New youth workers for Broadbridge Heath, Slinfold and Warnham

One cluster is Broadbridge Heath, Slinfold and Warnham, where Slinfold Parish Council, Warnham Parish Council and Broadbridge Heath Parish Council are working together.

Speaking for Slinfold Parish Council and the cluster, Camilla Gibson, Vice Chairman of Slinfold Parish Council, said:

“We decided to form a cluster with the neighbouring parishes of Warnham and Broadbridge Heath for economies of scale.

“Working together as a group rather than individually increases the chances of success. As well as sharing the financial burden, the cluster provides an opportunity to exchange ideas.”

Leading up to the employment of a youth worker for the area, there have been a number of consultation events with children and young people attending local schools.

Some of the most requested activities raised by the young people were a homework club, where a youth worker could help with their classwork/homework, more sports activities in the area and someone to provide counselling.

The other Neighbourhood and Parish Clusters in the Horsham District are: Billingshurst & Pulborough, Horsham Area, Steyning, Ashurst, Bramber & Upper Beeding and Storrington & Sullington.

Each cluster is funding the employment of full-time and substantial part-time Community Youth Workers to support local young people.

Between now and June, when Horsham Matters are appointing the new community youth workers, the Council will be giving an overview of what the different clusters are doing.

The clusters have a shared vision ‘to enable and empower local young people to make informed, positive lifestyle choices, which promote active, healthy, holistic, safe and social lives’.

The new Community Youth Work provision has been realised thanks to significant partnership working, supported by Horsham District Council.

Sue Rogers, Horsham District Council’s cabinet member for a safer and healthier district, said:

“It is great to see that these three parish councils are working together to provide such valuable and worthwhile youth work for the District’s young people.”

For more information about this new community youth work, please call Clare Ebelewicz (Senior Youth and Older Persons Officer at Horsham District Council), who is supporting the clusters to develop their own community youth work, on 01403 215137 or email [email protected]