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PRESS RELEASE
21 July 2010

GLOWING REPORT FOR LUDGVAN YOUTH PROJECT

A PROJECT which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour in and around Ludgvan by giving young people a new place to meet has received a glowing report.

Inspectors from Youth Cornwall who visited the Ludgvan Youth Project described the “very good atmosphere” and the “excellent rapport” between young people and youth workers at the sessions now taking place in the village.

“Good relationships are being built and there is a clear sense of young people’s involvement in the project,” the report said.      


Young people from the Ludgvan Youth Project get on their bikes in the Bissoe Valley

The scheme is a partnership between Penwith Community Development Trust (PCDT) Ludgvan Community Primary School, local police and Ludgvan Parish Council, which donated £5,000 to kick-start the scheme.

It operates from the former Oasis Childcare Centre in the school grounds, which became redundant when Oasis moved to a new building

Bernie Hall, head of communities at PCDT, said: “There were issues of anti-social behaviour among young men in the area, and the police contacted us to talk about how we could use the building for the community.

“A key aim of the project was to give young people the opportunity to decide what they wanted to see in the building, so our youth workers, Phil Russell and Rob Bradshaw, did a consultation and open evening with them.”

Young people from the Ludgvan Youth Project take to the water on the River Wye in Wales

The consultation revealed the need for a place where young people could meet their friends in a safe place and take part in group activities.

Bernie said: “We looked at what equipment needed to be installed, and the young people took a lead, purchased furniture and kitted out the building.

“We now have drop-in sessions with use of equipment for activities like pool and computer games, and the young people are utilising the space outside, like the tennis courts. It’s also a place for them to eat.

“We have taken some of them on residentials to Coverack and Wales, where they did kayaking, canoeing and team building.  Anti-social behaviour has been reduced in the Ludgvan area in the time we have been working there, which is encouraging.”

The project currently caters for young people aged 13 to 19, but Bernie hopes to expand its scope to involve 10-12-year-olds. “We need to be looking at intervention from 10 years plus, to bridge the gap from primary school to adolescence,” she said.

In their report, the Youth Cornwall inspectors say that during their visit, the young people responded “really well” to the youth workers, and were engaged with the activities they were taking part in.

“All monitored the use of equipment and took it in turns to use it. No conflict was observed,” they report. “The young people clearly had a sense of ownership of the centre.”

The inspectors conclude: “Young people could easily articulate the positive outcomes for them from the service … It is clearly meeting the identified need to have somewhere warm and safe to meet.”

Bernie said: “It’s excellent that the parish council, school and other partners have identified the needs of young people in Ludgvan and pulled together to provide for these needs. It gives an example to other organisations, and shows what can be achieved. Now we need to ensure that it’s sustainable.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Ludgvan Youth Project can contact Bernie on 01736 334679.

For further information, contact Bernie Hall on 01736 334679 or email bernie@pcdt.org.uk

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