What Matters Ashford
What Matters Ashford
Ashford Borough Council is making youth facilities and
services a priority to ensure that young people in the
borough have the chance to have fun, stay safe and access important
services to help them in their communities.
What Matters Ashford is the overarching programme of projects
and initiatives that help shape the borough's youth provision.
Working with Thanet-based youth organisation Pipeline and key
local partners, we have set up the What Matters Network
to meet regularly to discuss issues and areas for focus, with the
aim of improving the borough for young people.
Watch this space for further news or if you are interested in
becoming involved, email SallyAnne Logan
Here are some of the What Matters Ashford
projects currently underway...
HOUSE
This vibrant new
youth space offer youngsters aged 11 to 19 a relaxed and flexible
space where they can meet up, have fun and get help and
advice. A steering group of young people direct the
venue's programming, supported by a team of youth workers.
With so many exciting new things to do, HOUSE gives young people
a safe place to hang out without the fear of being moved
on. With a kitchen, a TV area, bedroom, pool table and games
consoles, we want to see as many people enjoying HOUSE - and
to tell us what they think.
We have also transformed an area beneath the Stour Centre to
create a dedicated hang out area for young people. This space
will complement HOUSE when it is closed and will ensure young
people feel safe away from the adjacent car park.
So come visit us at HOUSE (the old reception of the Stour
Centre) and see for yourself what a great place it is!
Opening hours
Thursday 6-10pm
Friday 6-10pm
Sunday 3-6pm
Keep in touch
Get text messages on
the latest news and activities - call Joel Roszmann at KCFN on
07798630681 or email Joel@KCFN.co.uk to join the
mailing list. Watch this space for a link to a Facebook
page coming shortly.
HOUSE is funded by Ashford Borough Council, KCC Public Health,
the KCC Members Fund, Clean Kent My Place Matters Fund, Ashford
Leisure Trust and Affinity Sutton, HOUSE is operated by
Pipeline in partnership with KCFN.
Hang 10 Ashford
Hang
10 Ashford is the new detached youth service for Ashford,
set up to support local young people in their
communities.
Hang 10 has a team of three mobile youth workers,
who will be out and about working with young people around the
borough. The team will primarily work in the urban area,
such as around The Stour Centre, at Stanhope, Park
Farm and Cressfield/Hackfield, off Brookfield Road.
The youth workers aim to understand young people's needs
and engage them in positive activities such as sports and the arts,
as well as signposting them to relevant support services such as
housing, Connexions or volunteering opportunities.
With youth unemployment currently so high, the team will support
those young people with training voluntary projects, and will
set out to improve community spaces.
For example, a group of young people may go into a community and
do litter picking, graffiti removal and gardening, as well as
installing community gardens. These projects give work
experience and the skills and confidence to gain
employment.
Look out for the Hang 10 vehicle and its youth workers as they
travel around the borough. If you would like Hang 10
Ashford to visit your community, please contact SallyAnne Logan.
If you are a young person wanting to be part of a Community
Impact Programme, please email SallyAnne
Logan for more information.
Can Do Crew
Ashford Borough Council has funded Volunteer Ashford to pilot a
programme of volunteering opportunities for young people age
16-25. Young people can self refer or can be referred through
the Job Centre, Connexions or other local agency.
Young people attend a one day course which outlines what they
can expect from being a volunteer and are then placed as
individuals or as a group in opportunities that match their
need. Any young person can attend, but we are particularly
keen to see young people who are unemployed. They will also receive
social enterprise training, should they be interested in setting up
their own business.
As part of the project, and as part of a wider Volunteer
Centre initiative the Books For Free Shop has opened in Park
Mall (in the old Top Shop), whereby members of the public can
donate books for free and can also take books home for
free. What a great way to recycle!
The shop is run by volunteers, including young people, who are
wanting to gain valuable skills and knowledge about working
life. Each young person has an adult mentor who supports
them in taking part in the tasks that make the shop run
smoothly.
The shop is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 10-2pm and
Saturday 10-1pm. If you are interested in working in the shop
as a volunteer or being an adult mentor or being part of the wider
Can Do Crew programme, please contact pamela@volunteering-ashford.org
or visit the Volunteer Shop in County Square Shopping Centre,
Ashford.
This webpage was updated on
1/11/2012