All Bega Valley High School aged teenagers are invited to attend the region’s very first Sapphire Youth Music Festival.
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The free music event is being run by the Far South Coast Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) in partnership with Merimbula Rotary, Pambula Rotary, Far South Coast Local Area Command, Campbell Page, Grand Pacific Health, Far South Coast Family Support Services and the Bega Valley Shire Council.
PCYC youth case manager Senior Constable Sarah Bancroft said the event will take place in Eden as this is an area where there are a lot of disengaged youth.
“It has arisen as a result of a number of youth mental health related incidents that have occurred this year in the Bega Valley Shire,” Constable Bancroft said.
The Sapphire Youth Music Festival hopes to promote positive thinking and to counteract the negativity which is present with young people in the area.
Youth mental health and substance abuse has been an ongoing concern in the Far South Coast community throughout 2017 and the music festival is the latest in a series of workshops and forums held to address the issue.
“The aim of the festival is to provide a free event in a safe environment for all the youth whilst promoting all available youth agencies that are within the Bega Valley by doing fun activities around the festival,” Constable Bancroft said.
“Some examples are a virtual reality gaming tent, a chill out zone with free health screening available, a PCYC activities bus, the Local Area Command bus plus other exciting stuff.
“We have got the Kids Helpline on board as well and our aim is to get the Kids Helpline number and message into the hands of as many youth as possible.”
The Vanns will be the headline act and the band will be supported by local youth bands and acts.
Vibes in the Valley will take place at George Brown Memorial Sportsground in Eden from 2pm to 9pm on Saturday, September 16.
Tickets must be obtained before September 6, they are available at local high schools. For those disengaged from school 15 to 17 year olds (with identification) are able to get tickets through Campbell Page Offices.
There will be free food and drink the whole event generously provided and cooked by Merimbula and Pambula Rotary clubs.
Transport will also be available but must be registered when booking tickets.
The organisers want to provide the safest environment for the attending youth and as such it is a drug and alcohol free event.
