Berkshire Youth, the young people’s charity, are delighted to announce that they have agreed a 6-month plan to deliver detached youth work across Tilehurst Parish, thanks to funding from Tilehurst Parish Council. Berkshire Youth will be providing detached youth work for the Parish between now and October, including the summer holidays.

Specialist youth workers will interact and build relationships with young people where they ‘hang out’; streets, parks, open and shared public spaces. They will engage and mentor local young people, encouraging them into local youth activities.

Additionally, Berkshire Youth will be working with the Parish Council to formulate a Tilehurst Parish Council Survey to identify local young people’s views on how to best support them. The survey will be written for young people by young people, and will help to shape specific support according to the needs identified. The Tilehurst Parish Council Survey will build upon the recent 2021 Youth Survey from Berkshire Youth, when more than 750 young people from across the county shared their views on the most important issues they are currently dealing with. Working with young people from the local secondary schools, the aim is to have the survey completed by all young people aged 11 to 18 in the Parish by the end of term.

David Seward, CEO of Berkshire Youth, said:

We are really grateful to Tilehurst Parish Council for this investment in local young people. Positive role models in our local communities are so important. Our specialist detached youth workers have been successfully working with young people across Berkshire throughout the pandemic, especially those who are hard to reach, vulnerable or disadvantaged and at risk of exploitation and crime. This funding enables us to build upon this great work.

The Tilehurst Parish Council Survey will provide an important insight into the concerns and priorities of local young people. After a decade of cuts to youth services plus dealing with the global pandemic, it is important for all of us to make every effort to listen to the young people in our communities and include them in the decisions affecting them.

Cllr Kevin Page, Chairman of Tilehurst Parish Council, said:

Tilehurst Parish Council is excited to be working with Berkshire Youth on this important programme. We are looking forward to hearing the views and concerns of young people so we can work together and address the issues raised. Please take part in this great opportunity to have your say! We have been impressed with the track record of the Berkshire Youth detached youth workers and we are pleased to enable them to build on this work with the young people of Tilehurst.

Berkshire Youth’s Charity Ambassador, Reading FC Player Tom Holmes, added:

With summer just around the corner and things starting up again, it is a perfect time for Berkshire Youth to get out and interact with the young people of Berkshire. It’s fantastic that Tilehurst Parish Council have put their money towards this to help it happen! I’m encouraging all young people to get involved with the survey. Everyone deserves their problems to be heard, none more than young people. Everyone at Berkshire Youth will make sure that they listen and put plans together to achieve impactful change, so speak up!