"If it wasn't for Valleys Kids, there would be nothing to keep me here," says Sam Terrell, an 18-year-old volunteer at the youth project's Penyrenglyn centre in the northern part of the Rhondda Valley. "I like coming here because it's always happy."
Sam is one of many young people to pass through the centre since it was set up seven years ago. Her comments are not unusual. Apart from lush mountain landscapes reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, the Valleys have had little to offer young people since the collieries closed 20 years ago.
Valleys Kids is equipping its young people with skills that will help them to find jobs with a future. "Most young people don't leave the area because it's easy and safe for them to settle down here and work in a factory," says Sam. Around a fifth of the population of Rhondda Cynon Taf is under 16, while 5.2 per cent is aged 16 to 19, according to the 2001 Census.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
