Young Peoples’ Facilities

The residents’ questionnaire showed a majority expressing the view that facilities for younger children were adequate, but for older children inadequate.

In addition to the residents’ questionnaire, a questionnaire was designed by Groundwork Trust for the young people of the Parish.  The results can be seen in Appendix 3.

The overwhelming finding of the Young People’s Questionnaire was the need to have somewhere for young people to go, where they could have a degree of independence in choosing the activities available, with the minimum of adult supervision and intervention.  A central location would be preferred.

School facilities and buildings are currently used out of school hours for the provision of youth activities, but young people are not keen on returning to the school environment (which is located on the periphery) out of school hours.

Recreation Ground

New community facilities could seek to incorporate this sort of provision.  The Parish Council are seeking to encourage a positive relationship with the Community College following the appointment of a new Head, and a liaison group is being established. This may act as a vehicle to develop youth facilities in Wolsingham, working with the new Weardale Youth Panel.

The Weardale Youth Panel has been established to support young people who have ideas for leisure activities or employment in the dale.  They have raised money to set up a ‘Small Projects Fund’, which can be accessed by young people in the Dale for their own projects.  Initiatives to support local young people in pursuing their own aims and projects should be encouraged where appropriate.