PR 122
24 January 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday evening saw the first sports evening hosted by Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Wardens, supported by Sport 4 All and Oriel High School – with kit paid for by FRANK!
FRANK is a Government funded scheme to help young people and their parents gain more awareness of the harmful effect of drugs, and where to seek help.
As part of its programme FRANK offers funding to purchase equipment and kit to encourage young people to an interest in sport, to show them that there are more profitable ways to spend their time than using illegal substances.
The youngsters were asked what sports interested them most – and tuition has started on football, basketball, table tennis and badminton.
The two-hour sessions are run by Neighbourhood Wardens David Staff and Jeff Woods and Elaine Turner. They work as a team on Gorleston’s Magdalen Estate and surrounding area.
Their role of bridging the gap between the community and the authorities includes working with young people. They are involved with everything from helping with cycle proficiency classes to citizenship training.
“The Council successfully bid for £2,000 of equipment supplied by FRANK which will be used in the sports sessions,” said Dave. “It will be held at Oriel High School during term time, and we are hoping that in the holidays we will be able to extend it to outdoor sports.
“We have built up a good relationship over the four years that rangers have been on the estate. When the youngsters heard that the sports scheme was starting, they were badgering us for weeks as they were keen to join.
“It gives them the opportunity to choose for themselves what they would like to learn about, as long as we have the resources to help them.
“When it comes to awakening interests and helping to form opinions, we feel that youngsters of this age are in their most important years.”
The sports evenings are the latest initiative of the wardens who work with Area Housing Manager, Avril Pownall. They carry out a range of activities which include patrolling the estate looking for fly tipping, abandoned cars and potential hazards such as broken paving.
They also act as professional witnesses and help residents to provide statements to combat unsocial behaviour on the three-square-mile estate.
The sports evening are held every Thursday at Oriel High School from 6 to 8pm. A fee of £1.50 per child will be made for the professional coach who leads the sessions.
The wardens intend to pilot the scheme for one month and are looking for between 25 and 30 youngsters to join to make the project viable.
Young people aged between 10 and 16 are welcome to turn up on the evening, or they can call 01493 443004 for more information.
For more information call Area Housing Manager Avril Pownall on 01493 443004.
Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513