By Isle of Wight Observer
The charity South Wight Area Youth Partnership (SWAY) has, this week, received news of a great reason to celebrate. The youth, family and community charity has received a huge accolade through the award of the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service, announced on the King’s birthday.
This award acknowledges that the tremendous youth work and support for families that the SWAY team deliver, but could not be achieved without the invaluable volunteers. These volunteers are vital for the youth groups in the villages and in Ventnor, as well as the mentoring in schools, and a huge range of activities and events. The choice of activities both on and off the Island offer opportunities from ice skating and night hikes to social meal evenings, crabbing and trips to warships.
SWAY also offers residential breaks with the Easter holidays weekend at Corfe and a 5-day trip to either the Lake District or Brecon Beacons in summer. Holiday activities provide for the out-of-school times whilst Zoom cooking – cooking online with family’s help to put fun into the dark nights of the winter months. Volunteers alongside members of staff are integral to all of SWAY’s work.
SWAY seeks to supports young people in the rural area of South Wight, to encourage confidence, independence and social integration. The work includes supporting the families of these young people who may have been identified as being in need in a variety of ways. SWAY gives opportunities for vulnerable and socially isolated higher-end primary school children to explore their difficulties with social situations, by providing opportunities to come and work together to develop their confidence.
The charity also encourages young people and their families to volunteer in their community, to find local interests, and engage with their environment. The Young Leaders Project offers a structure to build on for those who wish to learn skills that can help them to engage and offer their time in a wider context. Volunteers have a range of life experience that enables them to nurture the young people in a gentle and appreciative way that develops healthy relationships. This week, being ‘Children in Need’, means SWAY can recognise the role it plays in the lives of children and young people, and the vital way in which those youngsters get the support they need. Without the contact and care of SWAY, a number of the young people and families would be left to fend for themselves.
Over the last few years, SWAY has been developing the idea for a multipurpose building: a Community Hub for the South Wight. This is due to be completed in 2025. It will offer a multipurpose space that may be hired for activities and meetings as well as scope for hospitality training, a café and top up shop. There will be an office for SWAY, and a confidential meeting room for other organisations to offer surgeries. An exciting time for the charity and South Wight.
SWAY has a double reason to celebrate this week. SWAY was set up 10 years ago. An event to say a big thank you to volunteers, supporters and staff is being held this weekend, at which a slide show will be shown, following the journey of the charity from its small beginnings of wanting to continue the youth service, through to today with the range and scope that the current SWAY offers.
The work of the trustees has been at the core of the success of SWAY. The King’s Award is great timing to celebrate all the effort that has gone into SWAY and to look forward to the next 10 years.