Community projects are set to get a £2,000 boost in the latest initiative by the Safer & Stronger Communities project jointly led by Telford & Wrekin Council in partnership with the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, working with the Young People’s Forum.
The “Young People Making Changes” initiative, invites people aged 11 – 18 to identify an issue or problem they would like to do something about, demonstrate how they could make a difference and why this matters to the applicants and their community.
Ideas need to be based around three themes including health and wellbeing, the environment or jobs, money, homes and opportunities and the top five ideas will be awarded the funding needed to get the idea off the ground.
Police and Crime commissioner John Campion said “This is a great way to give young people a voice, helping them to take pride in and make improvements to where they live. This is just one example of how my investments alongside Telford & Wrekin Council are building Safer & Stronger Communities”.
Councillor Paul Watling (Labour) Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to be heard and to submit ideas to make real changes in their communities.
We know people care about the people in their communities the future where they live and are full of hope and ideas I couldn’t even imagine so I can’t wait to see the shortlist of amazing ideas I know are out there and then watch the projects take shape and start bringing about positive change for people connected to them.”
The five best projects will be selected by a judging panel and each awarded £2,000 to make their project happen, the winners will be announced at a celebration ceremony at Telford Theatre on 27 June.
The themes were the top three highlighted in the Make Your Mark ballot in March 2022, a national vote organised by the British Youth Council that included over 5000 young people from Telford and Wrekin. The Young People’s Forum – an action group organised by Telford & Wrekin Council, identified these areas as key areas of concern for young people in Telford. Schools, youth or community groups and sports clubs are also invited to support applicants with their ideas.
The closing date for applications is Friday March 17 at midnight. For more information and to submit an application go to the Telford & Wrekin Council website.
The Safer & Stronger Communities project is led by Telford & Wrekin Council in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), John Campion. More that £2m will be invested into further improving safety and new community groups, with an additional £500K from the PCC, over the next two years.
If you are aged 11-18 or know someone that would like to join the Young People’s Forum, the group holds open meetings every fortnight at The Wakes in Oakengates and shares ideas on issues that matter to them. Visit the Telford & Wrekin Council website for more information.
