Borough's biggest summer of youth activities begins

8.09.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Aug 2007

An enormous summer programme of sports, performing arts and leisure activities for 13 to 19 year olds in Richmond upon Thames was launched this week.

The Council's Youth Services have signed up to Summer Uni, a pan-London project which sees authorities team up with Connexions and extended schools to deliver a wide range of free or affordable activities for young people. Throughout the summer 30 providers will offer arts, drama and media courses and sports activities, and places are still available. Highlights include accredited radio presentation and production skills courses at the Powerstation in Mortlake. Young people taking part will be able to put their skills into practice on an internet radio station. Harlequins Rugby League is offering street rugby events in Heathfield, Ham, Hampton North, Mortlake and North Barnes. The Summer Uni programme includes courses targeted at young people at risk of offending or entering local authority accommodation, looked after young people and those with special needs.

Cllr John Coombs, Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure on Richmond Council, said: "Improving provision for young people in our borough is one of the key priorities for this Council. Young people must have more options to develop skills, take part in sports and enjoy a range of other activities throughout the year. The excellent Summer Uni programme delivers on all counts offering a huge range of activities from music production to performing arts, day trips and sport. Places are still available on many of the courses across the borough so I would urge anyone who has not yet signed up to make sure they don't miss out."