6th June 2013
To Whom It May Concern
Monk Fryston Community Centre Association
I am the proprietor of the Before and After School Club that operates from Monk Fryston Community Centre and I have worked closely with the association over the last four years. The association are always flexible and accommodating and have the needs of the community at the heart of every decision they take.
Being based at the centre means that we bring employment to the village, as we recruit most of our staff from the local community and many of the young people who we now employ by us are receiving training on apprenticeship schemes. We serve the local area and we are accessible to all children. The 63 children who are currently on our role and access wrap around care attend Monk Fryston and Burton Salmon Primary Schools. Our facility allows local parents to remain economically active and our parents would struggle to find alternative childcare in the community.
The club is a tremendous success and we are now in the position that we are having to turn people away due to lack of space. Children are being transported out of the village only to be brought back to the village to attend school or to go home. We strongly support the development of further facilities at the community centre. This exciting new development proposal will provide the additional space we require, but as importantly provide the children we care for local activities such as a Scout troop and Youth Club. I understand that several unauthorised gathering have already taken place outside the Community Centre and the young people who took part in them feel that they are not represented in the local area and that there is no one providing services for them.
The young people in the village deserve some dedicated services that they can have ownership of, so they can improve their personal, social and emotional skills in a safe environment, this is key to giving young people the sense of self-esteem which will have a positive impact on their lives and aspirations going forward. I know from my own experience that children and young people thrive in situations where they feel they are valued and the options are listened to. The young people of Monk Fryston and Hillam have clearly spoken and requested these facilities and I know the Association have the drive and determination to deliver the services once the infrastructure is in place.
I fully support the development proposal and I look forward to a long and constructive future working in partnership with the Community Centre Association.
Yours sincerely
Rachael Peacock
Proprietor, Play Safe Club
Play Safe Club, Proprietor: Mrs R Peacock, c/o Hambleton CE Primary School, Gateforth Lane, Hambleton, North Yorkshire, YO8 9HP
T: 0845 2997781