It is always great to have visitors- catching up on latest news and gossip over a cup of tea and some cake is a lot of people’s idea of a good time. This week, the Yore Vision team have invited Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward to spend time in Boroughbridge. Although the visit will have taken place once this article has gone to print, it is a good sign of how well we are being noticed and respected by audiences both near and far on our proposals for the regeneration of Boroughbridge and the Lower Ure Valley.Tom will have seen 3 major projects on his visit- the plans for the Centre for Rural Enterprise, adjacent to the local High School; the site of the proposed Arts and Business Forum at Aldborough and ending off the trip, he will join discussions on  the ideas put forward for St James’s Square and the improvements to the centre of Boroughbridge in  general.

Earlier in the afternoon, Elaine Dixon and the team at Boroughbridge High School will also have spent time with Tom as he meets award winners and starts off the celebrations of BHS’s 25th anniversary year, the school having opened to its first pupils in September 1981. We were very keen to work with the school on Tom Riordan’s visit, as some of our planned regeneration projects will be beneficial to the current student generation of the area and their input will be vital to future successes. And talking about young people brings me around nicely to what I believe will be the first ever Youth Stakeholder Conference in Boroughbridge. (I am not holding my breath on this being the 1st conference, as I am sure someone will prove me wrong!) But for the moment, let’s celebrate that Yore Vision have been able to bring together most of the statutory and voluntary organisations to discuss where we are with youth provision in the area and how all of us can develop and support improvements to this vital service. The event is being held at Boroughbridge High School on Thursday 12th October from 6.30pm onwards with suitable food and drink provided to stimulate debate. Our partners, in particular MBED and ArtiMedia, who both have lost of experience in facilitating groups of all ages, will be supporting us in hosting this event.

There are only a few requirements of those attending – a) they bring a frame of mind on finding outcomes; b) they listen to the young people who they will meet at the conference and leave any pre-conceived ideas at the door of the school; c) they are prepared to think “outside of the box” in order to move real difficulties on. Not too much to ask now, is it?

A number of agencies, who have already indicated their willingness to work with Yore Vision, other partners and the young people to find sustainable solutions, have given me heart that we can really achieve some big prizes on youth work in the area. In my next newsletter, I will update you on Tom Riordan’s visit and the conference. In the meantime, Yore Vision’s September meeting is on Thursday 28th at 6pm at our usual venue, the Community Office, Hall Square, Boroughbridge.

Keith Ramsay
Chair, Yore Vision
01423 322828
kt@jack91.fsnet.co.uk

 In my last article about Yore Vision, I had no idea that my references to oak trees and acorns would bear fruit so quickly. We have had a lot of support for progressing with the football coaching for our under-15’s; more importantly, we are progressing with the first ever Youth Stakeholder Conference in Boroughbridge