Community Development Worker Terry has been working with is the Steensbridge Tenants Association Group (STAG). STAG, a registered charity, was established with the tenants of Humber Close to raise funds to develop a play area and other diversionary activities for young people who live in this rurally isolated comunity. In the last few years, although the group had continued to raise funds it became largely dormant and the play area had become dilapitated.
Over the past few months Terry has been working with STAG, Marches Housing Association and the local Police Community Support Officer, with which the REACH team has regular contact, to discuss how the play area and equipment could be updated to provide new facilities for the children and young people of the Close.
HCVYS, the Youth Partner in the REACH project, led a consultation with the children, parents and other interested parties utilising the medium of play activities over several evening sessions at two weekly intervals with an outstanding response, encouraged by the children, once the residents had overcome their initial reluctance to become involved.
This has led to an agreement from Marches Housing Association that, subject to planning regulations, new facilities could be developed on the land which they own in the Close with them also offering to part fund the project, whilst Terry has been involved in further funding searches to enable the plans to come to fruition. A wide range of options for the new/updated play area have been considered by both children and parents with some local residents offering in kind support to complete any necessary ground works or building works. The outcome of many months of work is that STAG has been revitalised, has similarly pledged funds from reserves towards the costs of new facilities and are now considering diversionary activities for this Summer.
