Giving rural youth something to do
Activities for local youngsters was the hot topic at a recent Community Forum meeting hosted by the village of Offchurch.
Local residents from the village joined the Warwick Rural East Community Forum meeting to talk about a host of issues important to the area.
The main topic for discussion was activities for young people living in the villages that make up the Rural East area.
The aim of Community Forums is to give local people the opportunity to talk to their local Councillors, the Police and other service providers face to face about any issues of concern.
Shinderpaul Bhangal, Area Team Leader for Warwick Integrated Youth Support Service (IYSS), gave the Community Forum a presentation about the need to do something positive for young people, and how it might be done.
“Rural youth activity providers have to contend with unique problems,” Shinderpaul said. “The size of the area and access to transport and facilities can make it difficult for more isolated communities to meet the needs of their young people.”
The Community Forum welcomed ideas to engage with young people to ask them what they want, and was enthusiastic about the support and advice that the Integrated Youth Support Service (IYSS) and other services could offer to make youth provision a reality.
People living in the Rural East area are also invited to take part in completing a questionnaire on their travel and transport needs. Warwick District Council hopes to measure the level of need for small transport schemes that might be able to reach farther than regionally provided services.
Anyone who would like to take part in the survey should contact Bertie MacKay by email at bertie.mackay@warwickdc.gov.uk, or the Community Partnership Team on 01926 456102.
The next Community Forum will be held on Thursday 22nd July at Radford Semele Village Hall from 7.30pm. More information about the Community Forum can be obtained from Jane Coates on 01926 456103.