YOUTH services and organisations across Westbury have received financial help in the past year from the Westbury Area Board, part of Wiltshire Council, which has been engaging with the groups to see how best they can be supported.
Cllr Carole King, whose focus for the past year has been on wellbeing for young people, says that the Area Board has been working in partnership with organisations who work directly with young people and has provided funding for 4Youth, the Youth Café and the Westbury Youth Club.
“As an individual councillor and even speaking for the Area Board, we do not presume to speak definitively for the young people of Westbury nor do we have the expertise to know what all the main issues might be for them,” she explained.
“We aim to work in partnership with other organisations who do work directly with young people, which is why we re-started the Local Youth Network in February this year. We asked the group what they were currently working on with their young people and where they thought the gaps were.
“The three main organisations that we are currently involved with are the Westbury Youth Club, the Youth Cafe and 4Youth and they would all agree that the most important issue is to be in contact with young people to hear their concerns and worries. 4Youth are trained and experienced youth workers (based in Melksham and funded in part by the Area Board) which is the best replacement we have had since the youth service was axed some years ago.
“Both youth clubs are flourishing with young people participating in the provided activities each week, but the main issues identified by all the organisations involved with young people are the finance to run the groups, the number of volunteers they need and the ongoing training they require.
“All the organisations that work with young people give them a focus and purpose which benefits their physical, mental and psychological well-being, depending on what club they chose to join. 4Youth and both youth clubs do work hard to engage with young people who may belong to no other organised group. Westbury Town Council and the Area Board work with the police on anti-social activities in the hope that any shared information, ideas and action can benefit those who choose to act negatively in our community.
“With the cost-of-living crisis, families are struggling to provide the essentials for their children, let alone the extras. Groups with their added kits, admission fees and activity costs can be quite a barrier for young people. Grants alone cannot hope to cover the costs to run these groups but we must all continue to keep events and activities for young people free or at as low a cost as we are able.
“For the first time, the Area Board part funded Youth for Christ for two sessions in the field behind the Westbury Area Network building on Eden Vale Road and we hope to do this again in a half term holiday, but in a different area of Westbury.”
Cllr Ashley O’Neill, cabinet member for Area Boards added, “Ensuring that young people get the best start in life is one of Wiltshire Council’s business plan priorities and through Westbury Area Board we have supported many initiatives aimed at supporting and improving the wellbeing of young people.
“The initiatives we have we have supported include 4Youth detached youth workers, a pop-up youth club in All Saints’ Parish Hall, the Westbury Young People Awards, which was an evening of recognition for young people in Westbury area including sporting awards, arts awards, carers award, and young environmental champion, and Westbury Youth Club running costs.
“We have also provided co-funding for a team of young people to enter the White Horse Soapbox Derby and skills for personal development and employment sessions for young people at Leigh Park Community Centre.”
The drop-in Youth Cafe is held in Westbury Parish Hall every Friday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. For more information on the Westbury Youth Club visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/westburyyouth/
