Witney News - Grant provides new youth club for Madley Park

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Grant provides new youth club for Madley Park

A youth club has been able to move into a new home after landing a special grant.

The club, previously at North Witney Community Church, has moved into the Madley Park Community Hall following the £1,412 grant from the West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership.

It is being run by the Church with the support of Madley Park Residents’ Association.

Madley Park HallAlistair Rice, a Youth Pastor for the Church, said: “The club was originally started at King’s School but we realised there was a need for it in Madley Park and the North Witney area in general.

“It gives people a safe space to meet their friends and socialise rather than hanging about on the streets.”

The cash will go towards buying games and equipment as well as contributing to the hire of the hall. The club will also use the new play area facilities on Madley Park which are planned to open by Easter.

The club will run on a Friday evening from 7.30-9pm and is aimed at 11 to 15-year-olds. There will be no need to book, young people can just turn up. It is planned to start in the next few weeks and will be promoted through the Madley Park Residents Facebook page @MadleyResidents.

There is a higher than average number of children and young people on Madley Park. Over the last two years Madley Park Residents’ Association has led a community project, Activate:MadleyPark, which has raised more than £150,000 for new play areas which are now being built.

As well as the family events both the Association and Madley Park Community Hall arrange each year, it was identified that there was a need for evening activities for children and teenagers.

Tina Hepworth, Co-chair of Madley Park Residents’ Association, said: “There has been demand for a youth club on Madley Park for some time. We’re absolutely delighted that we can support North Witney Community Church in providing much needed activities for our young people.

“The grant from the West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership means the club can get off to a flying start and provide activities that we know the kids will enjoy.”

The West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership is made up of representatives from a range of bodies including the District Council, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

It aims to combat crime and anti-social behaviour by setting priorities to ensure partners are working together to create a safe place to live, work and visit.

Young people are a priority for the Partnership and as part of that it has set up the West Oxfordshire Youth Network which holds its next meeting on 3 February in Witney at 5.30pm.

If you are working with young people in West Oxfordshire and would like to come please get in touch – contact Community Wellbeing at the Council on 01993 861080 or email [email protected] for details.

Posted : 31/01/2020 16:12:37

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