Better facilities and more activities for young people
Here’s a shocking fact: I was young once…skip forward 20 years, ok 25 years, and I’m now looking to see what can be done to improve facilities and provide more activities for young people in Moreton and Leasowe.
Over the last couple of months, I have been contacted by young people in Leasowe (who want a skate/BMX kind of facility) and by organisations trying to provide activities, in addition to activity at the youth clubs in Moreton and Leasowe. I recently met with an officer of the Council to see what more could be done in our area. I know the Youth Hub in Liscard is a fantastic facility but, as I have said before, if you don’t have transport to get there, it’s not much use for people in Leasowe or Moreton.
So far, I am pleased to report that £3,000 has been awarded to the Leasowe Youth Club for activities that young people have requested. These include cinema trips, Go Karting and Ice skating, all of which which will be delivered as part of a 10 week life skills programme.
However, there is now a further opportunity for a much more intensive range of activity as part of the Government’s new National Citizen Service and, last summer, met with some of the local organisers at the Solar Campus on Leasowe Road.
National Citizen Service will give up to 30,000 16-year-olds around the UK the chance to learn new skills and get involved in their community this year. The scheme gives school leavers a chance to do something different and challenging while learning new skills, and incorporates two residential stays involving outdoor activities such as mountaineering, canoeing and abseiling.
Locally, Wirral Council’s Positive Futures project and the Sports Development Unit are delivering the scheme for up to 30 15-16 year old Year 11 school leavers. The project will take place during the summer holidays and runs for three weeks full-time, including two weeks away from home at ‘Oaklands’ in North Wales and Barnstondale Outdoor Education Centre, Wirral.
Following the residential break, a further 30 hours is to be completed on a part-time basis developing and delivering a community-based project. The project will bring together young people from a variety of backgrounds to improve the area where they live, for the benefit of all residents and I’m really keen that young people in Moreton and Leasowe are made aware of this opportunity.
To find out more, contact Zoe McNee on 0151 637 6438 or 151 637 6043, email: zoemcnee@wirral.gov.uk but be aware that places are limited and the application deadline is the end of May 2012.
