Page 44 - link magazine

44 The Link Magazine • September 2000
Community team focused on West
A year after they moved into the Link Centre, the West area community education team are ready to reveal themselves through The Link.
Although individually known in full and part time staff responsible ing and social inclusion. This cov- Staff are also involved in corn-
various groups around West Swin- for working with community and ers youth groups in buildings and munity groups, such as the Fresh-
don, it is not generally recognised youth groups and also with groups meeting young people on the brook lunch club for older people
that a branch of Swindon Coun- providing play opportunities for street, to working with volunteers and consultation projects such as
cil's education department is based five to fourteen year olds. who run out of school groups for cleaning up Toothill Village Centre.
in the Link Centre. The West team, Kathy Kinloch runs a play infor- younger children. To find out more, call the West
one offourin the borough, has five mation and equip- team on 465413.
ment hire facility for From left, Teresa Barclay, youth
j the whole borough. - worker; Kathy Kinloch, play
I Team leader Paul fi are resources worker; Paul
Ryan said activities of Ryan, team leader; Jean
team members are Goncalvez, play development
Don't worry we can fix it many and varied in worker; Larraine Cox, admin.
pursuit of the coun- assistant; Pam Pixton, commu-
A A & j
cil's objectives of pro- nitydevelopmentworker; Luke
Body Repairs moting life long learn- , Chambers, youth worker
• Accident repair specialists
Respraying - panel beating Youth suite reopens
Chassis welding The Link Centre youth unit has Teenage health - a challenge for
Free loan car reopened after 18 months of clo-
Insurance approved repairers teenagers, doctors and parents
• MOT & mechanical repairs sure because of disruptive behav-
• 3rd pa rty experts iour by a few young people. Now Dr Adele Steptoe of Ashington House Surgery, writes.
(especially if it s not your fault) an office for the West team, the
meeting area has been enlarged Adolescence is a time of change and times are certainly changing.
for supervised youth group activi- The evidence is that teenage pregnancy rates are increasing - now 11.8
ties and workshops. per 1,000 under 16s for Swindon, 7.2 in Wiltshire, 8.7 in the whole of
England (higher than any other European country).
Among teenagers sexually trans-
Did you know that you can see a
A 2 Z Home Improvements mitted infections are increasing, 1 nurse at Carfax Street Health Cen-
All your needs in one number in 3 smoke, 4 in 10 have used ille- tre without an appointment, any
gal drugs, frequency of drinking
day of the week?
Kitchen/Bathroom fitting, Tiling, Plumbing, Electrics, has increased. These services are open to eve-
Painting, Decorating, Carpent ry and much more These are shocking statistics that ryone, but for some reason teenag-
are a priority locally and a concern ers and doctors are just not getting
111 Pinehurst Road Tel: (01793) 339671 nationally. The government aims together. The challenge to doctors
Swindon Mobile: (0378) 207977 to halve the rate of teenage preg- is to devise a service to meet the
nancies in the next 10 years. wants and needs of young people.
There are, of course, many rea- If you are a young person or a
ysocif, sons for the change and there is parent, do write to me (anony-
lots to be done to improve young mously if you like) with sugges-
peoples' opportunities, improve tions for a truly 21st century teen-
quality of relationships, build self age health service.
AG esteem and develop negotiating
7 skills to cope with the challenge of
the 21st century teenage lifestyle. Lets do lunch
^' GE I There are a variety of informa-
4
tion and health services available
to teenagers in West Swindon. First
Supply & Fitting • ReF and foremost, parents are an in-
valuable source of information on
FREI almost anything- ask them first.
SURVE In addition, your GP or practice
I^ nurse if you prefer, can help with
ESTIMi any aspect of growing up, rela-
ONA tionships and contraception when
TYPES you are well, not just when you are
sick.
GARA Did you know that the law has
DOOI changed? Doctors, nurses and re- Michelle with her daughter Shannon
ceptionists cannot give any infor-
Your local garage door specialists mation to parents (or anybody else) A lunch club to support young
•
about your consultation, but they mums resta is on 7 September at
will encourage you to do so. the West Swindon Family Project
SWINDON Did you know that anyone (any in Freshbrook.
age, married, single, male, female) Run by Michelle Sutton, once a
01793 430497 can book an appointment at the teenage mum herself, The Grub
Club offers a meal and childcare
Family Planning Clinic at West
Swindon Health Centre for con- for only £1.50, and the first visit is
Visit our showroom at traceptive advice? free.
57 BSS House, Did you know the Family Plan- "Grub Club is for mums aged
ning Clinic provides condoms free? under 21 who would like to meet
Cheney Manor Did you know that you can see a others," says Michelle.
Swindon GP at another surgery for contra- To book a meal call the family
ception? project on 871303.