Shrewsbury Town Council takes on youth services

Shropshire Council is providing funding for Shrewsbury Town Council to deliver the service under commissioning powers until March 2017. A team of one full time and 14 part time youth workers have been employed to deliver the service from January 18, 2016.

The team will be led by newly appointed Adam Purnell, who has accepted the full time role of Youth & Community Development Worker. Adam is a professionally qualified youth worker who has previously worked for Staffordshire County Council and Shropshire Council.

Youth sessions for 10-14 year olds will run at Flaxivity on Monday nights, The Grange Youth Centre on Tuesdays, Sundorne Youth Centre on Wednesdays and New Lodge Youth Centre in Monkmoor on Thursdays.

As a new initiative two detached teams have been set up to meet and work with young people, aged 13-16 years old, across the town.

The Town Council will also be providing funding to Trinity Youth to provide facilities in Meole Brace.

Once the service is up and running two Consultative Forums will be created, one will provide a voice for young people so they can play their part in planning activities and the other will facilitate communications and closer working relations with all providers in the Shrewsbury area.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Alan Mosley said: "This is a very exciting new initiative for the Town Council which will protect and promote vital services for younger people throughout Shrewsbury. Working with our youth and all stakeholders we will continuously review needs and hence, provide meaningful activities which are value for money and are closely linked to community development objectives.”

Adam Purnell said: "I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity in Shrewsbury. We have put together a tremendous team of youth workers to deliver services for young people which will make a real and positive difference within our communities.”