Action Groups - Social Wellbeing & Young People

The Youth and Wellbeing Group's core philosophy concentrates on supporting and providing for future generations of young people: to nurture them, provide the right type of support and training and to encourage them to stay and live and work in the Valley rather than leaving at the earliest opportunity.

There are few provisions for young people and those that there are need more support. Over the last 20 years there has been a trend for young people to leave the Valley after finishing school to find work or study elsewhere. For young people staying in the Valley there has been a continual problem of getting the right type of training that they need and finding work.

The rise in house prices in certain areas has made it difficult for those on low wages to continue to live in the Valley.

Valley communities need to be reinforced and facilities improved or provided for.

Strategy
To look and see what's there. To look and see what's not there. To look and see what needs improving. To create 'The Valley Voice', to strengthen community cohesion and create an economic boost – through the increased use of Valley facilities, services and products (including arts, crafts and farming products).

Actions

1. Community Cohesion
To encourage community cohesion in the market towns, and between all the Valley communities, by a programme of multicultural, intergenerational events. To improve community structures and forums and to foster capacity building in people through training and continued learning.

2. A Meeting Place in every Market Town
There are plans in each of the town centres to create a 21st Century Marketplace. As part of this Marketplace there should be a 'community hub'. A place where young people can meet and find the information and support that they need. This could be well connected to other network hubs, virtual and physical, provided within the new Marketplaces.

3. A Gateway or Signpost Person in each Market Town
There should be one 'gateway person' in each of the main towns in the Valley as a first point of call for any young person to go to and get help or advice. This could be part of the 21st Century Marketplace 'community hub'. This person would coordinate and campaign for facilities and activities for young people within each of the towns.

4. Play Facilities
To provide adequate new or renewed play facilities in every market town for various age groups of children so that they can play safely.

5. The Valley Voice
To create an open forum for the whole community to share skills and ideas in an accessible, safe and creative environment.

• activate the collection, organisation and dissemination of the information people need and want
• use active networking to collect information and use a variety of methods including electronic, digital and print to disseminate information and share best practice
• ensure that the Valley Voice links up with other Action Groups who are looking at data collection and using digital media to connect people and organisations
• encourage the local media to become a partner in disseminating information through regular Valley Voice columns and small ads
• involve other 'Information partners' including: local NHS Primary Care Trust, voluntary, community and faith groups, youth organisations, small businesses, local agencies, Calderdale College, local media and Calderdale Borough Council
• encourage local business support through advertising in a Valley Voice free-sheet and to sponsor local people to undertake training in information and computer skills - a small part of making Corporate Social Responsibility a part of the Valley Renaissance.

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