Shotley Youth and Community Project

Notes of a Meeting held at Shotley Village Hall, 8 June 2006 to discuss provision for young people in the area.

Present: Janet Norden, Graham Steel, J Garwood (Suffolk Council for Young People), Natalie Meakin, Amy Taylor, Melissa Nutt, Karen Curd, Joshua Curd, Jacob Curd, Tony Roberts, Barbara Moss-Taylor, Alix Taylor, Maureen Wakefield, Cyril Wakefield, Marian Sedwell (Babergh Communities Together) David Norden Steel.

Apologies: Anna Long, Julia Cattermole, David Wood, Mel Matthews, Alison Davis, Caroline Radley, Avril Miller, Peter Thorn, Jeremy Peters

1 Graham explained that the meeting had been called as part of the process of implementing the Parish Plan which has an aim of improving opportunities to meet the needs of young people. The opportunity to apply for a grant had been taken; however, if the application is successful a method of managing the activities and the funds would be needed.

Building based generic youth work had stopped about six years ago when the portacabin it occupied was beyond repair and the personal circumstances of the volunteers changed and no new people could be found. The youth club had been managed by the Shotley Youth and Community Project which whilst it had not met for some time still has a constitution, “sleeping trustees” and a bank account which could be revived and provide a means to deliver youth work in the village again.

2 Janet said that a project to provide an after school activity for students of high school age had been developed with young people through meetings with Parish Councillors, the Peninsula Youth Forum at Holbrook High School and through a conference at Hadleigh with representatives i.e. head of Children and Young Peoples Service for Suffolk County Council attended by, 20 Year 10 students from HHS. Following these consultations it is now hoped to start the after school activity in September this year.

Funding applications for a total of £8120 have been made to the Local Network Fund for £7000 and £1000 application to the Parish Council which have been awarded funds from the Local Strategic Partnership to help implement the Parish Plan. The young people will be expected to contribute £120 – i.e. through a small membership fee and running a healthy tuck shop.

3 The following points were made:

Suffolk Clubs for Young People are able to offer volunteers training and will assist with a range of issues , it was suggested that SYCP youth club could affiliate to gain further access to this support

Volunteers would be Criminal Records Bureau checked

Training in child protection issues is available

Volunteers can be funded and supported through the Millennium Volunteers programme.

The Millennium Volunteer fund may also be available to provide funding

Local businesses should be used as a resource to sponsor and support activities

A programme to recruit local people and support them in gaining professional qualifications in youth work is being investigated

4 The following people had agreed to be part of a “Steering Committee” prior to the meeting: Janet, Avril, Alison, Jeff and Caroline. The following volunteered to join them: Tony, Barbara, Natalie, Karen and Alix

5 It was agreed to meet on June 29 at 7.30pm in the Small Committee Room at the Village Hall

6 The meeting closed at 8.30pm

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