Wokingham

Young people in Wokingham district met last week and agreed funding for seven exciting new youth projects, totalling over £20,000. Each project will be designed, organised and run by young people living in the Wokingham district. The following projects were given funding from the Youth Opportunities Fund Board:

Organising a charity Hallowe’en party for young people in Gorse Ride, Wokingham as part of a youth achievement award project.

Developing a DJ’ing provision for the youth-led performing arts club at Wokingham Youth Centre on a Monday evening.

A new street-art initiative at Centrepoint Youth Centre in Earley.

Young people in Shinfield known as the`wrong place, wrong time project’ to develop teambuilding trips and provide safe evening activities.

Development of a coffee bar at the Pavillion Youth Centre in Shinfield.

Development of a new youth achievement award scheme in Woodley.

Establishment of a street-art consortium in Wokingham that will develop artistic skills and promote artistic responsibility in the community for other young street-artists.

The Youth Opportunities Fund is a government initiative that has been running in the district since June when the funding board, made up of ten youth representatives, allocated £10,000 to deliver summer activities and diversion projects across the district to help improve facilities for young people.

The Youth Opportunities Fund Board currently has £60,000 in grant funding available to groups of young people who would like to develop new and exciting activities or projects for teenagers in the local area.

The entire project is designed by and for young people. Bids from adults will not be accepted. The board, which runs alongside Youth 10 and Members of Youth Parliament want to encourage more groups of young people to apply. Youth 10 is the forum set up by the youth service that meets in Silverdale Youth Centre, Woodley, to discuss improvements in local facilities for young people.

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, Wokingham District Council champion for youth and leisure said: “It is encouraging that our local young people are so innovative and take opportunities to turn ideas into useful action. Wokingham is well situated to assist them with a bright future.”

Support is available to complete the short, simple application form that can be found at www.wokingham.gov.uk/youthzone. Any young person with an idea for a project, who wants to talk it through or get further information should contact Paul Blount, area youth work manager for Woodley on (0118) 944 0449.

Wokingham District Council