Exeter Youth Strategy Meeting & Formation of NEW online blog spot for information about the Exeter Parkour Park Project

Through Active Devon we were presented with an opportunity to float the idea of a new parkour park in Exeter to a large group of interested parties last night. This included about 200 people from various sports clubs and communities, councillors, Exeter College, the University, community groups, providers of youth services as well as a number of young people (yes, you heard that right - real, live young people attended a council meeting). Yes, I know you wish you were there too - and if you would have liked to have come to discuss the future of your city, let us know, because I didn't know anything about it until the last minute either.

In really basic terms heres the deal:

Exeter is developing a new Youth Strategy having finally recognised that focusing on what young people need is key to the future of the city. I was really encouraged to see that the council actually have a large number of young councillors (didn't expect this at all) and have actively worked to ensure that young people are well represented. For example we were told that 18% of the city's residents are students and that there are 3 student councillors that represent the views of students in the city. These guys were responsible for delivering the Rugby World Cup events in Exeter AND the Radio One weekend! 

Yes, I like you, probably thought that all of the councillors were old. It's not true, I ate my words and that's why Radio One's Big Weekend ended up here.

Although there is currently no reference point for this strategy yet (no one seemed quite sure where it was going to be) - you can read more about it here on the VOYC - Exeter Youth Strategy website.

For those of you outside Exeter, don't panic - they KNOW that you exist and that lots of young people travel into Exeter from outside Exeter and you are being taken into consideration (though arguably not enough).

The topics we were asked to provide comments on:

1. A voice for young people in the city and beyond
2. Things to do, places to go - (very relevant to the new park)
3. Protection from bullying and violence
4. Supporting young peoples mental health
5. An Environment with young people in mind - (very relevant to the new park)
6. A young-people friendly economy

One of the comments that came through strongly was that there were lots of fantastic community groups and workshops happening in the city - but no one knows how to find out when/where they run and who runs them! Thankfully this is being challenged. 

In the meantime in order to help people find us and find out what is happening with Parkour in Exeter - (that is youth groups, members of the public that have heard about this, seen it somewhere, are curious) we have started this blogspot/website. Welcome.
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If you are interested in getting involved with the community please check out the Exeter Parkour Community on Facebook 

Show support for the project by signing our 'call to action' - Change.org

For more information please get in contact with: 
Issy Burke 07766320961 | isabella.burke@gmail.com |  Facebook
Tom Taylor 07575592292 | MovementPowerful@gmail.com | Facebook

N.B. 
If you wondering why you didn't know anything about the Exeter Youth Strategy and wanted to be involved - tell us and we will tell them.

Please excuse spelling/editing mistakes - we do this voluntarily.
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