Youth Pod
Friday, November 28th, 2008I first heard tales of a "Youth Pod" in May this year during the meeting detailed here, where I described it as
"a 60 foot container created as a leisure/recreational facility for young people, currently residing in the community centre car park awaiting placement in Kingsway."
The real story is that this 60 foot "shipping container" was converted to a leisure/recreational "Youth Pod" by a local company (Lydney if my memory serves, and sadly no longer in operation)!
It comprises several rooms (office, washroom/WC and a main room) and requires only siting and connecting to mains services.
The Pod was designated for use as a temporary Youth Club for Kingsway Village, pending creation of something more permanent.
Initially, the QUVL quoted a price of £3,000 for siting and installing the pod and later revised that quote to £30,000!
Don’t laugh… Bearing in mind that free transportation had been arranged from a generous local contractor, this fee was for allocating a space, awaiting delivery and connecting up the relevant mains services… it’s really not funny!
Needless to say, the Gloucestershire County Council were unable to find sufficient funding to cover that price and consequently the Pod has been sat in the car park at Equals Youth Centre for more than a year now!
Since I first heard about the situation I have spoken about it to countless people and attended many meetings with concerned individuals trying to get something done about it.
At last - Great News! The Pod will be installed (right next to the School) "very soon" (expected to be by April 2009).
Once in place it should be available for use as a Youth Centre every Monday and Wednesday evening (this is obviously restricted by staff availability and funding) and will also be used for other activities and organisations such as Gloucester Works (I’ll be posting more about this fabulous organisation shortly), Gloucester Housing Association Surgery and a Police Info’ Point.
As with the temporary Kingsway Community Centre, the Youth Pod is expected to be in use at Kingsway until a permanent facility can be provided (estimated 3-5 years); unlike the Community Centre (which will be demolished), the Youth Pod will be moved to another area (last I heard, Longlevens were after it)!
There were - as stated - many individuals and organisations involved in this achievement, including:
Gloucester Police - Mark Peer.
Equals Youth Centre - Sheila Golder - (who is sick of looking at it and will soon only be looking after it 😆 ).
Gloucester SHAPE Team - Emma Cleveland
Gloucester Housing Association (Who will provide the funding for the first 12 months of staffing costs).
Oxbode Housing Association - Ismail Ali - (Who have agreed to fund other resources / trips etc).
Kingsway Primary School - Paula Needham - (for agreeing to the placement and offering to " oversee the facility").
QUVL - Andrew Hunter - Who may fund the inurance costs (not certain at time of posting).
Quedgeley Parish Council - Anna Mozol.
Glos County Council - Jackie Hall.
Kingsway Village Residents Association - Clive Barton.
(Apologies to anybody I’ve missed… Let me know and I’ll add you to the list)
June 26, 2010 at 3:07 pm
At a recent Police meeting I spoke to Sheila about this and she said that she isn’t bothered about attendance at the moment!
Right now the Pod is being prepared and the staff are getting things organised. This time of year isn’t the best for Youth Club attendance (no doubt due to the nice weather and light nights) and Sheila’s plan is to get everything ready for a big launch in September.
Meanwhile, the Pod is open as detailed above and teenagers are welcome to go along (I believe that the staff are organising street games on the big park from 6:30 - 8:00 on Wednesday nights).
I will shortly receive - and publish - the Equals summer program, detailing all the local activities organised for the summer holidays.
June 10, 2010 at 9:20 am
Hi Neighbours,
On Wednesday evenings (weather-permitting), the Youth Pod (Equals) staff are also organising "Street Games" in the park from 6:30 to 8:00.
Sadly, so far attendance at the Pod has been pitiful (most nights my son has been the only one there) 😯
I’m speaking to Sheila about other ways to get the word out about it, but I daresay we’ll lose it if it doesn’t get used
May 26, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Hi Folks,
Sheila called me earler today; (she has been ill for most of the past week)!
The Pod will definitely be open from this evening (7pm - 9pm).
Wednesday Nights (7-9): Sheila is looking for around 12 local youths to help get the pod ready for use (arrange furniture, decorate, choose name, make sign, etc etc).
Monday Nights (7-9): Open for local youths to attend.
The regular fee and most other details are not yet decided (part of what the Wednesday "Project Team" will decide); I will publish them asap.
Regards,
Clive
May 24, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Yep, it’s taken forever to get the space and facilities to install it and a lot of effort and expense on behalf of a large number of people, most of whom don’t live in Kingsway (See above article).
As far as I’m aware the additional 12 months delay was mostly due to the building freeze… (the houses opposite the pod finally brought mains services into close enough proximity to get it connected).
May 23, 2010 at 10:29 pm
So the Youth Pod was bought over 3 years ago, but its now its being installed… Finally.
May 19, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Hi holbeach,
With regards to funding, I think I’m right in saying that Gloucester Housing Association and Oxbode Housing Association have both contributed towards staff / running costs.
I’ll ask Sheila if there’s anything else needed, but I think she’s planning to use a nucleus of 12 youths to deal with all the planning and organisation.
Holbeach / Daisily (et al),
Sheila emailed me today to say:
I’m not sure if she has already organised which 12 people will be attending on “Project Nights” (although I know my step-son is one of them).
I assume that “For the first couple of weeks there will be no costs” means there will (eventually) be a tariff for attending. I’ll ask Sheila to confirm and will - of course - find out how much it will be.
I’ve already left a message for her to get back to me with these details so will update you all as soon as I hear.
May 18, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Cheers for the info Clive…… I look forward to them opening it and directing some young people there :o)
May 18, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Clive,
Hope this all goes to plan.
Is there anything at all that is still needed to get the project up and running properly?
If so, then is there any added extra’s that people from the local community could provide? There is almost 1500 occupied dwellings now, I’m sure that we could all club together to sort various things out.
May 17, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Hi Daisily,
Yes there is. I wanted to mention it on Friday but was (and still am) waiting for all the details, but the story is:
The Pod is in place and ready to go.
Plans to open it last Wednesday were delayed by problems with insurance arrangements, but Shiela is hoping to open it this coming Wednesday (19th May) at 7:30pm.
I’m still waiting for full details (days/times etc) and for confirmation of age-requirements (although I believe it will be for ages 13+) and will post them as soon as I know.
Regards,
Clive
May 16, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Is there any news on the Youth Pod? It may have been discussed on Friday but i was working.
3 years on and its still not in the Kingsway