Ten young people and three youth leaders from Sweden will be joining young volunteers from the East Riding for a week of activities in May, staying at Beverley’s Friary Youth Hostel.

Two places are still left for youngsters from the Beverley area to take part in the project, which will be examining and comparing youth provisions in the two towns, discussing the importance of opportunities for young people and exploring the implications of inadequate youth facilities in terms of crime, health, education and social inclusion.

The youngsters will be taking part in workshops before presenting their findings to local politicians, councillors, police, youth workers and members of the public.

The project has been successful in securing about £4,000 in funding from the European Commission and Council of Europe’s Youth in Action programme.

The exchange is being arranged by Sue Dudill, youth volunteer advisor for CSV East Riding, who said it will highlight the desperate need in Beverley for a drop-in centre for young people.

She claimed the need for youth facilities was demonstrated by the recent report in the Beverley Guardian that the Beverley Minster youth cafe had proved so popular that it had to turn some youngsters away.

“Ali Crompton, the Community Church Youth Worker, and I are actively trying to push the idea forward that Beverley needs a town centre drop-in which all young people may use and have a safe environment to hang out with their friends.”

The young people involved in the exchange will also take part in a series of fun activities and games throughout the week.

Anyone between the ages of 16 and 20 who is not doing exams this summer and is interested in taking part can contact Sue on sdudill@csv.org.uk or ring 07968 018593.