The Views of Young People

Age

The youth questionnaire was completed by 80 children under the age of 18. This compares with 142 children including 18 year olds who were included on the adult questionnaire. The responses for the 0-4 age group was significantly lower – 12 youth questionnaires compared to 60 children in the village. The break down from the youth questionnaire is as follows :-

If a youth club were set up in Newtown Linford, what would you want it to offer and when and how often would you want it to meet?

Do you use the Recreation ground? If not why not> What would encourage you to use it more and if it were moved what would be a good location?

81% (65) of the young people who replied indicated that they wanted a youth club. On some of the 0-4 questionnaires the response was left blank, probably as the child is currently too young.

Indoor Sports requested were badminton, basketball, netball, football, crab football, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, cricket, hockey, uni-hockey, gymnastics, ballet, tae-kwando, chess, swimming, rounders and games such as hot rice, tig and hide and seek.

Outdoor sports were football, netball, cricket, hockey and somewhere to skate and skateboard as a priority.

Other ideas were bands, camping trips, swimming, roller discos, self defence, access to computers and internet, pancake races and scavenger hunts in the park.

All suggestions were well supported with a ‘place to meet’ priority.

71% of those who indicated a preference (45) wanted to meet weekly with 22% wanting to meet fortnightly. Monday and Friday were slightly more popular than other days.

Around 80% of those who responded indicated that they do not use the recreation ground. Many did not know it was there. Others felt that it was not suitable as it was too remote or isolated and some children’s parents would not let them visit for these reasons. It was also felt that it was poorly maintained and that dog waste and litter was a problem. The slope of the land and the length of the grass made it unattractive for football. It was also felt that the equipment was unsuitable for very small children and not of interest to older children. Some children do not use it as they live too far away,

The wish list for facilities a recreation ground should have was quite extensive, including a flat surface, grind rails for skaters, skateboarders and scooters; apparatus such as swings, climbing frames, aussalt courses, slides for both small and older children; a level football pitch with net in goals; basketball/netball posts with nets; picnic area or benches; toilet and bins. It was felt that the area should be dog proof – barking dogs on the ground are intimidating and waste is a problem. One respondent suggested CCTV as a way of making the area more secure.

When asked what would encourage them to use it more, similar themes occurred over and over again – better facilities; better maintained; better security or a less isolated location; a flat well drained pitch with nets on posts. Several children said it should be better advertised as people di not know it is there.

Suggestions for resiting included near Bradgate Park, near the Tennis Courts, the Cricket Ground, somewhere more central. Reasons given were that a more central site would be more accessible and more secure, visitors could use it and the site could be flat. Some felt it should be left where it is and just improved.

How often do you use Public Transport and what would encourage you to use the buses more?

Few children seem to use public transport. 53% said that they never use and only 13% use it every week.

When asked what would persuade them to use it more, 45% said more buses, 32% said a night service and 28% said more routes. Routes to Beaumont Leys, Groby, Glenfield, Fosse Park,Quorn and other surrounding villages were mentioned. Parts of the village not served by a bus at all – neat Old John, Warren Hill and Roecliffe Road.

What Classes would you want to attend in the village if they could be organised?

There is an enthusiasm for classes in the village. The following responses were received Languages requested were French(10), German(7),Spanish, Italian, Irish, Welsh, Dutch and Japanese.

Sports were athletics; athletics, tennis, badminton, basketball, football(19), cricket, gymnastics, hockey,rugby,running(5), yoga, netball, swimming, rounders, choreography, boxing.

If you are under school age, do you use the other and Toddler group that meets on Wednesday mornings at the village school and what other facilities would you like to see

What would make living in Newtown Linford better?

Only 13% responded to this question. Two families did not know the Mother and Toddler Group existed and others were attending full time nurseries or times clashed with other groups.

The responses to this section were very varied but there were some common themes, most of which have been covered in other sections - a better bus service; a youth club; better recreation facilities including a skate park; a safe place to meet; less busy roads, less traffic, cycle lanes

Recommendations

Parish Council to improve the maintenance of the existing recreation ground e.g grass mowing, litter removal.

Parish Council to form a working party to investigate the upgrading of facilities either in situ or at another location.

Parish Council to publicise recreation ground with signs and in the Parish Magazine.

Charnwood Borough Council and Bus companies to consider the provision of an evening 120 service

Parish Council to publicise existing bus routes

A youth club is urgently required and a committee should be formed to look into the feasibility of setting up a youth club. Parish Council to promote this.

Appraisal committee to publish demand for further education, so that outside organisations can provide classes in the village.

Appraisal Committee to publish details of the mothers and toddlers group so newcomers/new mums can join in.

See also recommendations in Tourism and Leisure Section.