This year’s Yo! Summer Festival, organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council, was a great success with thousands of children and young people taking part in a wide range of fun days, sporting activities and holiday clubs across the city.

Held over the summer holidays, visitors enjoyed over 500 different activities ranging from the unique walking, running and rolling game Beat the Street, which saw nearly 10,000 residents travel a combined 60,000 miles in total, through to meeting dinosaurs from Jurassic Earth as part of the Relight Festival in West Park. 

Over 1,500 children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) also enjoyed a variety of events organised by parent carer forum Voice4Parents, from 10-pin bowling to fishing and horse riding.   

Among those organisations hosting events was the YMCA Black Country Group. Luke Tyler, Head of Health and Wellbeing Services, said: “Our YMCA summer activities went really well with regular high attendance throughout from our keeping fit sessions to learning to cook. We received many compliments from families and young people who attended.” 

Creating opportunities for young people is a major priority for the council and, following on from the huge success of this year’s summer festival, it is delighted to announce that it is currently working on plans for October half-term where many more exciting activities and events will take place across the city. Final details will be available on Yo! Wolves in due course.

Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, commented: “This year’s Yo! Summer Festival was designed to bring children and young people of Wolverhampton together through an exciting programme of events throughout the summer holidays. 

“With the combined help of over 60 partners and funding from the council and Department of Education, we certainly delivered a fantastic festival for our young people and it was encouraging to see so many people get involved and make the most of the opportunities we created. 

“What’s more, we are now looking to fund and finalise plans for October half-term to ensure we continue to provide activities and opportunities for a wide range of young people across the city.”

For full details of events for October half-term, keep an eye on the website, Yo! Wolves or follow the council on social media at Twitter and Wolverhampton Today

Yo! Wolves also offers children, young people and families support, advice and information on everything from mental health and wellbeing to education and careers.