Love Libraries Award finalist 2007
Youth Forum in Grangetown Library
Grangetown Library hold a monthly Youth Forum where young people can have their say about what’s hot and what’s not in their local community and get actively involved in making it a safer place to live.
For budding designers the library hosts a weekly Fashion-Able group where members are learning all about fashion, how to run a business, and designing and making their own clothes.
Members of the Youth Forum have formed a gardeners group, and designed a new outdoor garden and play area with plants, flowers, decorative fencing, an allotment and seating to make the library a more enjoyable place to spend time.
“The Youth Forum continually attracts over 20 members to meetings, made up of various local groups
from disadvantaged backgrounds. The dedication of the library staff has helped
young people in the local community to engage, shape and ultimately have a major impact on a host
of Borough wide services and plans designed for young people. They have developed confidence and
stretched themselves way beyond their comfort zone. This has been achieved as a result of Grangetown
Library having a vision that is now having an impact for young people in Redcar and Cleveland
and beyond.”
Ian Williams – Area Youth Worker, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
“I come to the Grangetown Library on a daily basis. Me and my friend come to play on the computers, read books, help out and do homework. I am involved in the gardening project group where you learn all about gardening. In the garden we have done ourselves we have put bark down, planted flowers and grown some vegetables in our greenhouse. We also put tubs of flowers at the front of library to make it look a better place and to encourage more people to visit the library. The thing I like most about the library is that the staff are friendly and very sociable.”
Youth Forum Member, age 13
“At the Youth Forum a group of youths get together once a month to discuss what issues there are in Redcar and Cleveland, and how we can tackle them. We have come up with 9 top issues, and when the top issue is solved, or can’t be progressed, the second biggest issue will then be worked on.”
Youth Forum Member, Age 16
“I occupy the chair for Fashion-Able and make decisions on where money is spent. We look on websites to choose a pattern, and then pin to our material and cut it out. When this is done we use the machines to put our item together. We also do team building exercises and are planning on doing a fashion show.”
Fashion-Able Member, Age 16
What do you love about Youth Forum?
“i think that grangetown library is the best library in the world. I hope they win the love libraries competition becuase i will be soooooo happy please everyone VOTE GRANGETOWN -- CLUBS -- youth forum, reading group, fashoinable, gardening group, mag group, knitting club and many many many more please vote GRANGETOWN LIBRARY they ARE the BEST!!”
“I think Grangetown library members and staff are doing a fantastic job.”
Visit Grangetown Library in Redcar and Cleveland, the North East of England online
