Muir Group News
18th November 2009
Young people ‘Go Green’ at Glebe Green
YOUNG people in Winsford are to decide how to spend money improving the environment around their housing estate.
The Youth Fund – jointly run by Muir Group Housing and Groundwork Cheshire – aims to encourage 10 to 16-year-olds to think about the environment on the Glebe Green estate.
“We want to get young people thinking about their local environment and taking care of their estate as early as possible so they are proud of where they grow up and want to help make it a better place,” said Sam Hopper, Muir Group Housing’s community housing officer for Glebe Green.
The project, funded by £3,000 from Groundwork Cheshire, will see a committee of young people listening to ideas for community activities which could improve the environment and quality of life for local residents.
The ideas must come from other groups of two or more youngsters, aged between 10-16-years-old and on the estate.
The most innovative suggestions could receive funding of up to £500 from the Youth Fund committee to help make them a reality.
Fun workshop sessions were held throughout the summer, at Muir Group Housing’s community house, to raise interest in the project and 12 young people who attended have formed the committee.
The young people meet once a fortnight at the community house where groups can put forward their proposals.
Katherine Stanier, project manager for Groundwork Cheshire said: “This project is a great way of getting the youngsters of Glebe Green involved in making decisions about their estate. Often young people have the most dynamic ideas of all and it is never too early to get people thinking about their community and how they can make a difference.”
The Youth Fund committee has also decided to form a youth residents association, called 2getha, to work alongside the existing Harmony residents association on the estate.
Two parents from Glebe Green, Kelly Furnage and Lisa Hill, are now helping the young people with both projects.
Lisa, from Harmony, said: “It’s fantastic to see youngsters on the estate working so well together on something that will benefit all the residents on Glebe Green.
“Projects like this help to make a real difference and create a more close-knit community that look after each other and where they live.”
