The Area Committee to receive a presentation on the youth provision in the area, to cover projects and project workers, as well as the state of play provision and prospects for repairs and improvements and enhancements to existing park areas and play equipment.
Minutes:
Fiona Bedford,
Senior Youth Worker, Kingfisher Centre, gave the Committee an
overview of the services the centre provided. This included a
breakfast club scheme for children every Saturday, a senior club
three times a week and a junior club once a week. There had also been an accredited life skills
course for young people not in education, which they hope to repeat
subject to funding. In the future
partnership work with the Saffron Young Peoples Project was planned
to increase opening times possibly straight after school.
It was noted that the ball court area had been refurbished along
with the planned redevelopment of the kitchen facilities, which had
been funded by the Youth Capital Fund. This would allow
healthy eating and food hygiene sessions to be carried
out.
It was reported that at the Southfields Drive Sports Centre there
were sports sessions running four times a week.
At the Magpie Youth Centre in Eyres Monsell there were various
clubs including a senior youth club, a girls club, and a motorbike
project. The group had hoped to widen their work to include
the Gilmorton Centre. There were also detached work sessions.
It was noted that Youth Action Representatives have been
elected and will participate in the Youth Forum. There was
also a residential trip being planned to Gambia, if the funding
could be secured.
It was reported that throughout the summer the programme would be
slightly different this year focussing on sport and a graffiti
project and would include partnership work with Connexions and
Intersport.
There was widening participation work happening in the Linwood Centre and the Magpie Youth Centre with young parents in partnership with Saffron Young Peoples’ Project, Connexions and Sure Start, and there were also detached youth work sessions in a Aylestone and Eyres Monsell.
Dee Dixon, Senior Worker, Goldhill Avenue Playground, informed the
Committee that from 16 July, between 11.30am to 4.30pm, for 5 weeks
the playground would be open for young children at a cost of
£3.00 per child. There would be spaces for between 70 and 120
children which would be part funded by the Red Cross. Over 21
workers visiting from universities across the Country would support
the sessions. It was noted that there were trips planned for
the children to Skegness and Waterworld.
It was reported that the walls of the playground were to be
expanded to include an open air sports ground and a tree house
village, which would be disabled friendly. It was noted that
the cost of this would be £68k, although £30k had
already been secured.
A member of the public noted the lack of facilities in the
Aylestone Ward. Councillor Porter agreed that there was a lack of
provision, including swings, slides and benches in the Ayleston
Ward and that the Cabinet should be asked to introduce these
provisions into the area.
Another member of the public asked why the Kingfisher Centre had
reduced the times it was open. It was noted that this was due
to the lack of resources.
RESOLVED:
That Cabinet be asked to introduce play facilities in Aylestone
Playing Fields and Aylestone Park.