Youngsters in Staffordshire Moorlands have been given the opportunity to participate in free boating funded by Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis.
Through the Space programme, Rudyard Lake has been offering free sessions in boating for young people. The sessions last over three hours and youngsters can try the different boats and learn about the wildlife in the area.
The first two sessions have been extremely popular with young people and the next two sessions are on 20 and 27 August.
Space was originally an activities scheme led by police in Staffordshire during the 80’s and 90’s aimed at engaging with young people. The new version of Space, coordinated by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, has now been refreshed and updated.
The PCC Matthew Ellis has pledged up to £140,000 to fund activities with an aim to increase skills, improve health and general wellbeing by creating opportunities for young people to engage positively and reduce anti-social behavious. Activities in Staffordshire Moorlands include coracling, golf and hiking.
The Space programme, which will finish on Friday 4 September, is aimed at 11-17 year olds and will offer a wide range of events and activities across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas.
Mr Ellis said: “I am thrilled that the youngsters enjoyed the boating and it is great to see them participating in outdoor activities rather than being stuck inside all day.
“The staff did a great job of ensuring that the young people not only have fun but also learn something about the wildlife in the area and the history of the lake.”
Juliette Emberson, aged 12, who participated in the boating activities, said: “The boating has been really run and you get to do stuff that others may not be able to do.
“I have really enjoyed meeting new people and the activities have been fun and cultural from learning about the history of the lake.”
Jane Williams, Rudyard Lake Friends Volunteer, said: “The local PCSO’s, Richard Martin and Karen Hulse, have been brilliant in helping us to run these activities for the Space programme.
“All of this came from ideas to tackle anti-social behaviour in the rural areas and the positive comments we have received from the young people have been amazing.
“If we help to promote and educate young people about the lake then it would help young people to think twice about destroying it.”
More information on the Space programme, including a calendar of events, is available at www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/space.
