Young volunteers are doing their part to ensure the launch of the Beverley Town Trail provides something for everybody.
On Sunday, from 11am, the eagerly-awaited launch of the £350,000 trail takes place in the town. The trail will provide, through a series of installations and artwork across Beverley, a guide to the medieval arts and craft that helped make the town the prosperous place it is today.
As part of the launch, volunteers from across East Yorkshire, who signed up for vinvolved, the national youth volunteering programme, have been asked by the Town Trail Committee to provide activities for the younger age groups on the day.
Under project manager Holly King, 23, from Hessle, young volunteers will run six stalls in Wednesday Market full of medieval-based activities such as weaving, potato printing, masks, face painting and decorating.
Holly said: “I have a fine arts degree and I love anything creative, and this is children’s activities based around the arts.
“We want them to get involved in art and enjoy a fun day out. There isn’t a lot going on for under-10s on the day. There is music and bands which they can listen to, but this is a really good way for them to get involved in the launch of the town trail and learn more about it.”
Over the past few months, the volunteers have been researching activities, planning, sending out collection lists, visiting Scrapstore – a shop in Hull which takes leftover materials from local businesses – and preparing for the big day.
Vinvolved is administered in East Yorkshire by CSV East Riding, who help place youngsters in voluntary positions and manage various projects.
Anne Watkins, CSV youth volunteer development manager, is delighted with the enthusiasm and commitment the young volunteers have shown in working towards the launch of the Beverley Town Trail.
She said: “These young people have done an amazing job in preparing the children’s activities for the Town Trail event.
“It’s been fun, and I’m so impressed with the dedication, creativity and the way they’ve worked as a team. They’ve been brilliant! These young people are indeed our future.
“We work with partners throughout the community to create innovative opportunities for young people; but it’s not about us.
“This is about young people taking up those opportunities, developing them, using their skills and talents.
“They have a choice. They can sit at home and hope things will work out the way they want in the future or they can take positive action to make absolutely sure that they are creating the future they want.”
To learn more about volunteering in East Yorkshire, click here.
