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Magic bus improving life on Abbey Lane
The work of a youth organisation has had a
big impact on a Leigh estate.
Wigan Council for Voluntary Youth Services (WCVYS) has been taking the
Rock Bus to Abbey Lane in Westleigh, offering young people all sorts of
activities including MCing, face painting, computing, competitions and
arts & crafts.
Local residents are hailing the impact of the project and the emergency
services say they are getting fewer reports about young people
misbehaving since it began.
WCVYS Youth Development Worker Ed Ellis says: “Abbey Lane is subject to
more nuisance fires than any other estate in Greater Manchester. Since
we began working here GM Fire and Rescue Services say there has been a
big reduction in the number of such incidents. We’ve also had feedback
from the police saying reports of youth nuisance have also fallen.”
Local resident Melanie Prescott, who is a WCVYS Community Volunteer on
the project, adds: “It has given the kids things to do and it has helped
calm them down quite a lot.”
ROCK FM originally owned the Rock Bus. The radio station donated the
vehicle to the Standish Methodist Circuit, which is now letting it out
to WCVYS every Wednesday evening.
Abbey Lane resident Georgia Lally, 10, said: “I look forward to the bus
coming here. We used to just hang around the streets doing nothing. I
have met some new people and I’ve really enjoyed getting the opportunity
to do creative things.”
WCVYS has been taking the Rock Bus to Abbey Lane since January but it
will soon be moving on to other areas that don’t have a community space.
However, the youth organisation will continue to have a presence in
Abbey Lane by working with partner agencies to make sure young people on
the estate continue to be provided for.
Cllr Myra Whiteside, Lord Peter Smith and Cllr Barbara Jarvis have
pledged to help identify and secure funding to build a teen space in the
area, while Children & Young People Services have agreed to increase the
number of detached youth work sessions it delivers on the estate. WCVYS
is also recruiting and training more residents to work with young people
in the area.
WCVYS Community Volunteer Melanie Prescott adds: “Volunteering is good
fun. It is nice to see the young people having a good time and to know
that they are safe.”
To find out more about becoming a Community Volunteer with WCVYS
telephone Kelly Mills, WCVYS Project Co-ordinator, on (01942) 825750.
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Further information
• For further information please telephone Kennedy Stewart, Young
People’s Press Officer at Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on (01942)
486927.
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Young people from Abbey Lane onboard the
Rock Bus. Pictured are: Ebony Warburton, Georgia Lally, Kayleigh Lally, John Ashbrook,
Andrew Prescott, Adam Driver, Melanie Prescott (WCVYS Community
Volunteer), Luke Halliwell and Clayton Hurst
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