SYP Day Trip to Corfe Castle

A young person from Bridport group said: "Space Youth Project's young people thoroughly enjoyed the day; we're very grateful to the UK National Trust for allowing us the opportunity to experience the rich history of Corfe Castle in its entirety - with a guided tour, walk around the site as well as a relaxing afternoon spent around open fires beneath the castle ruin. It was an excellent way to connect with other young people from around Dorset during winter - thank you, Space Youth Project for working with the National Trust to organise such an outstanding trip".

Travelling from all over Dorset, 19 young people and 5 staff visited Corfe Castle for the day. By arrangement with the National Trust, we had free entry with the community pass we had been given. The day started with us meeting at 11:00 at the visitor centre, which was a good chance for all the young people to meet in the warm, greeting old friends and gaining new ones.

We then left for a self-guided walk around the castle, everyone enjoying the stiff uphill walks lol, we explored a lot of the walks and took in the outstanding views, it was cold and windy but that made the high points even more exciting! Around 12:15 we descended from the high reaches of the castle to the bailey - which is the open space just inside the main gate of the castle walls.

Here we managed to purchase marshmallows to roast over open fire braziers and then eat our lunch, we had all built an appetite by then you can be sure!

At 1:00 we were met by Liz (a National Trust volunteer) who gave us a guided tour, this was very good as she was able to give us facts and stories about the parts of the castle we had already viewed, this added so much more depth to our previous viewing! Liz was knowledgeable and a very enthusiastic storyteller, taking us through the history of the castle and regaling us with tales of the good and bad things that the castle had witnessed over its 1000 years of existence.

All this time the wind was blowing stronger and stronger. Once the tour was over, we went back down to the bailey to warm ourselves up as we had all started to get very chilly, then back to the visitor centre for warm drinks and another chance to chat and reaffirm friendships. At 3:00 we all left to go our separate ways, back to our homes with some lovely memories.

Thank you to the young people for all the fantastic photos you see here!

Written by: Charity, Youth Worker

£400 from Flirt Festive Fundraiser!

On Saturday 25th November, we held our third Space Youth Project fundraising quiz, and this time it was Christmas themed. 

Flirt Cafe in Bournemouth once again generously hosted us for free. Ed and his team are amazing hosts, and always look after us very well! Everyone who came along had a great night. 

There was a big Christmas raffle with lots of prizes donated by various people: Tesco, National Trust's Kingston Lacey, Westbourne Book Shop, Cineworld, and the family of one of our team members.

Christmas tops were encouraged, and points awarded to the best Christmas themed team, here’s the photo of the winners!

In the creative round, teams were challenged to create a nativity scene using plasticine. We had some amazing entries, but the winner was the stable with the rainbow made by the team 13 Days of Christmas.

Thank you to Flirt for hosting us, the local companies who donated raffle prizes, 

and everyone who took part! Keep your eyes peeled on socials and the website 

for details of our next twice-yearly fundraiser and raffle!

Join Space Youth Project for its annual Christmas celebration!

On Thursday 21st December at 6pm, Space Youth Project young people will come together at the Purbeck Youth and Community Centre in Wareham for an evening of festivities, marking the end of an incredible year for the Dorset-based charity. Each year youth workers, trustees and young people enjoy celebrating the community bound by pride in our identity, a value that holds a significant place in our hearts.

This year's Christmas celebration promises to be a memorable occasion filled with a sense of the joy that has defined Space Youth Project throughout the year. Our dedicated team of youth workers and supernovas (SYP's peer leadership representatives) has been hard at work planning a variety of entertainment for the evening to ensure that everyone feels welcomed. The venue is accessible for wheelchair users, and will have a space dedicated for those who may have sensory needs - or just want a quiet space. Space Youth Project will also be providing transport for young people who may have difficulty reaching the venue.

Join us for an enchanting evening of karaoke and engaging games! Our diverse community, united by the common thread of pride in freedom of expression and identity, will have the opportunity to share stories, forge new connections and reflect on the incredible journey we've experienced together over the past year.

During the evening, we'll be honouring the legacy of former SYP youth worker Sarah Grayer, who sadly passed away during 2023. When Sarah left Space Youth Project, she created the Ray of Sunshine Award for one young person each year who has made an outstanding contribution to the group's positivity. Space Youth Project will be awarding this to one young person during the party, and celebrating the memory of Sarah Grayer.

Refreshments will be plentiful, ensuring no one leaves with an empty stomach! The evening will culminate in a heart-warming reflection on the year gone by, celebrating the achievements, growth and resilience of our community.

Wishing you all a joyful and festive holiday season!

Written by Zoe: Chairperson, SYP Supernovas