Warwickshire News Mine

Sixteen young people won their places to experience the thrill of driving a fully race prepared rally car with trained instructors around the Mallory Park racing circuit, through their positive contribution to the community.

Young people have also made great strides towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award and are completing the Warwickshire Challenge Award. 

The award recognises and accredits young people’s achievement in areas of the youth work curriculum such as life skills, citizenship, healthy lifestyles and anti-oppressive practice.  For this award young people take part for up to 30 hours in projects/activities.

The opportunity was presented last October and since then, local young people have worked hard to earn their right to enjoy the rally experience.
Pia Haley, aged 14 said: "It was wicked fun, especially as she got to drive the rally car."

Lovell, the developers of the first two phases of the Pride in Camp Hill (PinCH) regeneration project, pledged their commitment to help make a real difference to the community by supporting the project.

Lovell regional director Chris King said: “We are delighted to be involved in the long-term regeneration of Camp Hill with PinCH. Alongside carrying out the physical regeneration of the area, we are very pleased to be able to support important projects such as this, which help young people to make a positive contribution to their local community.”
The group of young people aged 13-17 years meets at the Camp Hill Education, Sports and Social (CHESS) Centre and are currently involved in basketball, music, gardening and doing voluntary work at the local youth centre. 

Peter Young, independent chair of Pride in Camp Hill board and managing director of Creative Media Communications who supported the rally experience day, said:  “Motorsport is a real turn-on for young people and the concept of Camp Hill teenagers winning the chance to drive a rally car in return for helping their community has proved extremely successful.”

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for Children, Young People and Families, said:  “The young people in the scheme have made tremendously positive contributions to their community and this day was a well-deserved reward for their efforts.”

The scheme was supported by a range of partners including Motorsport in the Midlands, affordable housing developer and regeneration specialist Lovell, Pride in Camp Hill, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, North Warwickshire and Hinckley College and St Mary and St John’s Church in Camp Hill.

Link to WCC