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Estate youngsters make voices heard
Young people are taking steps to improve life on their estate as part of a new initiative.
As reported in the Echo, Plains Farm is one of only 11 estates in the UK to be chosen by the Government to pilot new community charters, or contracts.
The charters give the community the power to draw up written guarantees with housing association Home to tackle issues important to them.
After the success of the estate's Clean, Green Safer Charter – launched in June last year – young people in Plains Farm are creating another charter of their own.
Teenagers from the A690 Youth Initiative have been working hard on the project and they presented their ideas at a meeting at Plains Farm and Humbledon Community Initiative.
Some of the ideas include cheaper public transport for the under-25s, an Internet cafe, more training courses and apprenticeships from local businesses and a gym.
Eighteen-year-old Steven Voss gave the presentation with Jamie Snowdon, 15.
Steven said: "All the ideas we have come up with are important to young people on the estate, but for me one of the most important things is for local businesses to provide more apprenticeships."
The young people also think there should be seats at bus stops for the elderly, more litter bins, and that some road kerbs should be lowered.
The ideas are backed up by surveys of young people at the A690, Sandhill View School and residents.
Staff from Sunderland City Council, Home, gentoo, Plains Farm and Humbledon Community Initiative attended the meeting along with local councillors.
They were asked to take part in an electronic vote on the issues highlighted by the young people.
A690 youth worker Sarah Lynn, who is co-ordinating the project with colleague Lynn Pattison, said: "The Plains Farm Youth Charter is made by the young people for young people.
"The findings from today will be fed into the young people's findings and we will produce a draft youth charter which will be passed around all the partners for them to look at.
"Then a final charter will be produced, which all the partners and the young people will sign up to."
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
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