The Services for Young People (SfYP) Electric Motorbike Youth Work Project at West Hyde Young People's Centre is an exciting new opportunity for young people in the Three Rivers area. The project will be led by a team of experienced SfYP Youth Workers supported by volunteers with specialist skills. They will work with a range of young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, those who have been missing from education, and those not in employment, education or training, delivering a curriculum of learning over 10 weekly sessions per term.
The young people will learn to ride and maintain electric motorbikes, learning basic mechanics and safety procedures. They will work together in groups, which will improve their teamwork, communication and collaboration skills. Throughout the project they will be encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and decisions, gaining confidence and developing a sense of accountability and maturity. These transferrable skills can be applied in all aspects of their lives and will support them in their future education and career paths. The project’s holistic approach to young people’s development and wellbeing will also promote physical activity, outdoor exploration, and environmental awareness.
SfYP applied for a CEF grant to develop the project and was delighted to be awarded £96,088 towards its cost in December 2024. The Electric Motorbike Youth Work Project is one of over 300 initiatives to be granted funding from HS2’s CEF and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF). HS2’s community and business funds are administered by independent community charity Groundwork UK. A total of £40 million in funding is available to organisations delivering projects in communities directly affected by the construction of HS2 between London and the West Midlands.
The grant will significantly enhance the physical infrastructure and resources needed to deliver the youth work project and improve the surrounding area. Work is due to start in the summer so that the project can be launched in the autumn term. The work will include developing a challenging but safe bike track, building a trackside shelter, and renovating an outbuilding to create a workshop fitted with a range of tools and equipment. The shelter will provide cover from the weather to ensure the project can run for the maximum number of sessions per year. The workshop will offer a bespoke environment for groupwork, including maintaining, servicing, and repairing the bikes. The project will also seek to provide a more biodiverse habitat in the surrounding area and encourage the use of electric motorbikes, which are better for the environment and quieter than petrol bikes.
Greg Ward, funds manager for HS2 Ltd, said:
"Hertfordshire County Council’s Services for Young People does fantastic work locally to equip young people with transferrable skills that will support them both now and in the future. The Electric Motorbike Youth Work Project will allow even more young people to benefit from new opportunities and experiences that will shape them positively. We’re pleased to be able to support the initiative through the HS2 Community and Environment Fund."
Jo Fisher, Director of Children’s Services at Hertfordshire County Council, said:
"We are delighted to have been awarded this funding and are grateful to HS2 and Groundworks for their support. We know that the young people we work with, as well as other members of the local community, will significantly benefit from this exciting project and its long-term positive impact.”
If you know or work with a young person who would benefit from joining this project, please use our referral form here: Make a referral.
If you are interested in working or volunteering for SfYP please visit Work for Services for Young People.
