Role modelling

A charity youth worker in Wiltshire is engaging with teenagers in a new way during lockdown.

Steve Dewar is the team leader for Wiltshire Youth for Christ, which has been hard at work throughout 2020 supporting young people in schools, summer Pop-Up Youth Café events, detached youth work, and online resources.

With another lockdown taking place, Steve is keen to inspire and equip local teenagers with a new hobby that could help them develop skills and manage their emotional and mental health.

The youth worker has previously used model-making in Potterne Youth Club and schools project settings, but is now looking to resource young people where they are - at home.

Using some of his own kits and kind donations from some other modellers, including cars, boats bikes and planes, Steve is hoping to distribute more starter kits such as the RAF Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft from WW2, plus paint and glue so that that no additional financial burdens are put on families.

Steve says:

"During this challenging time we need to look at how we conduct ourselves and use our time wisely, recognising the impact we have on others. We are role models for a younger generation and should look for ways to build them up to deal with challenges through patience, resilience and developing the right skills."

As a former Air Cadet Warrant Officer who later went on to work with the RAF before becoming as full time youth worker with Wiltshire YFC, Steve sees that the RAF motto 'Per Ardua ad Astra' (through hardship, to the stars) and his Christian faith have helped inspire him.

Already Steve has given kits to young people in Devizes, Trowbridge and villages in the area, and the scheme has been mentioned on BBC Wilts Radio and in local papers.

If you are a family with a teenager who would like to try a model kit, then please get in touch and Wiltshire YFC will see what they can do.

If you would like to help donate some models, or help towards more kits, then please contact Steve via steve@wiltshireyfc.org.uk or call 07340 930845, or get in touch via the Wiltshire YFC Facebook page.