Make the Sunshine has been commissioned by Shepton Mallet Town Council and Somerset County Council to undertake some research on Young People in the Shepton Mallet LCN area. This area spans from Ston Easton down to East Pennard with a population of 28K. You can find our more about the area here

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What do you want to do when you grow up? It’s a question we often ask young people.

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Adolesence is that time for exploration, testing identities, skills and experiences finding out what makes us tick, what gives us the confidence and self belief to go further...

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And yet, in Shepton Mallet, just 3% of young people feel there is enought to do. And a staggering 97% feel a gaping absence of provision - something that was echoed across the youth sector feedback, youth voice sessions and in youth and parental surveys.

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Read the full Make the Sunshine Youth Report here

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This report brings together the voices of children, young people, families and professionals to understand what it is like to grow up in Shepton Mallet LCN today. What emerges is not a lack of interest or motivation, but a picture of young people who are keen to take part, want to be taken seriously, and are ready to engage and have a say. These young people are held back by a lack of accessible opportunities, poor transport, rising costs and spaces that no longer feel welcoming or safe.

 

Adventure, exploration and a sense of possibility should be part of every teenage life. In Shepton Mallet, too many young people describe their teenage years as shaped by boredom, limited choice and a growing sense that opportunities exist elsewhere, not here. Over time, the impact of this on mental health, connection and engagement is profound. Leading to a chronic lack of pride and a loss of belonging at exactly the point when young people most need connection and new opportunities.

 

With an entire online landscape at our fingertips it has arguably never been more important for investment in youth services and provision. We hope this report will be a call to action to prioritise the needs of young people in our town.

 

This is not about disengaged young people or a lack of interest. It is about barriers. Cost, transport and safety consistently emerge as the strongest factors shaping whether young people can take part in community life at all. For older teenagers and college-aged young people in the villages transport becomes the single biggest blocker, with high fares, cancellations and unreliable services making participation impossible regardless of motivation or interest. Cost further compounds this, with many young people priced out of activities that do exist.

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