Page 15 - link magazine

YOtTh ISSUES

Getting a debate underway Over the next ten pages
Page

This year West Swindon is 15 years workers to 'deal' with young people is 16 Tony Hillier - Pre-School
old. Since 1976when the first residents just passing the buck. groups as an example
17 Marion Northam - Parents
moved in, the area has become a distinct The questions The Link magazine
and Teenagers, Building
community of about 10,300 homes wants to put to people who live in the Bridges
and has a population ofnearly 30,000. area; are we as a community in a 18 Louise Wilkes - Youth Scene
Pre-school children have been a position to consider with youngpeople 18 The changes seen by
significant part of the community for what their needs are? Are we prepared parent
19 Councillor Sue Bates - Youth
most of this time and their parents are to respond to those needs?
Resources in West Swindon
well organised in various groups. Over the next few pages we have 20 A young people's centre at
However over the next ten years the asked a variety of people to consider Toothill Farm
proportion of school age children and the challenges facing both adults and 21 Carl Bown and Jo Marchment
teenagers will grow significantly. young people. We hope these - 'The Youth'. ...is this our
atttitude towards young people
The graph on the right shows contributions will start a debate which
22 Paul Ryan - Preparing for
children aged 11 to 15 living in West will stimulate positive action for the 'youth' through play
Swindon who are and will be in future. Let's not look back during the 23 Marie Crane, an unusual
secondary school until the year 2000. next five or ten years and regret the woman
By then the numbers will be almost missed opportunities. 24 Laurence Yeoman - The
opportunities for adults and
double the 1990 figure. We will welcome comments on the young people to be involved
At a guess there will be a further issue.
2,000 16 to 20 year olds living in the
area by the year 2000, making a total West Swindon children in secondary school (11 to 16) 1990 - 2000
of around 4,500 11 to 20 year olds. Information From Children in West Swindon Primary and Secondary Schools Survey conducted by
Wiltshire County Council Education Deportment and Swindon Area Health Authority Births Statistics
Compare this number with the (Numbers from 1992 onwards are projected from children already in schools
approximate 1,900 people in this age and do not take account of migration in and out of the area)
group today and you can see we will 3000
have a large, energetic, demanding
group in the community exerting their
needs in many different ways.
Many adults will ask why special
attention should be focused on 'youth.'
Young people today, particularly in '¼
West Swindon, have more attractions Co
and opportunities than ever available 2000 -
r---
to them. On the other hand, this age
group seems to have far more pressure
placed upon it nowadays - to do well in
school, to keep up with fashions and in
many cases cope with parents in conflict
with each other. The transition
between childhood and adult has never 1000 -
been easy. In fact it's getting more \
'S
difficult.
It's all very well to say that the
attractions of the Link Centre and the F,, , \
Shaw Ridge Leisure Park will provide
for them, but these are expensive F,,
F, FFFFF..
facilities. Looking to local youth \ •S '.'. - - 5.
Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000