“It’s fun, something to do and it’s free!”

Those are the words of some of the many young people who enjoy an array of free Friday afternoon activities in Kirkwall and Stromness.

An earlier trial led by the Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) Team proved to be a success and now the free activities at the Picky Centre and the Stromness Community Centre (in partnership with Action for Children) will be continuing right up until the summer holidays. The offer is also being opened up further to all young people aged 12-18 whether home schooled, at school, college or working.

Cheryl Rafferty, CLD Team Leader – Youth Services said: “We’re seeing about 60-70 young people on average at the Picky Centre and overall we have seen over 200 different individuals taking up the offer in Kirkwall. In Stromness, there’s around 20 heading along to the centre each week to enjoy the activities there. We are really pleased with this response and delighted that young people have engaged with us.”

The trial got off the ground following a successful OIC-led “Streetwork” project.

The CLD Team, alongside staff from partner agencies carried out the engaging exercise with young people on the streets of Kirkwall and Stromness on Friday evenings from February to May last year.

“The purpose of the Streetwork exercise was to find out from young people what services and facilities they would like to see provided by youth organisations that were not currently available to them during COVID-19 restrictions and onwards. Young people engaged well, and it became apparent that the closure of sites, such as the Pickaquoy Centre and Stromness Community Centre during periods of more stringent restrictions left many with limited options as to where to go.

“Given the feedback, we set to work and thanks to partnership working, a raft of free activities kicked off in Kirkwall and Stromness on Friday 3 December and the following two Fridays (10 December and 17 December) on a trial basis to gauge interest. The free sessions and activities are externally funded.”

Young people have been enjoying activities such as football, racket sports, pool inflatables, the cinema, DJing sessions, playing pool and now there’s a games console for anyone interested in gaming on the large cinema screen at Picky.

The Friday activities won’t be on over the Easter holidays but will kickstart again on Friday 22 April. They won’t run on any planned school closure days either, such as the Queen’s Jubilee holiday.

If you are aged 12-18 and interested in seeing what it’s all about then please head along to either of the venues on a Friday afternoon.  Activities in the Pickaquoy Centre start at 1pm and in Stromness Community Centre these activities start at 2.15pm