BOVEY Tracey’s high street could soon see go-karts hurtling down it.

It’s the idea of Helen Tate, manager of the town’s Riverside Community Centre, and the planning is still at the early stages, but her dream is to see the Bovey Tracey Soap Box Challenge come to life early next year.

The hope is to encourage teenagers to become involved and make more use of the Riverside Centre which opened to great success last year.

The centre is already well supported by older groups of residents, such as keep-fit clubs and Women’s Institute groups, but Helen wants the facility to be used by all ages.

She has already secured a £3,000 grant from Devon County Council’s community fund, which will go towards buying basic soap box kits which can then be customised.

The kits comprise a frame, wheels and steering mechanism but can be adapted into whatever the imagination allows.

She explained: ‘I hope this will encourage younger people to be more involved. I wanted them to be seen in a positive light and the soap box challenge would be the ideal way to do so.

‘This will help them develop a teamwork ethic and gain skills in problem-solving.’

Helen has already engaged two adults to the team who will oversee the construction phase: Cat Howard and  Justin Fellows.

Cat, a self-employed personal trainer for her company Moor Fitness and Nutrition, said: ‘My background is in science teaching and I still do a bit of cover teaching when the opportunity arises and I work with teenagers doing freelance Duke of Edinburgh expedition assessing.

‘I am excited to be involved in this project because I love helping young people build skills they can use for the rest of their life and seeing them achieve things they never thought they would.’

Justin, a facilitator at On The Hill in the Teign valley, added: ‘I am a drum teacher and land-based facilitator with over 20 years of experience working with young people.

‘I particularly enjoy working on creative projects and encouraging students to problem solve and facilitate them working with a variety of tools, so I am very excited to be involved in the Soap Box Challenge!

‘As the director of Beat Wise Drums I lead drumming workshops and teach one to one drum-kit with a wide variety of young people and adults. I have also performed extensively with several musical projects around the UK. Through all my work I strive to create a positive environment where people feel free to be themselves and develop confidence and self-esteem.’

Helen is now putting out an appeal for any willing volunteers who are handy with a toolbox, know their DIY and can help. Most of the work though, will be carried out by the teenagers themselves under supervision.

Town clerk Mark Wells said: ‘We’ve been thinking of doing something along these lines for some time so we’re pleased Helen has come up with the plan. It will stand us in good stead with future funding as this project will demonstrate the work the town coucnil is doing to engage young people.’

At the moment the favoured route is Fore Street in the town centre which would require a road closure. Other off-road sites would be considered if the preferred option proves difficult to arrange.

Helen proposes five teams of five teenagers in Years 7-11 and is currently contacting secondary schools in the area to submit teams.

If anyone is interested in taking part, or acting as a volunteer, contact Helen by email at [email protected].