Caiapark Comunity First - People Working Together in Caiapark Wrexham North Wales

CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE

AND FAMILIES

Former Queens Park Youth Club brings joy to local young people’s projects

Your unwanted child and baby clothes needed.

The family support group run by Caia Park Early Years Forum is in desperate need of baby clothes and equipment as well as clothes and shoes for young children. If you have any items that you no longer need; please don't throw them away - recycle them by passing them onto the Family Support group which is based at 10 Gwenfro - the community house on Prince Charles Road. For more information or to make a donation, please contact Jo Dodd on 01978 314587.

Venture Parent and Toddler Group

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am until 11.30am, the Venture Parent and Toddler Group welcomes parents, carers and their children up to 3 years of age. There is no charge for children and adults pay just £1 which includes a light snack and drink for all adults and children. To join in just turn up or for more information please contact Karen or Lynn at the Venture, Garner Road or telephone 01978 340708

Cats Paw Theatre Productions

A number of theatre productions have now been carried out across Caia Park by the well established Cats Paw Theatre Production company. Many children and young people via various venues have benefited from these productions. The themes for the productions have ranged from transition between primary and secondary school and drug and alcohol awareness. The actors involve the audience in their performances and are produced in forum theatre style whereby the audience are able to shape the outcome of the storyline. If you know of any groups who would like to deliver similar performances from Cats Paw theatre click here to view their website.

Caia Park Children, Young People and Families Board.

This Board is made up of representatives from services and strategic bodies both from within Caia Park or servicing Caia Park and is responsible for overseeing the development of children, young people and families services within the area. The Board has links with the community to ensure local peoples views are voiced and maintains strong links with the youth of the area via Caia Park Youth Forum. The Board has representation from Wrexham Children and Young People's Framework partnership, Team Around the Child, Flying Start, Sure Start, Caia Park Partnership, Caia Park Early Years Forum, The Venture, Gwenfro Valley Integrated Children's Centre, Wrexham Youth Service, Wrexham Integrated Children's Centre development, Caia Park Residents Panel and Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW). The Board provides a forum whereby new developments in children and young people's services can be discussed and views aired upon the impact these will have in Caia Park.

If you would like to receive minutes of the Caia Park Children, Young People and Families Board meetings, please call into the Communities First office at 17/18 Gwenfro, call 01978 314094 or email info@caiaparkfirst.co.uk

To view the updated version of the Caia Park Children, Young People and Families strategy theme from 2006 please click here.

If you would like to view the Caia Park Child Poverty Action Plan 2010 - 2012, please click here to view.

Following the closure of the renowned Queens Park Youth Club in 2007; there were some funds available in the account. The management committee set up a project fund benefit young people from Caia Park over a longer period of time. The committee wanted to see inspiring, new projects for young people that can help them to aspire to greater things and participate in a cultural experience.

Successful projects that received funding:

Hafod Y Wern Community Primary School Year 6 went on a cultural journey to London. Pupils gained an insight into the cultural diversity of a leading world city, its theatres, the democratic system within Britain and wonders from all over the world in the Natural History Museum. The pupils also experienced a ride on the London Eye and a trip on the River Thames. The experience was captured by the pupils on a short film and this trip formed part of wider project work in school for the pupils.

Caia Park Outdoor Pursuits Group – this group has been set up by young people who want to gain skills and experiences through Outdoor Pursuits. Communities First have helped the group to set up and hold meetings to organise the project. The young people are from every part of Caia Park aged 18-25. So far the group have taken part in paint balling, go karting and gorge walking. The hope is that some of the young people involved will gain qualifications to lead and instruct some of the activities themselves to make the project sustainable. (Includes picture)

Caia Park Partnership Youth Team – took a group of young people on a 5 day residential/ camp to Nant Yr Outdoor centre. The project fund gave 30 young people the opportunity to experience activities that they do not normally take part in. The trip which included visits to the slate caverns, castles and Snowdonia National Park enabled the group to develop a greater understanding of Welsh culture. (includes photo)

Forgetting Last Friday – an up and coming band from Caia Park were granted funding to assist them with their development. All self taught musicians; this members of this band were keen to inspire other young people to explore their musical talents.

The project fund have recently granted funding to 3 more groups. These projects will be included in a future issue of this newsletter. For information about the project fund and the history of the Youth Club contact Catherine Speed at Communities First on 314094