Paucity of young people’s activities in town
Readers are all looking outside Aldershot as they make plans for their summer holiday enjoyment
WITH most schools now closed for the summer holidays, many families will be mulling over how to keep their kids entertained during the six-week break.
The News & Mail asked shoppers in Aldershot if there are enough activities for young people to enjoy in the town or if parents had to take their kids away in search of fun things to do.
Mother Kyra White, from Aldershot, has cancelled her all-inclusive summer holiday to Tenerife. She said: “We were going abroad but we cannot afford it.
“We will be staying in the UK, visiting places like Blackpool.”
The 26-year-old said there was nothing in Aldershot for young children to do.
“There’s a play area in McDonalds but that’s about it,” she said. “You have to go to Camberleyor Farnborough, so it is not ideal if you have not got a car.”
Aldershot mother Wendy Davis, said she never plans holidays in advance and goes away ‘last-minute’.
The 48-year-old said: “We tend to go to Waverley Abbey in Farnham for painting and craft activities.
“We also go kite flying at the beach.
“There could be much more provision in Aldershot, especially for older children.
“My daughter is too old for play schemes, but too young to be left alone.”
Akaisha Davis, 12, said: “I like things like Go Ape in Farnham.
“I am into dance and pottery and it would be really nice if there was a pottery place in Aldershot where you could actually spin items.”
Michael Nice, 53, is a selfemployed carpenter and was not bothered about the cost of going away during the summer holidays.
Mr Nice, from Aldershot, said: “As I work for myself, I can go away any time of the year.
“But for children there is not much for them to do in Aldershot during the summer holidays.
“I don’t know what we need, but we need something for youngsters.
“There needs to be a committee set up to sort something out.”
Teenager Sophia Kahn is going camping in Wales next month.
The 18-year-old, from Basingstoke, said that where she lived there were volunteering roles for youths to get involved with during the holidays, which would not only be fun, but provide good experience.
“Perhaps they could introduce that sort of thing in Aldershot,” she said.
“Each summer I used to volunteer with activity schemes, but I have stopped now because I have started working.”
Ashley Granshaw, 20, from Aldershot, said he had cancelled his four-week trip to Kavos this summer as his partner is having a baby.
“I am instead going to Wales for a week and staying at home around Aldershot,” he said. “I actually had this conversation with a mate recently, saying there was not much going on for youngsters in the area.
“I play rugby for Farnham. Perhaps the sports facilities here could be improved as the trains are expensive if you go out of town to go to other gyms and leisure centres.”