Young people’s haven faces closure in 2008
It was revealed in the Tameside Advertiser (09 August 2007) that unless funding could be sought, an important haven for Tameside’s 13 - 25 year olds could close by New Year’s Day 2008.
The Information Shop for Young People has for the last ten years offered free and confidential advice to young persons on services from counselling to anger management. From their premises in Market Avenue, 1,900 youngsters turned to the Information Shop in the last year alone. For its users, the shop is a comfortable place and often busy.
Losing this facility would leave its users devoid of a private, confidential and non intrusive place much needed in the Tameside area. Supported by NHS personnel, the Information Shop’s sexual health clinic is the busiest in the borough. Its counselling services have saved many a young person from mental distress and eating disorders.
It is important, for the greater good of Tameside that this facility should be saved. Having used this place myself, I too found the Information Shop a comfortable place when I was unemployed. I would like to see this place remain so.
What should be noted is that TMBC is to replace this funding by creating a directors position at Tameside Council. So instead numerous people with a hands on approach, we have a bureaucrat sat in a warm office pen pushing. A bureaucratic waste of tax payers money IMO.