Police commissioner’s £4,000 boost for young people

YOUNG people in the Birchwood and Padgate areas of Warrington have been given a boost thanks to Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John  Dwyer’s Crime Prevention Fund.
Mr Dwyer awarded charity, Active Cheshire, £4,000 towards a youth engagement project being piloted by local organisations and charities which have come together to engage young people in the area through physical activity and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Investment also came from Your Housing Group and Active Cheshire. The project provides free, unstructured sessions including putting on activities in unusual and alternative places for 13-18 year olds.
These “street” activities will use a range of mobile equipment and attractions such as panna-cage football, mobile volleyball nets and tennis speed-serve equipment at locations across Padgate and Birchwood.
The use of unusual and changing locations will give an added element of interest and “buzz” with participants finding out where the next session is taking place by word of mouth.
Active Cheshire has been working with a range of partners to deliver the pilot programme and it is hoped this will become a long term sustained approach to youth engagement and increasing activity levels.
Mr Dwyer said: “I want to support young people across Padgate and Birchwood to become more engaged in their community and physically active.
“As a result they will learn new skills, increase their confidence and develop their own self-awareness. I am committed to improving the lives of young people within Cheshire and hope this scheme will go from strength to strength.”
Active Cheshire trustee Terry Harrop said: “As well as encouraging more active lifestyles and giving young people something to do, the aim is to help them engage positively with their local services. This money will help to facilitate this pilot project and we hope it will kick start a permanent and successful programme aimed directly at benefitting young people.”
Activities will be taking place in parks and open spaces on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (6-8pm) in Birchwood and Padgate throughout the summer holiday and beyond.