The two most popular activities for young people are football and dance; youth activities are offered at the right time of day for 80 per cent of young people, and three quarters of them feel they have a say as to what activities are available.
These are just some of the results of a young people's 'user satisfaction survey' published today (Monday 30 July 2007).
Commissioned by Cumbria County Council on behalf of the Youth Work in Cumbria Partnership, the survey was carried out in June 2007, with three thousand questionnaires being posted to young people across the county who had used activities provided by the partnership.
Everyone who took part in the survey was entered into a prize draw to win a Nintendo Wii, with three runners up prizes of iPODS.
The results of the survey paint a picture of what is considered good and what is considered not so good about the activities currently on offer from the Youth Work in Cumbria Partnership, so that they can be improved in the future.
Responses to the questionnaire also reveal that:
- 36 per cent of young people believe they have a good choice of activities at the place they go to, whilst 48 per cent say the choice is 'OK'
- 84 per cent feel the activities are either 'really interesting' or 'quite interesting' and
- 94 per cent say the staff running the activities listen to what they say
Cumbria County Council is currently working to provide a much more 'integrated' youth support service, and the results of this users' survey will be used to help shape future local services for young people.
Chris Reeve is Cumbria County Council's principal youth officer. She said:"This survey, along with other information we have from Cumbria's young people, will help shape the direction and development of youth support services. And their input doesn't stop here - we will also be asking young people to get involved with the design and delivery of those services.
Councillor Philip Chappelhow is the county council's cabinet member for Children's Services. He said: "The best people to know how good, or relevant, a service is are the people who actually use that service - and that applies to the our young people as much as it does to you or me.
"The results of the survey show that there is already a lot that young people are happy with, and they do feel as if they are listened to. But with these responses and with the involvement of the young people themselves, we will be able to carry on improving."
Duncan Graham is the independent chair of the Youth Work in Cumbria Partnership. He said: "The survey gives those of us planning an even better youth service for young people a clear idea about what they feel and what they need. More still needs to be done to involve them directly in planning and decision-taking.
"Above all the survey should make people in Cumbria feel proud of the oft-criticised younger generation and what they achieve in the positive and productive use of their leisure time."
The full results of the survey, along with the comments of the young people who took part can be found at the link below.
ENDS
Further information from Alison Lister, media team, on 01228 606335.
Notes for editors
The full results of the survey, and the comments of the young people who took part are at www.cumbria.gov.uk/childrensservices/youthwork/ypviews.asp
The winner of the Wii is Kate Caruana from Carlisle. The three runners up are Clair Cutts from Ulverston, Mitchell Cass form Frizington and Nicola Lithgow from Whitehaven
View the full results of the survey.....