Youth Provision in Leigh-on-Sea

Youth Club

Leigh-on-Sea Town Council have been working in partnership with the Southend YMCA over the last year to provide a youth club for children aged between 8 and 12. The relationship was formed after previous Council Chairman, Valerie Morgan selected Southend YMCA as her Chairman’s Charity for 2018/19.

After the success of the Youth Club in the last academic year, the Town Council have recently agreed to increase the funding to allow for an additional youth club up to the age of 16.

The new Youth Club will launch on Thursday 5th September and continue weekly at the following times:

5pm - 7pm - 8 - 11 yr olds

7.30pm - 9.30pm - 12 - 16 yr olds

Each week children will have access to a variety of activities including board games, chess, indoor football, badminton & hockey, air hockey, table football, pool, arts and crafts, dancing, team games and projects.

The club will meet at Leigh Community Centre and benefits from on-site cafe Lorna & Lottie's, providing hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and more.

The club is free to attend, but spaces are limited. To book your place please go to www.bookwhen.com/southendymca.

Leigh-on-Sea Youth Forum

For 11-18 year olds

Do you live in Leigh-on-sea and the immediate surrounding areas?

Do you want your voice heard about local issues and have the power to affect change?

Do you want to help organise fun events for the community?

Then come along and be part of the LEIGH-ON-SEA TOWN COUNCIL YOUTH FORUM.

To find out more about this please forward your name and contact details to:

Councillor Anita Forde

Email: cllrforde@leighonseatowncouncil.gov.uk

Mobile: 07786 023941

What can this Youth Forum do?

1. Give young people a voice and a say in their local area:

Listen to what young people want and take action by speaking with the relevant services to make it happen
Consult with young people about local transport services and lobby for improvements as necessary
To involve young people in local consultations such as possible change to facilities in the open spaces of Leigh-on-sea
To create links with the adult councillors of Leigh Town Council so we work together to get things done

2. To make a difference in our community:

Improve young people’s employment opportunities by promoting volunteering
Encourage young people to get more involved in activities in the community
To create local volunteering opportunities for young people, particularly working with and befriending, elderly and disabled people
To set up and run campaigns for better services including improved transport, youth provision etc

3. Challenge negative stereotypes of young people and raise the positive profile of young people:

Promote positive activities and organise an annual Youth Event i.e. Market
To work alongside other young people’s groups and share experiences
Support initiatives to make Leigh Town a safe area for young people

Youth Forum Dates

Thursday 12th September 2019
Thursday 10th October 2019
Thursday 14th November 2019
Thursday 12th December 2019
Thursday 9th January 2020
Thursday 13th February 2020
Thursday 12th March 2020
Thursday 9th April 2020
Thursday 14th May 2020
Thursday 11th June 2020
Thursday 9th July 2020
Thursday 13th August 2020
Thursday 10th September 2020
Thursday 8th October 2020
Thursday 12th November 2020
Thursday 10th December 2020

Please note all Youth Forums are held at Leigh Community Centre, Room 6 from 5pm - 6pm

Youth Market 2019

This is the second time Leigh-On-Sea Town Council have hosted a Youth Market promoting the very best local entrepreneurial talents on offer. The Market transferred from the Community Centre to Strand Wharf this year with the extended hours of 11am – 4pm. On the day we had 19 stalls and 7 groups of performers. General feedback from the public was highly positive proving the event was very well received and with much bigger numbers than last year. Many of the stall holders have already expressed an interest in attending the event again with many generating good income and publicity. A number of thank you correspondence has been received. There was also considerable Facebook and Instagram interaction regarding the event on the day which increased awareness. Overall, the Youth Market was a great success and made a positive impact illustrating our local youth, broadcasting their talents and encouraging the youth of Leigh to be more involved in our community. A lot of people commented how fantastic is was that the Council were putting on such an event and encouraging young people this way.

Poster made by Maggie Callaghan