Page 19 - link magazine

YOUTH & YOUTH WORKERS 19

The youth work team - who they Community Activities at
are and where to find them
Lyn Davis, Jo Marchment and called equality, young women Greendown this Autumn
Mike Boddington use as their rarely get an equal say in mixed The new school year has started at Greendown and there are a large
base the Link Centre. This acts as group settings. They often have number of activities taking place at the school for all ages and
a natural focus in the evenings to contend with a barrage of put- covering a wide range of interests. They are open to all members of
the community, though for some activities, such as the playgroup,
for many of the teenagers in the downs and belittling comments there is a waiting list.
area. This is partly due to the from the male 'friends,' whose
leisure facilities on offer and its sexist attitudes can discourage Costs are very low - generally a £5 annual membership, with most
central location in West Swin- young women from participat- activities for adults costing just 50p per hour. Some activities are
don. This contact point is further ing altogether. more expensive, especially those where special coaching is neces-
enhanced by the Centre's open- An established 'Girls Group' sary. Some, particularly those for young people, are free.
access policy, which offers com- meets at the Link Centre every
fortable surroundings to young Tuesday evening at 7.30p.m. Activities for Young People
people at no cost for admission. Another is developing at Green- Monday
Due to developments in the down, a venture which is being St. John Ambulance Cadets, 6.30p.m. - 9p.m. - Contact Kate
Bush, 9284329.
team's approach, i.e. the increas- initiated by older girls and being Junior Gymnastics, 5.15p.m. - 7.15p.m. - Alan Jones, 875425.
ing level of 'detached' work, the supported by the youth work Table Tennis, 7p.m. - 10p.m. - Mr. Warner, 644848.
need to support young people in team. Both groups welcome
court and extended links with newcomers. Tuesday
other agencies, Jo Marchment In order to further day to day Junior Badminton, 5.30p.m. - 7p.m. - Any juniors interested in
now spends less time at the Link contact work, residential week- coaching, please contact Greendown School, 874224.
Centre, although it remains her ends away from home areas are Wednesday
contact point for many young- organised. Such residentials of- Woodcraft Folk, 6.30p.m. - 8p.m., Philip & Sandra Lewis,
sters. ten combine leisure activities 487706
Youth Dance, 5.30p.m. - 7p.m., Jackie Shea, 874224.
According to Wiltshire County Council population Junior Soccer Training
figures there are over 2,200 people between the age of West Swindon Juniors - Bob Bailey, 824703.
Greendown Juniors - Carl Bowen, 874224
11 and 24 living in West Swindon. By 1990 It is pre-
dicted there will be 3,595, and 5,733 by 1995. Thursday
Jujitsu, 6.30p.m. - 8p.m. - Quentin Bell (black belt), 770702.
Greendown community with a more intense style of 'dis- Junior Drama, 6.30p.m. - 8p.m. - Jools Dowling, 874224.
School at Grange Park acts as a cussion work,' designed to ex-
base for Carl Bowen, who has an plore beliefs and attitudes perti- Friday
Air Training Corps, 7p.m. - 9.30p.m. - Fit. Lt. Trotman, 740934.
office in the school's community nant to issues such as racism,
suite. In this respect, the school sexism, sexuality and health. In addition Greendown Playgroup and Playmates Parents &
offers a facility for 'centre-based' Often the young people are Toddler Group meet:
work which is used by Carl and encouraged to be involved right Playgroup - Mon/TuosfThurs/Fridays, 9.15a.m. - 12.15p.m. -
other workers for group work from the start, sharing with the Hilary Brimble, 871561.
Playmates - Tuesday 1.30p.m.; Wednesday 9.30a.m. -
sessions and youth meetings. workers responsibility for plan- 11.30p.m. - Jackie Kirwan, 872718.
Carl also covers the wider area of ning the trip and devising the
Freshbrook and Grange Park, programme of events. The A range of youth activities are organised by Carl Bowen, the
making use of the community chance to offer a change in envi- Youth & Community Worker based at Greendown. Age range
centre's cafe on Sunday after- ronment coupled with the expe- varies according to activities. Carl can be contacted on
noons. rience of shared living often 874224.
Ian Crawford is the worker proves productive in youth work
Activities for Adults.
covering the Toothill area of terms. Monday
West Swindon and over theyears In assessing our current work Jujitsu, 8p.m. -10p.m. - Quentin Ball (black belt), 770702.
he has become very strongly we are constantly aware that we Table Tennis - 7p.m. - 10p.m. - Mr. Warner, 644848.
identified with it. Adhering are only reaching a small per-
strongly to the principle of 'de- centage of young people in West Tuesday
tached youth work,' Ian spends Swindon. If the projected num- Badminton, 730p.m. - 1000p.m. - Julie Kirk, 427484.
most of his time making contact bers for the area are correct, the Moves Fitness, 715p.m. - 845p.m. - Liz Donovan, 870902.
with young people outside the proportion of young people in
community centre and on the the area is going to increase dra- Wednesday
streets, whilst also spending time matically over the next 5 years. Soccer Training
West Swindon F.C, 7p.m. -10p.m. - Bob Bailey, 824703.
with older teenagers using the It is therefore important that Pipers F.C., 7p.m. -10p.m. -Steve Canell, 871179.
local pub. However, he has al- young people are seen as a fun- Thursday
ways supported the 'centre damental part of the community, Jujitsu, 8p.m. - 10p.m. - Quentin Ball (black belt), 770702.
based' work carried out by part not as some seperate entity. Senior Drama, 8p.m. - 10p.m. - Jools Dowling, 874224
time workers John Ayres, Lisa In order to achieve this, we
Walker and 'Jock.' John is based attempt to encourage other Friday
at Toothill Farm and Lisa runs adults to relate to young people Badminton, 730p.m. - 1030p.m. - Tony Dutton, 618247.
the youth club in the community on more equal terms.
There Is also an extensive Adult Education Programme. Full
centre. As a youth work team, we details can be obtained from Rod Kensett, Adult Tutor on
More recently, Pam Tracy and hope that we will be see us as an
871413.
Lyn Hyslop have started to work integral part of the community.
in the Toothill area as well. They We look forward to extending For further information about any of these activities, either ring the
have the specific brief to develop our contacts still further. number shown above or contact Greendown, Grange Park Way,
and initiate work with girls and *The members of the West West Swindon. Tel: 874224.
young women. This comes at a Swindon Youth Work:
time when the team as a whole is Lyn Davis and Jo Marchment Greendown is still under-used at weekends and on Fridays. Any
trying to make its response to the at the Link Centre - 871212. person or group wishing to use any of part of the premises for any
needs of young women more ef- Carl Bowen at Greendown appropriate activities should contact the school as soon as possible.
fective. Even in todays age of so- Community School - 874224.