A group of local youngsters visited Shire Hall this week to find out more about local government to help them complete a community challenge.

The ten young people, all aged 16 and from south Warwickshire met with elected members and community safety officers on Tuesday 30 August to ask questions about how the organisation operates and how community issues are addressed.

Each of the young community ambassadors are involved in The Challenge, a national programme with charity the Challenge Network.

The Challenge lasts three weeks and encourages young people to take on physical, social and civic challenges that prepare them to design and deliver a project that will make a difference in their community.

Along the way they learn key skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication, and are encouraged to develop trust in others, responsibility for themselves, understanding and empathy.

The young people approached the local authority for support with this task and Martyn Stephens Community Safety Project Officer offered to help and invited them in to find out more about what the local authority’s role.

 The first part of their visit involved a question and answer session with a panel of county councillors, Heather Timms (Earl Craven division and cabinet member for children’s services), June Tandy (Nuneaton Wem Brook division), Carolyn Robbins (Brownsover division) and Clive Rickhards (Studley division) where they discussed the role of elected members, democracy in action, and local issues such as their desire to improve Stratford Skate Park.

Armed with information about how to engage with local residents they spent time with Martyn to discuss a project they will start in Kenilworthlater this month. The project will involve putting together a questionnaire and meeting people in KenilworthTownon Saturday 17^th September to discuss and gather information on the theme of intergenerational activities. The results will be used to help them develop a local programme of community support which can be presented at the next community forum in the area. 

Look out for another blog in 2 weeks time which will look at how the Community Safety Team have been working with young people and the Challenge Network in Rugby.