99 things to do by age 19 bucket list launched for Essex young people
Activities include making your own 99 ice cream and staying offline for 24 hours
Have you ever hosted your own podcast? It's one of 99 things young people in Essex are being encouraged to do before they turn 19.
A project has been launched in Southend giving a bucket list of activities for young people to complete over summer.
99 by 19 was created by Southend’s Cultural Education Partnership, a collaboration of arts, education and youth organisations across the city.
The 99 items on the list, which include making your own 99 ice cream, were each selected by someone aged 19 or under.
It's split in to nine categories that represent key skill sets the partnership believes young people need to thrive in the twenty-first century: 'be the change', 'be playful', 'be curious', 'be a risk taker', 'breathe', 'beat your own drum', 'thrive', 'be Southend' and 'the road to now'.
Victoria Jones is part of the project: "We speak about it as being a sort-of free Southend Duke of Edingburgh award.
"What we're hoping is that it will get people and families out and about, around Southend, in our museums, libraries and our beaches.
"Southend's got so much to offer."
Most of the recommended activities are free, which Victoria notes is also key during the cost of living crisis: "In the times we're living in, it is paramount that there there are activities that families can have access to that are free and that will keep kids occupied over the summer holidays, which is fast approaching."
The beauty of the 99 by 19 list, Victoria points out, is that there's something for everyone: "There are fun and creative activities like painting a pebble, creating a monument and designing street signs.
"Then we've got ones focused on well-being and feelings like writing letters to local MPs or bullies, which encourage young people to think about what they want in the future...
"I like the activities which encourage people to think about Southend in the future - we've just become a city and a lot of things will change in the next 5-10 years, so I really like the thought of young people working out their place in the city and what will make their lives better here."
For more information, and to see the complete activities list, head to 99 by 19.