Team calling for your ideas

By Victoria Knowles

QUEENS WAY Community Action Team is calling for your ideas to help make the area a place to be proud of.

The team has been recently set up to encourage people who live in the area to get involved and make some changes. A youth council has also been set up so that young people can have their say.

Elke Alderson, chairwoman of the committee said: "There is just nothing for the youths to do around here. People have only seen the bad side of this area lately but we want to show that good can come out of it.

"When we had the first meeting there were people there who would never have spoken to each other but after that night they went off chatting together. We have looked in to funding and there is stuff about for us to apply for. The council has also been helpful and for our next meeting they are printing the leaflets and posters free of charge.

"We are organising a street party which I hope will be the catalyst to get people talking. The fear of what could happen is often greater than the actual danger and if we can get people talking them we can dispel a lot of this.

"The team want to get things done and ultimately we would like to work with the YMCA to get the 405 club up and running again. There are a lot of children around here who have been excluded and have nothing to do. We want to be able to offer them the chance to learn new skills and give them something to work on which they can be proud of. It would give them some responsibility. This could be an old car for them to work on or other classes which will help them in life to get on and get a job. We want to help reintegrate them in to society."

The next meeting will be on April 11 at 7.30pm at the Baptist Church in Nansen Road. It is a chance for anyone to come along and have their say. There will even be entertainment from the So Real Theatre Company and activities to keep the children amused.