27.05.04
Young Parents Receive Awards for Community Work

The WILD Young Parent's Project celebrated twelve years of working with young parents in Cornwall at a ceremony at Truro County Hall last week, and presented over 80 awards to young parents for their work in the community.

WILD was formed in Truro in 1992 with only three young mothers meeting in each others' homes, together with a youth worker. Now the organisation has groups or projects across the whole of West Cornwall, and helps some 120 young parents and 140 children each year. The project, which receives investment from the Objective One Programme, now works with both young mums and young dads in small groups where they can support each other, develop new skills and build portfolios ready for their return to education, training and employment.

This year's ceremony 'Achievements 2004' saw the culmination of a year's work by many of the young parents. The awards, presented by Jean and Stephen Parks (Alex's mum and dad), included Youth Achievement Awards at Bronze, Silver and Platinum level, Cornwall Awards, Peer Education Awards and other special WILD Awards.

Guests were also reminded of the fact that WILD picked up the prestigious Pamela Sheridan 'highly commended' certificate at the Family Planning Association's Sex Education Forum in London last year. They shared the 'runners up' slot at National level for their peer sex education work in Cornish schools.

The Truro ceremony was an extremely moving experience, not least because of the way in which all the young people from the various groups across Cornwall worked together, supporting each other in a way that has now become natural to them. It began and ended with a drumming performance by members representing each WILD group, led by the Rhythmic Arts Project. Young parents also celebrated their success by displaying their work, singing, performing role plays, reading poetry and talking to an invited audience of families and well-wishers about their lives and achievements.

Jo Davies, Project Manager of WILD, said, "I was proud to be at the event and to witness the incredible achievements made by WILD young parents over the year. It was great to see young parents contributing so effectively in our communities".

Anyone interested in finding out more about WILD can contact Jo Davies on 01872 260655 or email
wild-online@btconnect.com

back to top

Editor's notes:

back to top

Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mob: 07973 813647
Tel: 01579 370991

lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

back to top