Horsham gets new youth workers in council initiative

The final cluster is the Horsham area, where Denne Neighbourhood Council, Forest Neighbourhood Council, Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council, North Horsham Parish Council and Horsham District Council are working together.

Funds have been secured by North Horsham Parish Council and Horsham District Council, on behalf of the Neighbourhood Councils, through the Special Town Charge, for the employment of community youth workers for 60 hours per week.

Young people in this area said at engagement events that it was important for accessible youth workers to be available out of hours to give support and advice as well as help young people to learn life skills, such as cooking, financial help, work advice etc.

Helena Croft, cabinet member for Horsham Town at Horsham District Council, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to continue the much needed investment into the young people of Horsham. I’m delighted to see such initiative and willingness to work together by all involved for the benefit of our youth!”

Roger Wilton, chairman of North Horsham Parish Council, said: “The parish council is concerned that provision for young people in the area was severely affected by cuts to the youth service.

“We are happy to partner with the neighbourhood councils and Horsham District Council to provide youth workers, a locally based service to serve local young people.”

The other Neighbourhood and Parish Clusters in the Horsham District are: Broadbridge Heath, Slinfold & Warnham; Billingshurst & Pulborough; 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.

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 five groups of 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]