YOUNG people in Wellington could soon be given a “voice” in which they can put forward their ideas and views on the local community.

A Youth Independent Advisory Group was set up at Court Fields School in Wellington two years ago with the support of other agencies, but now there are plans in the pipeline to take it further.

The group was initially created for the school, Wellington Town Council and the Churches Together organisation to hear directly from young people about their experiences of the area.

Now the town council wants to strengthen its relationship with the youngsters and set-up a project designed by the young people themselves.

The council’s community development officer Laura Batcha and community support assistant Daisy Brown recently met with the IAG to discuss concerns previously identified by youngsters. These included perceptions and experiences relating to anti-social behaviour, street drinking and drug use, safety in and around Wellington Park and understanding how and when concerns should be reported.

Ms Batcha is currently looking at applying to the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner for community-safety funding.

Now a plan is being put forward to give young people the chance to get involved in creating an after-school club at the Kings Arms Community Hub in the High Street.

Ms Batcha said this would be completely designed by the young people themselves rather than adult officers and that could lead to even more projects in the future.

It is expected that the work would involve getting the views of the wider student population in Wellington and be used as evidence to shape any proposed activities.

Councillors agreed to make £500 available from the council’s youth development budget to allow the Youth Independent Advisory Group to develop and test a youth-led project.