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Youth Space Group
 

The Community Plan revealed an overwhelming need to provide facilities for the 2000 young people aged 5 – 17 years living in Totnes. Existing facilities provided services for a few hundred young people, leaving most with the streets as their only playground.

Our long-term objective remains to secure dedicated and spacious premises to provide services for young people of all ages. This has the declared support of the Town, District and County Councils. In the short term, we have taken steps to improve the situation wherever opportunities exist.

13 – 17 year olds
Driven initially by a desire to tackle the problems of anti-social behaviour, and working closely with Devon Youth Services, we secured funding and support for a programme of Friday Youth Leisure Nights at the Totnes Pavilion in October 2006. More than 100 young people can now meet and take part in a variety of sports and leisure pursuits at each session, in a safe and monitored environment. This has led to a dramatic reduction in anti-social behaviour and the growth of respect and a mutually tolerant relationship between the youth of the Town, the police and local authority officials.

9 – 12 year olds
Facilities and services for the 1000 or so 9 – 12 year olds are minimal and largely provided by the scouts, local churches and sports clubs. We must improve this situation if our young people are to avoid becoming victims of the national trend towards a drug, alcohol and crime culture.

Due to the lack of suitable buildings, ir proved difficult to find premises for a youth club for 9 – 12 year olds. In November 2007, Totnes Sea Scouts agreed to share their Steamer Quay building, and funding was secured. By May 2008, work to improve the building and equipment was completed, and the project was adopted by the Bridgetown Alive Community Group. With the help of District Council funding they are now recruiting youth leaders and organising an activities programme, and the youth club should open during the winter of 2008.

We now wish to extend facilities for 9 – 12 year olds by securing indoor premises for sports training. With limited sports facilities available, youngsters take second place when older players require the pitches, particularly during winter months when there is heavy demand for all weather pitches. As a partial solution, we approached the Wessex Cadet Force for the use of their indoor parade ground in the Totnes Cadet Centre. If agreement is reached, funding will be needed for Health and Safety improvements to the premises. We hope to make these facilities available in 2009.

Support is also being given to the work of the Early Years Service of Devon County Council who hope to set up the first Totnes After Schools Club for primary school children by Easter 2009. This would provide a daily activity programme in a safe environment, supervised by qualified personnel from the end of the school day until 5.30 pm, thus enabling parents to work as well as giving the children a venue for play.

Plans to develop a Youth Action Plan will be coordinated by the Youth Space Group as a specific project during 2009.

The Youth Group includes local representatives of Town, District and County Councils, the Police, Devon Youth Services and the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please contact Tom Maughan (01803) 865175 or email:  tommaughan@southdevon.org

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