£17k for services to young people in Copeland

Today, Cumbria County Council's Local Committee awarded £17k towards improving the services to young people in Copeland. £7k is awarded to develop and support the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in the area and £10k is awarded to commission a 6 month pilot project to enable young people to become more involved in the democratic processes for their area. 

County Councillor Ronnie Calvin, Chair of the Local Committee says 

"I am delighted that the Committee has been able to fund these 2 projects. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has not been particularly successful in this area. We want to change that, and this additional money will allow us to target those young people who would not normally be attracted to the scheme to come forward and take part in this wonderful opportunity. The Initiative aims to provide an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of high quality personal development for young people all over the area. We also want to encourage more young people to become involved in the democratic process within their own area. We don't want the young people of this area to feel that they do not have a say about what happens in Copeland. We want them to have 'a voice'. This £10k will go towards a 6 month pilot project in partnership with The Voluntary Youth Sector or Connexions Cumbria which will allow us to recruit a part-time development worker to work alongside the Neighbourhood Forum structure in order to engage and involve young people in that process. The development worker will work with these youngsters giving them support, training, encouragement and advice which will enable them to distribute their own budget to other young people who apply for grant aid."