Activities across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire continue to be a rolling success as youngsters take part in Space 2017.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, Matthew Ellis, paid a visit to a sporting activity session at the YMCA North Staffs, where he saw dozens of young people learning new skills and getting involved in lots of different activities.
Activities on offer to youngsters attending the session included zorbing, climbing, free running, table tennis and a roller disco. A video of the visit can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjD1N3NUKh4
Mr Ellis said: ‘I had a great time at the YMCA in Hanley, where I got to see a bit of madness going on as part of Space 2017. It was great to see the kids enjoying themselves, learning new things and gaining confidence, while doing some really mad, fun things. It was fabulous and exactly what Space should be about. And I have to admit I did have a little go myself.’
Adrian Tilstone, from YMCA North Staffs, added: ‘We’ve had the pleasure of delivering the Space scheme this summer and we’ve had various activities on Wednesdays and Fridays. There has been climbing, free running, zorb balls and a whole host of other sports.
‘We’ve had a fantastic time over the summer lots of thirteen and fourteen year-olds whose parents can still go to work knowing their teenagers are not only will be safe here but will also have an absolutely fantastic time.’
Space was originally an activities scheme led by police in Staffordshire during the 80’s and 90’s to provide fun things during the school summer holidays with the aim of improving engagement with young people.
The new version of Space, relaunched by Mr Ellis in 2015, and coordinated by his Office, is aimed at increasing skills, improving health and wellbeing and creating opportunities for young people aged 11 and 17 to take part in positive activities to make communities safer. The activities are delivered by a partnership of public and voluntary organisations, including the police.
Eleven year-old Athos, who attended the activity, said: ‘I have really enjoyed today because we have been doing rock climbing and there was table tennis and sumo wrestling that I did with my dad, which was really fun.’
Over the summer holidays indoor and outdoor activities – many of them free of charge – are on offer including archery, glow-in-the-dark sports, trampolining, design your own t-shirt, summer parties and even a walk up Snowdon for the more adventurous.
Full details of the Space programme can be found on the web site at www.staffordshirespace.uk
