A ‘COMMUNITY club on wheels’ will roll in to serve people in areas covered by Emersons Green Town Council.
The new club in a van is primarily aimed at reaching young people in areas where they have no facilities.
It will include games consoles, WiFi, kitchen facilities, music, charging stations for devices, sports equipment, art facilities, heating and air conditioning.
Town council youth liaison officer Shea Stew is spearheading the project, having run similar mobile provision in Bristol for five years.
The project came after the town council commissioned Creative Youth Network to carry out a public consultation on youth services in the area four years ago.
It found a shortage of suitable spaces for a formal youth club, with existing sessions at the Resound Centre in Blackhorse Road unable to accommodate growing demand.
The council says the club on wheels was found to be the most “effective and inclusive solution to meet the needs of young people across the parish”, which as well as Emersons Green includes parts of Mangotsfield around Blackhorse Road, the Leap Valley area of Downend, and Lyde Green.
The £155,000 cost of the vehicle, which is being purpose-built by a specialist in Kent, has come via contributions made to South Gloucestershire Council by developers as part of planning deals.
Town clerk Jo Bryant said: “This mobile facility will bring safe, welcoming youth spaces directly into every part of the parish, removing the barriers posed by fixed locations.
“Beyond youth sessions, the unit will also serve as a versatile community asset, supporting pop-up events, outreach activities, and daytime sessions that engage isolated or vulnerable residents.
“This approach allows us to extend our reach and deliver greater benefit to the whole community, and more inclusive and diverse solutions to all, not just young people.”
Shea said: “This vehicle will serve the whole community within time and will engage young people past school times.
“It will be a place to hang out and engage in many different activities. From playing games to cooking with youth workers, there will be something for everyone in a safe dry welcoming atmosphere.
“This provision will change the landscape of the community and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to go somewhere and call it their own club.”
The club is expected to be up and running by December or January.
The council will still have more than £300,000 in youth project reserves to support other initiatives, provide equipment and fund the cost of future services.