More than 700 young people, families and residents came together in Amesbury recently to take part in the Festival of Youth and the Stonehenge Youth Fair, celebrating the wide range of opportunities available to young people across the community area.

The event, which took place on 19 April at Harvard Park, was organised and funded by Wiltshire Council’s Stonehenge Area Board Local Youth Network and the Amesbury Youth Partnership and Amesbury Town Council, who kindly provided the recreation ground for the day.

Designed to raise awareness of local youth provision, clubs and organisations, the event offered young people the opportunity to try activities and connect directly with groups in their local area. It showcased the wide range of sports, uniformed groups and youth organisations available, helping young people explore new interests, build local connections and encouraging longer‑term participation in positive activities.

A range of hands‑on activities were on offer throughout the day, including aerial activities, circus skills, archery, axe throwing, football, arts and crafts, flight simulation, shelter building and CPR demonstrations, to name just a few. Many young people showed strong interest in the activities on offer, with several signing up to join local clubs and organisations as a result of attending.

Youth organisations reported excellent engagement, and feedback from families and young people was overwhelmingly positive. As a result, partners are keen to explore the opportunity to deliver a similar event later in the year, building on the success of this well‑attended youth fair.

Cllr Graham Wright, who led on the event from Stonehenge Area Board, said, “It was a team effort and would not have been possible without the enormous effort and enthusiasm shown by our volunteering Youth Groups.”

Cllr Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We’re proud that Stonehenge Area Board make events such as this happen, as they help bring people together. In this case, the event showcased and celebrated the range of activities and opportunities available to young people in their local community. It’s lovely to hear that the atmosphere throughout was extremely positive, with families and young people enjoying the opportunity to spend time together. My thanks go to everyone involved in organising such a successful event.”

Youth organisations and groups taking part included TenZone Bowmen Archery, Royal Artillery Corps, Spurgeons Family Hubs, Elements Café, Circus Wessex, DJ Tyler, 1st Amesbury Girls Brigade, Amesbury Explorer Scout Unit, 1st Larkhill Scouts, 1st Amesbury Scout Group, 1011 Amesbury Squadron RAF Air Cadets, Amesbury Junior Football Club, District Sports, Crazy Strength, Amesbury Library, Amesbury History Centre, the Neighbourhood Policing Team and Stonehenge Chamber.