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Holiday care scheme success The council runs affordable care during school holidays and last week had a record 135 children on its books every day – the highest number ever during a half-term. For information contact… fis@towerhamlets.gov.uk All you need to know The Amp website has information about services for young people, including details of Youth Work Week. www.amp.uk.net News Youth workers to be celebrated BY RAJU MIAH THE hard work and commitment of youth workers and community organisations will be celebrated in a series of events to mark Youth Work Week this week. The council has put together a programme of exciting events from November 4-8 to showcase the range of activities on offer to support young people. Youth Work Week is a UKwide initiative led by the National Youth Agency designed to promote the range of opportunities available to 13-to 19-yearolds outside school. Youth projects across the borough will open their doors to youngsters offering CV workshops, apprenticeship advice, dancing and music, and much more. This year’s theme is building skills for employability, which will look into the support available for young people in the community. Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “Young people play a vital part in our community and we have invested heavily to providing excellent facilities for young people to grow and develop. I hope this week highlights all the resources available to young people.” Cabinet member for children services, Cllr Oliur Rahman, said: “Youth Work Week celebrates the excellent work of our youth provisions in Tower Hamlets. There is a variety of events across the borough to make it easier for young people to access.” The week will end with a free celebration evening on Friday, November 8 at Mile End Ecology Pavilion with live entertainment and employability advice from industry experts. For more information email lee.ocsko@towerhamlets.gov.uk or call 7364 4839. A full list of activities organised during Youth Work Week is available on www.amp.uk.net BMX track is a hit with the kids YOUNGSTERS looking for a challenge had the chance to try their hand at cycling on the new BMX track in Mile End Park this week. Four days of BMX taster sessions were organised by the council with Tower Hamlets Cycling Club to give children the chance to try out the stateof the-art track under the supervision of a fully qualified coach. Participants were kitted out with safety equipment and BMX bikes as they lined up to take on the challenge. The rookies learnt tips and tricks as they confronted the humps and bumps of the dirt track. Five-year-old Artie Kincaid, who aspires to be a dirt track racer, said: “I love this, I can cycle on the track all by myself now and it’s so much fun! The teacher was very good.” The sessions for under-16s proved to be popular among the young people and their parents who watched from the side lines. Ismail Khan, 11, said: “I really enjoyed today and I quickly Ismail Khan, 11, tries out the new state-of-the-art BMX track learnt how to ride safely. “I picked up the basics and then I was able to try some of the harder curves. “I will definitely be coming back whenever I’m free.” Mayor Lutfur Rahman, said: “The BMX track is an example of an excellent, free facility, which is available to our residents and young people.” The BMX track, which is open to anyone, is situated in Mile End Park near the Urban Adventure Base. The council advises cyclists to wear the appropriate safety equipment and be supervised if necessary when using the track. Aurora enjoys the xylophone, and below, Rosie, 9, shows the pumpkin she made Half-term Halloween fun A RECORD number of children were entertained at last week’s half-term holiday playscheme. The council runs affordable care during school holidays and last week had 135 children on its books every day – the highest number ever during a halfterm. Young people aged three to 13 were kept busy with Halloweenthemed activities, including pumpkin-making, creating a giant Halloween picture, making rockets and cooking spooky biscuits. There were also four trips laid on for the energetic youngsters. On two days the older children went to outdoor activity centre Shadwell Basin, where they had a go at the climbing wall and high ropes. On the other two days the over-8s went to the V&A Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green for arts and crafts activities and to see the collection of toys. Thanks to specialist f u n d i n g , t h e playscheme was able to double the number of children it looked after with complex needs. Cabinet member for children, schools and families Cllr Oliur Rahman said: “We are never normally full at half-term so it is pleasing to k n ow how sought-after these sessions have become.” Hanzala and friends play billiards Reuben enjoys playing on the bikes outdoors 4 – 10 NOVEMBER 2013 N E W S F R O M T O WER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 5


East_End_Life_04Nov2013
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