"SPACE" TO SIMPLY BE - YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY IN DESIGNING THEIR OWN LEISURE FACILITIES

Young people from the West Midlands are "MADE" up with a series of architectural projects giving them a real say in the design of their own recreational places and spaces. "Youth Space" is now a real buzzword amongst politicians and local authorities due to the creative force of Midlands based architects MADE and the young people it worked with to design innovative youth shelters across the region.

GOWM (Government Office West Midlands) commissioned the design and creation of youth shelters in parks and open spaces in 6 areas across the region. Young people were consulted at every stage and worked closely with MADE designers and artists to see their vision of "roofs for youths" come to life in Worcestershire, Birmingham and North Warwickshire. Further creative spaces and shelters are planned in Hereford, Bromsgrove and Wolverhampton. The project has been a huge hit so far and early indications from Government Office suggest that there has been a fall in anti-social behaviour as a result of the new facilities.

Pete Reynolds, Positive Activities Manager for Young People in the region commented.

I'm a great believer in evidence-based practice and all the signs are that Youth Shelters are ticking all the right boxes for young people. When young people are involved in the planning stages of a project, feel valued and listened too, they will go out of their way to value their own environment as a result. These "bespoke spaces" are not only a much wanted and contemporary meeting place for young people in the early evenings, but also a daytime resource for the community too. In fact we should be thinking about the needs of young people in all aspects of community design -as a matter of course. I think Youth Shelters are a bridge towards that."

Julia Ellis, Director of MADE said;

"The involvement of young people in designing and making their buildings and neighbourhoods can produce safer, better-designed place. By engaging the collaborative creativity of architects, artists and young people the "Youth Space Project " has set a benchmark for future community design projects and given a voice to young people often excluded by their communities."

One young person, who helped design a shelter in Coleshill, Warwickshire said:

"You feel like you can do a lot more than you ever thought you could , have more self esteem... young people would feel offended if a shelter was just placed there, there would be no self- respect. Everybody has a right to feel comfortable in their place that they use everyday."

- ENDS -

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF GOWM BY GNN WEST MIDLANDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

* A publication and film called "Youth Spaces" is being launched by GOWM on Tuesday 23rd at Government Office, Birmingham.

* A Home Office Regional Director for the West Midlands, West Midlands, West Mercia and Warwickshire Police will attend a small ceremony at GOWM to mark the launch of Youth Spaces" and commend the young people, youth workers and designers involved in the regional projects.

* There are three Youth Shelters currently completed in the region, these are in Coleshill -Warwickshire, Stechford-Birmingham and Warndon in Worcestershire.

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