Marton, the mobile sessions will concentrate on Stewart Park, the Stokesley Road shopping area and key routes used by young people travelling home from school.
The sessions, which will run through the summer holidays, provide a short-term solution in two areas with little or no youth provision.
Organisations are now being identified to deliver longer-term services in both wards and in other areas of need across Middlesbrough.
The Youth Bus provides young people with a safe place to meet, take part in activities and build positive relationships with experienced youth workers.
Foundation staff will be engaging with young people, talking with them to gain an understanding of what they would like to do in their area. On the bus there are two Xbox consoles with the facility to engage in FIFA competitions, while depending on the area and attendance levels, other activities may be on offer.
The primary purpose of the bus is to help Foundation staff engage with young people in a safe space and listen to the youth voice in the area.
Marton East sessions begin on Tuesday, July 14 with the first in Acklam scheduled for the following day, July 15, with seven sessions scheduled for each across the school holidays between 5.30pm and 7pm.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke says that investing in youth services can help to tackle antisocial behaviour but also give young people the skills, confidence and relationships that will benefit them for years to come.
He said: "Every young person deserves somewhere safe and welcoming where they can spend time, make friends and get support when they need it.
"I promised we would bring youth provision to every ward because opportunities shouldn't depend on where a child lives. Acklam and Marton East were identified as areas which we needed to quickly focus on and I’m delighted to be working with the MFC Foundation to deliver this.
"By taking services directly into neighbourhoods, we can reach more young people to build relationships and provide support where it is needed most."
Paul Shepherd, from Middlesbrough FC Foundation, said: “This is a really exciting initiative to be involved with. Young people need positive, fun activities to grow and develop. These opportunities should be available to everybody and we are delighted to be part of making that happen.”
The commitment to providing youth provision in every ward forms part of the wider Middlesbrough Childhood Guarantee.
Launched last year it also includes the 10by10 programme, which ensures every child in Middlesbrough can enjoy ten life-changing experiences, free of charge, before their tenth birthday.
And Bring it on Boro, the successful Holiday, Activities and Food programme which provides a healthy meal and free activities, trips and experiences for children during the school holidays launches again for the summer break this month.