Warwickshire News Mine

The young people behind the scheme are Jacob Coker aged 14 of Southam College, Lucy Gilbert aged 14 of Rugby High School, Amy Tuck aged 14 of Southam College, Catherine Watson aged 13 of Princethorpe College and Hugh Jenkinson aged 13 of Lawrence Sheriff School.

They were awarded £52,000 from the ‘Youth Opportunity Fund’, which is a DfES initiative operated through Warwickshire County Council’s Children, Young People and Families Directorate.

Over the last four years a new sports field and pavilion has been created for Napton however, the new pavilion needed to be kitted out so that the younger community could use it.

The Youth Opportunity Fund money will be spent on plumbing including new showers, installing electricity and furnishing the facility. 

The young people said of their achievement: “We wanted to do our bit of fundraising towards the new sports field at Napton-on-the-Hill. What we raised will be spent on the pavilion which will be used by people for many years to come.”

Rob Townsend, Youth Officer for Warwickshire County Council, said: “The Napton Pavilion project is a brilliant example of what can be achieved by young people for young people.

"Since last September more than half a million pounds from the Youth Opportunity Fund has been spent on 96 projects across Warwickshire and we want to encourage even more young people to come forward and put in their bids.”

The aim of the Youth Opportunity Fund is to involve young people, especially those who are hard to reach, in identifying positive activities and things to do.

A panel of 50 young people in Warwickshire are involved as decision makers, grant givers and project leaders for the fund.  Application packs are available by calling Warwickshire County Council on 01926 742497.

Link to WCC