By Sarah Robinson

Last updated at 14:24, Thursday, 02 August 2012

FRIDAY nights won’t be the same again as Copeland youngsters take part in a host of activities.

manager: Mike Priestley

In a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour and get youngsters off the streets, youth groups have organised sporting, crafts, music and cookery sessions for the Friday night project. Upcoming events include graffiti workshops, boxing training and residential trips.

The scheme is being managed Inspira (formerly Connexions) and funded by the Copeland Community Fund for 12 months. It is supported by Cumbria Police, Copeland Council and the county council.

Mike Priestley, area manager for Inspira, said: “When we looked at surveys and spoke to young people, they wanted more things to do at nights and at weekends. The police said that incidents of anti-social behaviour were also taking place at these times. We put these two things together and formed the Friday night projects.”

For organisations already running on Friday evenings, funding has been provided for additional activities. Some youth organisations have gained funding to provide staff, venues and activities where there was no previous Friday night activities.

Mr Priestley said: “The feedback has been good so far. The message is that we want anyone of secondary school age to come down and get involved. There is no charge.”

Paul Rowe, of Phoenix Youth Project, in Cleator Moor, said young people have been involved in various workshops, from a beauty night to archery and cookery sessions. He said: “The sessions give young people a chance to try something that they might never have tried before.”

Young Cumbria has provided activities at St Peter’s Hall, Woodhouse, and is working with Egremont Rugby Union.

Clare Taylorson, youth and community lead for Young Cumbria in the west, said: “The sessions have been going really well so far. In terms of numbers we have had around 25 to 30 young people for each class.”

Classes have included rock climbing. Future sessions include sumo suits, graffiti artists and boxing coaches.

She said: “They are loving the fact that they are having extra activities. Egremont Rugby Union have been absolutely fantastic with the support they have given us.”

Valda Young, of the North Copeland Youth Project, based in Parton, said: “We are offering the young people different ways of working.We are doing activities to suit their needs.”

Activities have included archery, bowling and watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Future activities include going on a three- day residential trip to Hawesend in September.

The provision of funding for the Friday night project means that the Distington Club for Young People can now open five nights a week.

Christine Jones, neighbourhood youth development officer, said: “These sessions give the young people something to do. They are not all hanging about causing mischief.”

For Millom youngsters the project has enabled football sessions, which had been stopped due to a lack of funding, to restart.

At Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project, Nick Smith, senor youth worker, said: “We have done climbing group on a Friday for a while, but this is the first time we have ran other activities on a Friday night. It’s only been running here for about a month, but we’ve had some great feedback.”

A mini Euro 2012 competition was held for youngsters and more activities have been planned including a skate park trip.

The Youth Harbour Project is also providing various sessions for other youth organisations involved in the project, including canoeing and climbing.

A similar partnership has been set up in Allerdale. There are 13 venues across West Cumbria holding events.

First published at 11:04, Thursday, 02 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk