Islington Council
There's plenty going on in the borough for children and young people, and you can find out about these activities here. There are also features on schools and new schemes for parents in this section...
Easter Fun!
With youth projects, parks, leisure centres, libraries and schools all over the borough putting on events over the Easter holidays, there will be activities to suit all ages and interests. Islington’s Easter University is back, running a varied programme of courses for young people aged 10-16. Courses are always popular, so make sure you book your place early. You will be able to enrol from mid March. Courses include traditional animation, canoeing and street dance, so there really is something for every taste. Local resident Aaron, 16, said he’s really looking forward to getting stuck into loads of different activities this Easter. “For the Easter holidays, I’m going to be swimming, playing football, boxing … there is loads going on and I’m looking forward to it.” Full details will be online from March 22.
‘Fantastic’ Schools Making a Difference
Pupils at two Islington secondary schools started the new year in style, enjoying the benefits of multi-million pound investment in their schools. Highbury Grove School and Holloway School welcomed pupils into bold and bright new buildings at the start of the new term, thanks to a combined £37m investment through the Building Schools for the Future programme. At Highbury Grove School, which is located with the secondary department of Samuel Rhodes School, 98% of the school buildings are completely new and include two halls and a gym, classrooms for all subjects and sixth form facilities. Henry Jones, Associate Head at the school, said: "The new school building is fantastic! Staff are already noticing how well students are responding to their new surroundings. With the new facilities available to students, I’m looking forward to seeing our attainment improve even further.” Holloway School’s new improvements include a bright assembly hall, science classrooms, ICT and technology areas, and a roof-top ‘peace garden’ dedicated to former pupil Ben Kinsella. Headteacher, Bob Hamlyn, said: “Both staff and students have been extremely impressed with the amazing new facilities. This is a building that our young people deserve.”
February 2010: Back on Track
Ever heard a young person say they’re bored or there’s nothing to do? Some great new projects could make these words a thing of the past in Islington. We’re investing £7.5m to develop six fantastic new youth service hubs, which will bring together a wide range of activities, information, advice and support. We spoke to young people, their parents and local residents to make sure these hubs are in the right places and offer the right services. The new Canonbury Project will be the first of the hubs to launch this spring. Located on St Paul’s Road, it will provide great new facilities for young people in the borough, such as counselling, gang prevention work and sexual health services. There will also be youth workers doing street-based work to engage with some of the most hard to reach young people and encouraging them to go to the hub. The White Lion Centre at Angel has already closed its doors while it’s transformed into a state-of-the-art building that will provide free and affordable activities and support to help local young people stay safe and healthy. A special event was held in December to mark the closure, with singing, dancing and films made by young people all part of the celebrations. The new-look centre, due to open next year, will provide lots of free and affordable activities, including sports and fitness, as well as advice and support for more vulnerable young people. In the meantime, all White Lion Centre services will continue to operate from other locations across the borough. Find out more by clicking the link below.
February 2010: Bright Sparks
In 2002 the motorcycle project Sparkplug was set up in Bingfield Park to address the crime and anti-social behaviour that was making the park a no go area for local residents. Sparkplug is a registered charity that provides a programme of activities including mechanical skills, off-road motorcycle training, residential riding trips and evening youth clubs for local young people. The programme engages a wide range of individuals who may be hard to reach, not in education or training and who may otherwise engage in anti-social behaviour. These activities help these young people develop a range of skills, and give them something positive to do, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. The charity will soon be moving to a brand new building, which will help them offer improved services to young people.
February 2010: Trees Please Me!
Homes for animals, oxygen providers, shade givers and fighters of climate change – just a few of the reasons Islington’s children think trees are brilliant! Taking part in a poster competition for National Tree Week, pupils from across the borough turned their thoughts to trees. “I like trees because they give us oxygen,” said seven-year-old Isabella Santana. "I wanted to take part to send a message of the importance of trees in an urban environment to fight climate change," Natalie Leeds, 14, told us. All the lucky winners, including Isabella and Natalie, will have a brand new tree planted at their schools.
Young Islington Links
Page Last Updated: 24 February 2010