Junior Ambassador

Ponteland Community Partnership appoint “Junior Ambassador”

PCP Yuvi 2 PN&V

His name is Yuvraj Chauhan, known to his friends as “Yuvi” he is 10 years old, lives in Ponteland and is actively involved with the local Cricket and Rugby Clubs.

The Ponteland Community Partnership recently hosted an event “Ponteland Question Time” at the Memorial Hall with a panel made up of Guy Opperman MP, Ponteland Mayor Carl Rawlings, County Councillor Peter Jackson and three Year 13 students from Ponteland High School, (Elliot Barker, Molly Hall, Michael Dwyer) from the Debating Society who represented the High school at Liverpool for the Youth European Parliament. This event, aimed at debateing issues of concern to the young in an adult forum and bridges the gap between the community.
This event was part of the re-launch of the PCP designed to raise the profile of the group by showing the community what can be achieved in Ponteland as an activity or project. This idea originally came from the work of the Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan group who are preparing a future plan for the civil parish by identifying draft planning policies and community aspirations.
The PCP were so impressed in the ability of 10 year old Yuvi to confidently ask a number of questions to the panel-showing no sign of nerves that the committee invited him and his mother to their next meeting. During the meeting Yuvi was given the opportunity to explain what his ideas for the future would entail. As Yuvi is not eligible to be a member of the group, as the constitution states no one under the age of 18 can be a member, the committee decided to offer him the role of “Junior Ambassador” to promote the PCP to all the residents of Ponteland and the surrounding area.

Quote “Our group is delighted that Yuvi has taken on this role we are certain he will make an excellent Ambassador as already he has given us fresh ideas to start 2016. We need more people young and old to get involved we always welcome anyone who lives or works in Ponteland and the surrounding area to our monthly meetings and to contribute to fulfilling our aims:

  • Identify the things that really matter to people who live and work in Ponteland Civil Parish that will improve the quality of life for the Community.
  • To work with all interested parties to develop acceptable ways of meeting these needs.

Junior Ambassador Role Description

  • To promote activities already available in Ponteland for junior residents.
  • To find out what junior residents would like to be available.
  • To contribute to the Ponteland Community Partnership monthly meetings-if homework has been completed.
  • To bring forward to the Ponteland Community Partnership practical ideas for the junior residents of Ponteland and the surrounding area.

Since Yuvi has taken on this role he has attended, with his mother, a meeting with the Youth Service Manager Ashley Brown, Chairman of the PCP Alma Dunigan to discuss what is already available and some of his ideas for the future.
At the meeting in November the “Youth Strategy for 2016” was discussed:

“What’s on”

Youth Club for 13-19 age group
Monday, Lunchtime Club 1.30-2.15pm
Keyfund Session 3.30-5.00pm
Youth session 5.00-7pm (includes football, all weather pitch 6-7pm)
Tuesday Lunchtime Club 1.30-2.15pm

Junior Youth Club for 9-13 age group
Tuesday 6-8pm

“Where is it located?”

On the north side of the visitor’s car park behind Henry’s Hut, access is down the path to the left of Henry’s Hut

“Who can attend?”

All sessions are open to all 13-19 ages, Tuesday 6-8pm for the Junior Youth Club.

“Entrepreneur Challenge” from the Youth Manager

One of the latest ideas to get young people thinking; individuals or groups are being encouraged to put forward their ideas for a viable business, it doesn’t need to be a complicated idea, usually the simple ones are the best. Be prepared to produce a simple business case to bid for the sum of £100 start up money for their enterprise. The business case will have to be sound and approved by a panel, if the enterprise is successful any money made as profit will be kept by the entrepreneur.

New “Thinking about new ideas” starting on the website January 2016

Yuvi will be inviting more junior residents to get involved in forming a “Junior Forum” to promote fresh ideas through the website starting in January www.pontelandcommunitypartnership.co.uk
Other ideas involve approaching the Manager of Waitrose, Ponteland branch, to hold a surgery in the car park-just like the event held by the Councillors. He is keen to discuss with his peer group and parents young people’s needs.