Cam & Dursley
Making Changes for a Better Tomorrow
This Local Youth Forum Group currently meets on average every 2 weeks, as follows:
Day: Thursdays
Time: 3:15 - 4:45pm
Venue: The Vibe
Contact: steve.miles@stroud.gov.uk / 07896 690140
The following young people are SDYC representatives for Cam and Dursley Youth Forum:
Maxie Wells (Voting)
Fin Smith (Voting)
Alanah Williams (Deputy)
Ellie Archer (Deputy)
A Little Bit of History
Cam and Dursley Youth Forum began as a ‘pilot project’ in 2006 to enable young people from the local communities to come together and have a say on issues of concern to them.
Supported by youth workers from Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire County Council, plus adults from local youth organisations (Cam and Dursley Youth Partnership), the youth forum group soon began to be heard…
Young people involved at the time, spoke out passionately about what they wanted and needed to see changed – these included: a new youth centre, to replace the one in Dursley which had been knocked down years before to make way for Sainsbury’s; they wanted a safer community, where young people felt included and respected; plus an improvement to bus services.
It wasn’t long before these youth forum group members were representing themselves and their peers on Stroud District Youth Council. The communities become safer and the youth forum group efforts to have a ‘night bus’ to Stroud on Friday’s and Saturdays, came to fruition. Plans for creating a new ‘world class’ youth centre in Dursley emerged in 2008 with young people at its heart - youth forum group members influenced the service specification and architectural design – titled ‘Connect Dursley’, the project was shortlisted for a major (£1m) grant from the Big Lottery. Whilst the funding programme ended due to the national financial recession and UK Government cuts at the time, the specification went on to be the blueprint for what emerged a few years later as the Vibe Youth Centre.
Many projects and changes later…their impact and that of other young people who have been members of Cam and Dursley Youth Forum since, is still being felt today!
Who are we
The first youth forum group to be created in the Stroud district…
We are still having a voice and being heard on important local issues for all young people between 11 and 18 years.
We are constantly looking for the views and opinions of all young people that either live in or visit the communities we represent, including the surrounding villages to Cam and Dursley. We are a friendly group, that meet on average every two weeks – if you would like to join us, we would love to have you on board…please get in touch (see contact details).
We are supported by the youth work team at Stroud District Council.
Our Projects
Recent projects have included: Judging the Christmas Window Competition in Dursley with Dursley Town Council; participating in an art-based project at the Quarry Chapel in Cam; and advised on the design of the summer (2020) activity programme, delivered by various organisations as part of the Holiday and Food programme in the Stroud district – this we actively supported, through attendance and voluntary work.
We have been consulted on various local matters, led by adult organisations and are now planning our programme of action for the year ahead. Why not come and join us!?
If you don’t want to join but you’ve got something you’d like the group to discuss or work towards you can let us know here.
All our Local Youth Forum Groups offer you the opportunity to become a Youth Voice Representative on the Stroud District Youth Council, you can find out more here.