Seven Mitcham teenagers have won a bid for £61,000, covering the cost of Merton’s first mobile youth activity bus.

Lara and Del Bakich, Brook Wooderson, Kyle Taylor, Toby Cox, Tom Ruddel and Hollie Sfluskey identified the need for a mobile facility providing advice, information and activities for young people while working with the council’s detached youth team in November 2009.

After a successful bid, the cash will come from the authority’s youth opportunities fund and the safer Merton joint tasking group.

The activity bus will hit the road this summer featuring laptops, information about sexual health, learning and career opportunities and events, music mixing decks and recording equipment.

Yvette Stanley, director for children, schools and families at Merton Council, said, “For a number of reasons, some young people can feel intimidated about visiting youth centres outside their area.

“The activity bus will be an effective way to bring youth activities, services and information to young people who don’t have the benefits of a youth centre in their immediate area.

“These young people deserve recognition for all their hard work. Our detached youth team supported them through the funding application but ultimately the young people led the process.”