Ryedale youth projects boost (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale youth projects boost

A PARTNERSHIP that delivered a package of projects to try to stem the flow of young people moving out of Ryedale has been hailed as a success.

A team from Leeds Business School, at the city's Metropolitan University, have produced a report following the end of a four-year programme in March by the Ryedale Regeneration Partnership (RRP).

It was aimed at encouraging young people to remain in or return to Ryedale through a series of education, leisure, housing and community support projects.

The partnership received £2.3 million from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) 5 to fund facilities and projects, including the Engineering Centre of Excellence and associated technology training run by Derwent Training Association and the Ryedale Environmental Action Fund.

"The SRB 5 bid comprised an ambitious set of projects; possibly too many, too widely drawn and with insufficient funding to be fully effective," said the report.

"Just £2.3 million was allocated to a relatively large rural area with five towns. Nevertheless, within these constraints the RRP has had an impact, and there is evidence from surveys and project evaluations to suggest that this has been largely beneficial for young people in Ryedale."

According to the report, most young people are very positive about Ryedale as a "good" place to live, and the general perception of the area in terms of education, leisure and job prospects seems to be improving. Where people wish to leave the area, the reasons are often linked to a desire to travel and experience other areas, countries or city life.

The report praised Ryedale's youth leisure projects, and warned that they must be supported and safeguarded for the future.

"Many of the leisure projects - skatepark, cyber caf, dry bar and community chest provision - are at a critical stage regarding their future funding and administration," said the report.

"If some of these now cease, this would represent a substantial blow to the overall impact of the SRB 5 programme, would undermine a lot of hard work put in so far and, moreover, have a psychological impact on young people, some of whom would feel let down by the Ryedale community."

It concluded that improved co-ordination was needed among the services for young people, which could be helped by appointing a Ryedale Youth Services officer.

Better communication was also needed between the key agencies providing information to young people, and a common vision was needed, which could be provided by establishing a young citizens' panel or youth charter.

Updated: 11:59 Wednesday, June 02, 2004