'I’d never have been bothered about this path before but now I’ve done it I think it’s really smart.'
Chris, aged 14
Who
The Offa Youth Club
The project
The Offa Youth Club, based at Erddig, gave up some of their school holidays to carry out conservation work for both the National Trust and the local community.
Recently, 20 young people from the club gave up their half term to construct a footpath through land owned by the local community council. The footpath is used by young people going to the local secondary school and is also widely used by dog walkers from the housing estate that borders the land. By constructing the footpath it provides access for all along this route and also defines a clear route for the public to follow reducing the impact on the surrounding area.
Their words...
'It’s hard work. I went to bed at 8.30 last night!'
Mark, aged 13
'These projects are the perfect opportunity for young people to find out about the Trust. The hands on approach suits their needs and they get a real understanding of the work that takes place to maintain an estate like Erddig.
Sue Jones, Community Link Officer
'We often see a different side to the young people on these projects. They feel like they are achieving something and are valued. You can see their confidence grow over the week. It’s great to hear people telling them they’re doing a good job instead of complaining about the youth of today.'
Fred Derbyshire, Offa Youth Outreach Worker
What the young people gained
- An opportunity to put something back in the local community
What the project achieved
The project was organised by the National Trust and the Offa Youth Outreach Worker with funding provided by Offa. The Trust purchased the materials and provided labour for the project.
The supervision of the young people involved Erddig's Community Link Officer and an Offa Youth Worker.
By hosting the Offa Youth Club at the property the Erddig estate team get the opportunity to work closely with the local community. Even though Erddig is on their doorstep, before the youth club was formed it is unlikely local young people would have felt the estate had anything to offer them.
The partnership has enabled the young people to have a sense of ‘ownership’ of the property which has opened up many opportunities for them.
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