Families’ breath of fresh air
SOUTHPORT councillors got a taste of the great outdoors at two family events organised by a local youth club.
They were joined by dozens of local youngsters and their parents who took in a wide range of activities, from practical tasks such as tepee building and firemaking, to painting and crafts.
An obstacle course was also on offer for those who wanted more of a physical challenge to their fun in the sun.
The free events were organised by the Youth and Community Partnership (YCP), set up by former Sefton Council staff in response to the austerity measures that forced cuts to youth services.
The first session was held at Portland Street
fields and was supported by Kew Labour councillors Janis Blackburne and Sean Halsall, who also joined in the fun playing parachute games and then got stuck in, helping out on the refreshment stall.
Cllr Halsall said it was a pleasure to take part.
He said: “It was a fantastic day, well attended by local families.
“The type of services that the YCP offer have been massively hit by the austerity cuts brought in by the government.
“In Kew, we’ve used some of the ward funds available to us to support them as youth centres are almost non-existent across Southport now, due to the cuts across Sefton since 2011.
“We desperately need the resources to give our children more of these activities and the options most of us enjoyed as children.”
Cllr Blackburne said: “It was so lovely to see the children having such fun, and they really enjoyed the toasted marshmallows and popcorn they got to make in the fire pit.
“The adults joined in with some of the activities and said how great it was to have a free event that gave their children fresh air and time away from screens.
“YCP staff deserve credit for providing this to help local families, and we were only too pleased to be able to support them in it!”
Norwood Labour councillors Carran Waterfield and Greg Myers joined YCP’s second event the following day at Canning Road recreational ground.
YCP, which is based at the Meols Cop Youth & Community Centre on Norwood Road, is also an activity provider for Duke of Edinburgh awards.
For more information about the service, find out about future events, or to hire their community centre, which brings muchneeded funds to support the service, see YCP’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/ycp.cic
Labour’s Kew Councillors hold their ward surgery at the centre, third Saturday of the month between 10.30am and 11.30am.