Agenda item

To consider the experiences of young people in the community area as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and to discuss the community- based activities that are on offer currently or needed in future to support young people through the recovery period.

·         BoA Youth

·         Holt Youth Club

·         St Laurence School – Fergus Stewart, Head Teacher

·         Relate Counselling service

The Area Board were asked to consider the experiences of young people in the community area as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and to discuss the community- based activities that were on offer currently or needed in future to support young people through the recovery period.

BoA Youth - Kelly Panes

The written update noted

Points made included:

·         That the BoA Youth group was doing really good work, but needed to up its profile with better publicity to the wider Bradford on Avon community area.

·         That the lack of communications with villages re activities was frustrating but could be easily addressed – it was agreed that the group would email all future publicity flyers etc to Ros Griffiths – Community Engagement Manager and the Bradford on Avon Area Board councillors who would then distribute and forward on across their own community areas to further highlight the activities offered by the group to a wider youth audience.

A video highlighting the work of the Holt Youth Club and their new activity field was shown.

Points made included:

·         That the field was developing into a real activity facility.

·         That around 45 people per week were attending and using it.

St Laurence School – Fergus Stewart, Head Teacher outlined the work of Relate and the Relateen Counselling project which had been running at St Laurence School.

Points made included:

·         That St Laurence School had built up a good relationship with Relate/Relateen.

·          That the Relateen Counselling project had become a very important service for the school.

·         That over a 13 month period around 16 people per year group had struggled with issues that the Relateen Counselling project could help with.

·         That the pandemic and the closer of the school had increased mental issues for young people.

·         That the Relateen Counselling project was a high priority on staff training.

Bradford on Avon Town Council – Cllr Dom Newton

Points made included:

·         That Bradford on Avon Town Council had tried to be very pro-active re young people during the pandemic.

·         The implementation of the Grow Stations project to encourage people to try gardening.

·         The continued support of the Fitzmaurice breakfast club.

·         The good work done through the Colonel Llewellen Palmer funded drama and poetry project to help young people find their voice during these difficult times.

·         The importance of providing a safe environment for young people to meet in.

Relate Counselling service – Sylvia Gilmore

Points made included:

·         That the Relateen project had stopped face to face counselling in March due to the pandemic.

·         That a webcam based service had now been launched.

·         That there were currently around 67 young people on the waiting list at the moment.

The Chairman requested a further update in March 2021 to hear more about the project.

Decision

·         The Bradford on Avon Area Board appoint Cllr Jim Lynch as the Area Board representative to attend Youth Commissioners meetings with Bradford on Avon Town Council

·         That the Bradford on Avon Area Board re-establish a Local Youth Network (LYN) to bring together local youth groups, organisations and stakeholders from across the community area to discuss youth issues and funding.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their input in the discussions.