Sport And Leisure Forum Gives Young People A Voice

Young people are being given the chance to help to shape the future of leisure and sports provision on Anglesey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first ever Anglesey Sport and Leisure Forum for young people was held at Anglesey County Council Business Centre, Llangefni, recently. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The forum was organised by the County Council’s Leisure Service, giving young people a chance to voice their opinions on everything from facilities and activities to price plans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event proved to be a success with the young people providing feedback on Anglesey’s leisure centres, as well as activities provided by the Sport Development Unit, and suggesting new ideas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Young people attending were asked for their views on three specific areas, namely: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

what they’d like to see offered at centres; including a variety of fitness classes, and opinions on direct debit packages.
what prevented participation in sport, and what could be done to overcome barriers.
how they’d improve disability sport opportunities and increase the number of children taking part in sport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader and Economic development, Leisure and Tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Ieuan Williams said, “This was a great step forward for the service. We’re keen to see how we can improve our leisure facilities on the island and the feedback that we received during this event was very positive.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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“Sporting and leisure activities are a vital part to a person’s well-being, and I hope that the forum will encourage more of Anglesey’s young people to use the facilities. Our aim is to make the islands leisure centres more accessible and as popular as possible, and hopefully this forum will enable us to work with the young people of Anglesey to develop and improve leisure centres and the activities they offer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey’s Senior Sports Development Officer, Owain Jones added, “The young people provided enthusiasm and some great ideas on the evening, and will influence both leisure services and sport developments decisions in future years. We now hope to hold forum meetings every six months, with the next meeting set for September 2016.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​