STUFF FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO IN...

FARingdon!

Who are WE?We are Faringdon Young Activity Auditors - a group of young people asked to think about the activities available to young people aged 13-19 (up to 25 with learning difficulties and disabilities) in Faringdon, and to produce something to show what we think and what we found.

What is an activity?We thought an activity is:• Something you can do that is fun! • Something you can do as a group, or on your own.• An enjoyable task which you choose to pass your time with.

Why is it important to do activities?We found this information online on the Activities Oxfordshire pages of the Oxme.Info website:

Why don’t you have a look and see what you can find out?!www.oxme.info

Taking part in regular, fun activities in your free time is good for your wellbeing, extends your social group and helps you learn. Finding things to do and places to

go isn’t just about having a good time.

Studies show that young people who enjoy just two hours of structured activities a

week do better later on in life. So get out, find something you’re interested

in and get active!

Positive outcomes for doing activities?

We do activities to:• Make and spend time with friends.• Build different skills – including social skills.• Have fun.• Keep physically and mentally healthy. • Feel accomplished.• Escape other stuff in our lives (escapism).• Keep off the streets.• Turn negativity to creativity.• Encourage brain activity.

Are you too busy?

Perhaps spend less time on your phone or computer!

Make time to do fun things.

Don’t know if you can access

the venue, or need extra

support when doing activities?

Read this information from the Activities Oxfordshire pages of the Oxme website about activities for

disabled people and those with additional needs: www.oxme.info/

cms/health/activities-disabled

Are things too far away or expensive?

Look for activities that are in walking distance and free or very

cheap-there may be stuff going on that you don’t yet know about!

Don’t want to go on

your own?

That’s okay!

Why not find

a friend to go

with!

Don’t know

what’s going on?

Ask at the Faringdon Town Council and Information Centre (previously called

Faringdon Community and Tourist Information

Centre) or search for information online.

Lack information:

Time:

access/Need extra support:Location/cost:

awkwardness:

Things that can make it hard to get involved in activities…and possible solutions:

www.oxme.info everything for young people

in Oxfordshire!DId you know?

You can search for activities for children and young people across Oxfordshire on the Activities Oxfordshire pages of the Oxme.Info website which includes information about ‘everything for young people in Oxfordshire’.

Yeah, I just said that!

Look for and click on the

purple circle on www.oxme.info

to search for activities:

We noticed that most of the activities we knew about weren’t listed on here. It would be good if organisations running activities for young people in Faringdon registered for a free account (on the same website above - just click on the purple circle and go to the ‘Providers’ section) so they can list the activities they have on offer, which will show up when you do a search.

Bored?

Spend too much time

on your phone or

computer?

Want to get involved in an activity, but don’t

have any time, or any info about what’s happening?

If so, go online to find out what’s on

near you…

Then once you have

the info, turn off

your computer and

join in an activity!

Faringdon Youth Services sessions• Open session: Years 6 and 7 (Wednesday from 6.30pm-8.30pm at the Pump House)• Open Arts session: Years 8 - 10 (Tuesdays from 7.00pm-9.00pm at the Corn Exchange)• AAA: For young people aged 13 - 25 with learning disabilities/difficulties (Wednesdays from 4.00pm-5.30pm at the Corn Exchange)• Young Carers: (Mondays from 3.30pm-5.30pm at The Old Town Hall)• Youth Cinemawww.faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk

Faringdon Librarywww.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/faringdon-library

Faringdon Children’s Centre - Links for young parentswww.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/faringdon-childrens-centre

Pump House Project• Ignite Youth Arts Festival (1st - 3rd July)• Volunteering opportunities• Parkour (free running) and bouldering - coming soon!“Check www.facebook.com/thepumphouseproject or our website to see what’s on”:www.thepumphouseproject.co.uk

CoderDojo - Coding club for Years 5 - 8 (Tuesdays from 6.00pm-7.00pm at The Pump House)www.faringdoncoderdojo.epageuk.com

Faringdon Explorer Scouts - For young people aged 14 - 18www.scouts.org.uk/get-involved/groups/1st-faringdon#&panel1-1

Rock Solid - Youth Club for Years 6 - 8 (Mondays from 6.15pm-7.30pm at Faringdon Baptist Church)www.faringdon-baptist.org/findus.htm

Karen Brind School of Dance - Freestyle class (Street Dance and Hip Hop) for young people aged 12+ (Saturday mornings at Faringdon Community College) plus Ballet and Tap opportunitiesKaren.brind@btinternet.com Faringdon Dramatics Society - Winter panto (from Nov - Feb)www.faringdondramatic.org.uk

Faringdon Singers - Choir for all ages (Thursdays from 7.45pm-9.30pm at Faringdon United Church)www.faringdonsingers.org.uk

Folly Fest - Yearly community music festival (Summer)www.follyfest.co.uk

Faringdon Leisure Centre - Squash, table tennis, swimming, badminton, gym and basketball.www.better.org.uk/faringdon-leisure-centre/activities

We looked at what young people can do in Faringdon and this is what we found*:(Where possible, we have included a website for each listed activity so you can find out more. To find phone numbers and e-mail addresses, try looking in the ‘Contact Us’ section of websites.)

Effortloose Slacklining - at the Faringdon Follywww.facebook.com/Effootlessslacklining

Faringdon Skate Parkwww.skateparks.co.uk/oxfordshire/faringdon-skatepark

Faringdon Tennis Clubwww.faringdontennis.org.uk

Faringdon Football Clubwww.faringdontownfc.com

Faringdon Rugby Clubwww.pitchero.com/clubs/faringdonrufc

Faringdon Community College (FCC) - although these extra-curricular activities are only for FCC students:• School Choir• Orchestra• Elemental – Performing Arts Group• Youth Rotary Club groups - Trailblazers Interact (aged 11-16) and FCC Interact (aged 16-18)• Sports Tournaments• After School Clubs• Faringdon Youth Services lunchtime activities (outreach sessions)www.fcc.oxon.sch.uk

Huntington Equestrian centre (Little Coxwell) - Horse Riding for all ages and levelswww.huntersfieldec.com

Kelmscott Manor (Lechlade) - Lots of art by William Morris, plus gardens and tea roomwww.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor

Adventure Plus (Clanfield/Bamptom) - Activities, Adventure Days and Residentialswww.adventureplus.org.uk

Slightly further away from faringdon:

*Is your activity listed?If the activity you run in Faringdon for young people is listed above, please make sure the details have been added to the Activities Oxfordshire webpages: www.activitiesoxfordshire.info as explained on the fifth page of this booklet.

If you can’t see your activity listed above and want young people to know about it, please also add your details in the same way.

Thinking about… SufficiencyAre there enough activities?

Although there is a lot going on in Faringdon, it all feels like the same kind of thing and it could do with being a bit more diverse.

Are there any gaps?We thought about what gaps there are in the kinds of activities offered to young people in Faringdon and the main areas we felt were missing were:

Thinking about… Quality

We thought that the activities available for young people in Faringdon were generally of a good quality (if you have the money to pay for them) but the cheaper activities are often restricted by a lack of funding, so could be improved if there was more money.

Although we found a Freestyle dance class, we couldn’t find anything else on offer. There’s not enough happening for young people.

The only regular drama group is run by FCC (so not open to everyone).

This would enable more young people to take part.

We want gigs, music workshops, and more!

We couldn’t think of anywhere offering this sport for young people. This would help us learn how to make some tasty treats.

Dance:

Arts & Media:

Drama club:

Cheaper horse riding:

Activities around music:

Gymnastics:

Cooking classes:

Are the activities good enough?

Thinking about… AccessibilityCan young people access the activities on offer?

Are activities accessible for those who have disabilities or need extra support?A lot of the venues used in Faringdon have ramps or lifts, enabling access to all.

Although there is a group specifically for young people with learning disabilities/difficulties (AAA group), we aren’t aware of any inclusive groups that support young people with additional needs to join in and take part with other young people. We feel this is an area that should be addressed to make our current activities more accessible for people with learning disabilities/difficulties.

Are activities financially accessible?This can be a big issue. Generally activities are not that cheap, but there are some that are reasonable.

Are the locations of activities accessible?Faringdon is a fairly small place, so you can get to most of the activities there.

Are activities socially accessible?Depends on the activity, but you can always take a friend.

Organisers should make sure they keep activities as central as possible so young people can walk to them and feel safe.

Useful contact details to find out more:

Website: E-mail: Phone:Address:

If you have a query or any feedback about this booklet, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:

youth@faringdontowncouncil.gov.ukactivitiesoxfordshire@oxfordshire.gov.uk

This 2016 booklet is also available to view online: www.activitiesoxfordshire.info

www.faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk tic@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk01367 242191The Pumphouse, Market Place, Faringdon,Oxfordshire SN7 7HL

www.activitiesoxfordshire.infowww.oxme.info activitiesoxfordshire@oxfordshire.gov.uk01865 328460Youth, Engagement and Opportunities Team, Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall - 3rd Floor, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND

Activities Oxfordshire

Faringdon Youth Services

Faringdon Town Council and Information Centre

E-mail:

Websites:

E-mail: Phone:Address:

All contact details are the same as above, apart from the e-mail address.

youth@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk

Faringdon...not just a folly!