Wiltshire Council’s Youth Development Co-ordinator Tony Nye has organised an Activity Day on 31st August, for local young people who will be in Year 8 and above in September. Details are on the flyer from the above link.

NB If interested you need to contact Emma or Tony as detailed on the flyer as you will have to complete a parental consent form in advance.

Sparksite

A new shelter for young people at Moot Lane, Downton, which was supported by Downton Parish Council, is one of the 2010 WYPOF* funded finalists.

Click on the link below to see a video about the shelter.

http://www.sparksite.co.uk/entries/downton_shelter_wypof_wiltshire_young_people

Wiltshire Young People's Opportunity Fund (WYPOF*) is a pot of money given by the Government to pay for young people’s activities in the local area. This money is there for young people to bid for things they’d like to do but haven’t had the chance to. This may be activities like residential courses, youth councils, dance projects, environmental projects, arts/drama, sports, and developing projects that benefit other young people.

To find out more about WYPOF please visit Spark Site and click on Go.Involved.

Also, any youth voluntary group can use sparksite to publicise their own activities - contact can be made through jokerr@wiltshire.gov.uk.

It has been a busy summer.

Working in partnership with others, we delivered 2 activity days for young people based at Trafalgar School. Over the 2 days more than 25 young people took part in workshops and activities which included wall climbing, graffiti art, dance, skateboarding, football and basketball. Despite the weather on the first day, a great time was had by all.

We also piloted a scheme called Leisure Credits. 5 young people from the area along with five young people from other parts of the county who have taken part in the scheme before, spent half a day in The Moot Gardens undertaking some conservation work. As a reward for this, the group are in the process of identifying a trip they would like to go on.

We have also established our Wednesday evening slot in Downton. Myself and Beth Doyle bring the Urbie (a converted van) to Downton and park behind the Memorial Hall making full use of the Memorial Gardens - when the weather allows us, obviously!! We start at 7pm and finish at 9pm and the session is open to all young people aged 13 – 19.

If you would like more information about any of the above or anything else youth related, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07775 410523, tony.nye@wiltshire.gov.uk or visit click here for the latest information about what is going on.

Tony Nye
Youth Development Coordinator - Southern Wiltshire Community Area

Environment Agency water safety warning

The Environment Agency is urging young people planning to go swimming, fishing, cycle or simply hang out with friends down by their local river over the summer holidays to be aware of the dangers posed by fast-currents, cold water, structures such as weirs and locks, and unstable riverbanks.

The Agency in partnership with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) has produced a ‘Be Safe around water’ leaflet designed to be sent to both primary and secondary schools throughout the region.

Nick Gupta, Wessex Area Manager for the Environment, said: “Each year around 50 children under the age of 16 drown. It is third most common cause of accidental death amongst youngsters.’

In June this year, 18-year-old Jonathan Morton drowned in a tragic accident in the Hampshire Avon river at Downton.

‘Jonathan’s death is a reminder of the dangers that swimming in rivers or the sea may present. Now as the school holidays approach children need to be especially aware of the risks.’

Young Peoples Radio

For Radio, events, help and advice for young people in Wiltshire visit:

www.sparksite.co.uk

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