Young people in Stockbridge are helping to shape the future of new play facilities in their local area.

Stockbridge Action Youth (SAY) group has played a key role in producing plans for a new £75,000 play area which will be created following a successful funding bid by Knowsley Council in partnership with social housing provider ForHousing, Stockbridge Action Youth and Vibe.

The funding has come from Veolia and will see the creation of a new play space to update the existing play area located next to the Stockbridge neighbourhood centre. The new play space will feature toddler play equipment including swings and a climbing unit, as well as children’s trim trail pieces. Work on the play area is due to start in Spring 2023 and be completed in summer 2023.

Designs for the new play area were shaped by feedback from local young people and the community, who highlighted the need for toddler swings and a space for smaller children to play, as well as more inclusive equipment.

Commissioned by ForHousing and delivered by Vibe, Stockbridge Action Youth was set up in Jan 2020 with funding from the Iwill programme and Clarion Futures. It aims to support young people aged 11 plus to have a greater say about what is needed for their area and help to advise the Community Development Team on their views. If you are interested in finding out more about Stockbridge Action Youth and would like to get involved, please contact Amy Power on Amy.Power@vibeuk.org or sign up here.

Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “We have listened to the views of young people and ensured their wishes were reflected in plans for this exciting new play park – which is a great example of true partnership working and engaging with the community.”

Martyn Hague, Executive Director of Customer at ForHousing, said: “It’s great to see Stockbridge Action Youth having such a positive impact on the local community. When the group was formed, we wanted to find a way of giving young people committed to improving lives and creating opportunities in the area a platform to address issues and make changes. SAY members have engaged and listened to local people on the plans for the play area, and we’re really looking forward to seeing work completed next year.”

Helen McGorrin, Project Lead at Vibe added: “This group of young people should be extremely proud of what they have achieved; the young people have been persistent in elevating Youth Voice in Stockbridge. The young people were determined to make a change, and this will have a positive impact in the community for years to come. We are very thankful to ForHousing and the other partners who have worked on this.”

Lois Spencer, from SAY commented: “I think that it’s amazing that we got the money for the park as we can get new stuff and people can have a really good time and we can look at the kids playing and think we made that happen.”