Like most public places, youth clubs in Oxfordshire have had to suspend face-to-face activities during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now a group of teenagers wanting to help people ‘fight the blues’ during the crisis have come up with an innovative solution.

Members of the Wolvercote Young People's Club and the Leys CDI, who could no longer attend support meetings and see their friends came up with a new innovative online project 'involving and inspiring young people'.

Creatively Clever is a virtual interactive creative space specifically designed for teenagers.

It includes awareness raising videos and online workshops on everything from street dance to graffiti art, rapping to poi-spinning.

There are also age-specific online discussion forums, and opportunities for people who wish to speak to youth workers.

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Youth clubs provide a vital lifeline, offering somewhere to go, something to do and a trusted adult to talk to, but for many the lockdown has meant work has ceased.

This is why the two teams based in Oxford are getting children and teenagers involved in Creatively Clever, 'whatever the barriers'.

Those without online access can be sent a hotspot and a topped up sim-card.

Refurbished laptops and tablets have also been provided to a few participants.

Once young people are registered with the project, activity packs are dropped off on their doorsteps.

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Marsha Jackson, head of youth work at the Wolvercote Young People's Club said: "So far it is going really well, it is the 'new normal' for youth work.

"What I like about it is that, increasingly, it is a space for young people, by young people.

"This coming month, for example, it is not just adult tutors delivering workshops but those aged 25 and under."

While some people have criticised Creatively Clever for not providing anything different than a platform like YouTube, however, Ms Jackson disagreed.

She added: "Creatively Clever provides a sense of local community and support.

"There is one-to-one mentoring and group forums.

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"And young people are guiding us as to how they want it to be."

The project is advertised on local community Facebook and Youtube pages, through supporting partner organisations, and via direct council referrals.

This project has received funding from the Oxfordshire Community Fund, Greensquare Group, Catalyst Housing, A2Dominion and the MacTaggart Fund.

While digital support is better than no youth service at all, there are growing calls for youth centres to reopen, however, organisers vowed that Creatively Clever will continue for as long as there is sufficient funding.

All youth workers part of the project are supervised and have received online safety training, and those who wish to be involved should email the team at hello@wolvercoteypc.org.uk.

To donate to the Wolvercote youth club visit wolvercoteypc.org.uk/donate