Pershore Town Youth Council 2009-2010

How Did It Begin?

• Nominations were invited for anyone who was interested in taking part in a Youth Council running in conjunction with the Town Council • The whole school community voted, with two members being selected from each year group • In September the first meeting of fourteen new youth councillors (plus Town Mayor and Clerk) was held. A Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor were chosen.

The Pershore Town Youth Councilors

• • • • • Year 8: Bryony Watkins and Tidiahn Woodward Year 9: Jonathon Jones and Sophie Harbridge Year 10: Mark Grimes and Lucy Yarnold Year 11: Rob Ireland and James Dodson Sixth Form: Alec Smith (Youth Mayor), Emma Hawtree (Deputy Youth Mayor), Dan Hart, Andrew Price • • • Town Clerk: Ann Dobbins Town Mayor: Cllr Chris Parsons MBE Supervisor: Mr Corbett

What Does The Council Hope To Achieve?

• • • • Making sure that the voices and opinions of children and young adults from all around Pershore, and in particular the school, are heard Making sure that the opinions of the youth of Pershore are heard and considered and respected in a similar manner to the rest of the community To really do something positive for all parts of the community and to achieve success for them To build respect and bridges between different groups who do not usually have their voice heard.

Making sure that ideas are heard

Youth Council Year/School Council Year Council members Pershore High School

Some of Our Projects…

Christmas Light Switch on Ceremony

• • • • • • • • Ceremony happens every year, but we thought it could do with a Youth Council touch Christmas card competition Father Christmas Real Reindeer Numerous stalls Christmas Orchestra Christmas Choir “Best Christmas light switch on ceremony Pershore has ever seen”

Bandstand/Youth Shelter

• • • • • • Numerous suggestions for a Youth Shelter for people to sit and chat in the park during the summer months After raising the topic, we realised the town wide, all ages demand for a bandstand in the park We concluded that we could run the two projects in unison We started appeals and fund raising Chose our favourite Bandstand Raised nearly all required funds and got planning permission and a lot of support, as soon as the remainder of the funds are found then construction will start.

• • • • • • • • •

Musical Festival

Demand for more social events from younger age groups in school Suggestions of a Music Festival after the success of the likes of the ‘Snodsfest’ So we decided it would be a great idea for May Bank holiday Venue: Pershore Riverside Centre Attendance: 150+ Weather: Torrential Rain and the occasional sunny spell Spirit: High Acts: ‘Thatisfaction’; ‘SJS’; ‘Trower Power’; ‘Hannah Forrester’; ‘Rob King’; ‘The Decisives’ Huge Success! Profit and proceeds towards Bandstand funds and charities

More CSO’s

• • • • • Pupils of Pershore High School raised that they would like more Community Support Officers in and around Pershore Wrote to the local police station concerning the Community Support Officers in Pershore Replied that unfortunately, would not be able to increase the actual quantity of CSO’s until 2011 However… We have a meeting with them later today as we have expressed our ambitions of having a meeting to discuss how we can improve the situation and how we and the school believe the CSO’s can be best used in and around Pershore

Crossing on Station Road

• • • • Large scale demand throughout the community for a crossing on Station Road Why? Very dangerous, large numbers of school pupils walk to school and have the need to cross the road on many instances throughout the day, at least before and after school every day Alec Smith had a meeting with some of the Town and County Council members Expressed our opinions, worries and what we believe should be done and it is currently being discussed and considered by district and county councils

Other Smaller Successes

• General volunteering and participation in town events • Bus Route revision • Nature Reserve • Time 4 U • Communication increased via notice boards around Pershore

A Year On…

After one year of dedication, hard work and success I can safely say that I and the rest of the council have really enjoyed our time as the Pershore Town Youth Council.

We have surprised many, and I am incredibly proud and satisfied of the work we have achieved and help we have given to the community, the council and, most importantly, the students of Pershore High School.

We are also incredibly grateful for the help, guidance and support we have had from Pershore Town Council and the school. In particular we must thank Ann Dobbins and Chris Parsons from the Council and Mr Corbett for their tremendous effort towards giving us the foundations for such a success.