Page 29 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • June 2003 29
Peer education in North Swindon
Emily Willard. 15, from Greenmeadow is a member of a Peer Education
Group which formed earlier in the yearto provide a place for young people
to express their views about what they want in North Swindon. Here she
describes the group and also the frustration young people in the area feel.
I am a young per-
son in North
Swindon and I
think that I un-
derstand other
teenagers in my
area and the prob-
lems they have
filling their spare
time.
At the moment
there are very few
places for them to
go - so they resort
to hanging around
children's parks
and shops where;
they are more Youth workers and peer educ
likely to come into Fallon Brewster, backfrom left, Krissy Harry, Nicky Khan,
contact with
Emily Willard, Dawn Carpenter, Kate Barnett
drugs, alcohol and
getting into trouble. The lack of nity for teenagers in this area and
facilities leads to boredom and I am really looking forward to be-
frustration. ing part of the team doing some-
What the 'peer education group' thing positive to help.
can give to these teenagers is a safe • To join the peer education group,
meeting place where they can dis- call youth worker Dawn Carpen-
cuss any worries or fears that they ter on 722427.
may have. The group will offer Youth work on the move
informal advice and information Youth workers will be touring
on serious subjects, such as sub- North Swindon looking for young
stance abuse, teenage pregnancy, people who would like to discuss
sexually transmitted diseases and what the area needs and find out
other major issues. what the Youth Service can offer.
Hopefully the programme will Look out for the black Mobie
also be able to organise structured mini-bus on Wednesdays 11, 18
day trips out of Swindon, lessons and 25 June. Specific venues will
in dancing, beat boxing and lots of be arranged closer to the date. Call
other activities. 722427 for details or to arrange to
I think this is a great opportu- meet at a particular place.
Vampire wear
at West library
Youngsters with an eye for fash-
ion and design were invited to
the West Swindon library to cre-
ate an outfit for Sarah Michelle
Gellar, aka 'Buffy the Vampire
Slayer,' on 14 May.
Twenty five teenagers took part
in the free event sponsored by
Asda, the Body Shop and Swindon
College.
Left, making afashion statement with
Buffy, from left, Sadie Sheppard,
c
Ellesiha Gilliz er, Emma Baker, Chloe
Little
Library youth club needs game helper
The West Swindon Library Lord of the Rings Gaming Club is now
officially the largest of its kind in the country.
Aimed at 13 to 19 year olds, the group meets on Fridays from 4.30pm
to 7.30pm and it's free.
The library is looking for a volunteer willing to take on the running
of the club. You don't have to know anything about the games, the
members will teach you. The job entails setting up the tables, register-
ing the users on arrival, maintaining a reasonable level of behaviour
amongst members and putting equipment and tables away. •L gAFH ( 0 ) - ARTStAPE 653 SW'Ini -?Tl
)
For more information call Kristianne Drake on 465625 or mail:
[email protected] or drop in on a Friday evening.