COLNE VALLEY AREA COMMITTEE FUNDS SPORTING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

5.52.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Apr 2008

Colne Valley Area Committee is to fund sports activities for youngsters in partnership with a Milnsbridge counselling service.

Colne Valley Area Committee is to fund sports activities for youngsters in partnership with a Milnsbridge counselling service.

The United Church of Healing Ministries which operates out of the old YMCA building has agreed to lend the committee its sports courts so that a series of structured multi-sports activities sessions can be run there. At the meeting on Thursday 10th May councillors will commit £4300 to fund sessions for 36 weeks a year. A Community Sports Officer and assistant from Kirklees Young People Service will deliver two weekly sessions at the courts. Each will be two hours long and include a range of sporting activities, sports coaching and potential scheme accreditation."

Cllr Robert Iredale (Lib Dem, Golcar Ward and Member of the Area Committee says:

"It is really important that these sorts of sessions are set up for children and young people in the Colne Valley. We want our young people engaged in positive and structured activities not slouched at home on the couch or standing around on street corners. The sports sessions that the committee will fund will teach young people about team work and co-operation as well as improving their levels of health and fitness. They'll also have the chance to work toward a specific accreditation which will help them with later learning and employment".

"The UCHM has been very good in agreeing to this arrangement. There has been a bit of bother recently with children playing at the courts unsupervised. We hope setting up formal sessions will help change young people's behaviour and attitude to the facilities. The last thing we or the UCHM wants is to have to stop young people at playing at the courts altogether. We are determined to work together to find positive solutions to our local problems".