Teenagers tune in to get sound driving skills
Bolton News Wednesday 16th December 2009
SPECIAL classes all about music and cars are being rolled out to bored teenagers to help keep them out of trouble.
It comes after a successful trial of the course, which has passed on new skills to youngsters while also giving them something to do.
The course gave the youngsters, aged 14 to 16, the chance to get their hands on a real car so they could learn how to fit its audio equipment during a series of sessions at Bolton garage, SC Auto electrics, which also provided the vehicle.
Over six sessions on Wednesday nights, the young people who attend the St Helens Road youth club covered subjects including car wiring, how to fit speakers and other audio equipment and how to measure sound and soundproof cars, as well looking at topics like how music affects people’s driving and how to drive safely while listening to music.
Wilson Litchmore, a youth worker for Bolton Council, said: “The young men involved in this course have responded really positively to the sessions because it is something they have an interest in and it really gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility.
“It has also improved their respect for cars because they realise the amount of time and money that goes into them.”
The scheme has been supported by the Government’s Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF), which is part of Aiming High, a 10-year strategy by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to provide young people with something to do in their local area.
And Wilson Litchmore added that the sessions have proved so popular that Bolton Council is planning to roll them out, so that even more young people can benefit.
He added: “The young men involved have conducted themselves really well and worked well together as a team, because they know that they will all get the opportunity to contribute to working on the car and therefore collectively they will have all learnt new skills over the six week period.
“The garage owner, Steve Challinor, has been really impressed with the boys’ behaviour and is now considering taking appren- tices on in the future because he knows that young people can do a really good job.
“It’s certainly something that some of the young lads might be looking at for a career.”
* More information about activities for young people in Bolton can be found at www.youngboltonlife.org.uk.
