Burley-in-Wharfedale's Youth Forum has received recognition for its dedication to village youngsters.

The Forum has been presented with a £500 grant from Shipley Area Panel's Community Chest initiative.

Every year, each of Bradford Council's area panels has a small community chest budget. This is money set aside for grants to help local groups and individuals.

Paul Evans, the chairman of Burley Youth Forum, is delighted with the news.

"It is really tremendous and has provided us with start-up funding," he said.

The money will be used to pay for equipment needed to organise a fundraising campaign and an appeal for expert advice.

"It will allow us to communicate," said Mr Evans.

"We can write letters on official Youth Forum paper and begin the process of generating the money we need," he said.

The Forum is working with youngsters to bring about the facilities young people really want in Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Together with the Burley Youth Activities Campaign (a group of village youngsters mostly in the 11-14 age group) the Forum has identified a basketball/ in-line skating area, a cafe and a community centre as the priorities.

The next stage in the Forum's campaign is to see if present facilities can be used more effectively or whether people would like to see a whole new set-up.

An open day is being held at Burley Youth Centre, Sun Lane, on Saturday between 10.30am and 3pm.

Mr Evans said: "The purpose is to gauge opinions from youngsters and parents.

"There are a lot of new people in the village and the Forum wants to hear their views."

"We need to know if young people would like to see some of the facilities they want at the present youth centre.

"If this is the case would they be used?" he said.

"We have an asset here in the youth club. It would be silly to disregard it," said Mr Evans.

Forum members, working with Bradford Council's recreation section, have yet to find the ideal village site.

Mr Evans expects wherever is chosen will lead to protests.

"The preparation is important.

"When we finally announce our site we want to be in position to allay the fears residents might have," he said.

Mr Evans and his colleagues have organised a tour of the village with Council officials, to examine possible sites.

Meanwhile, the youngsters, under the guidance of Forum member, Bob Jones, are busy planning fundraising campaigns through the national Young Enterprise Scheme.

The youngsters have formed a variety of 'companies' writing off for planning information, working out the costs of possible schemes and organising fundraising events.

Mr Jones believes the pro-active approach is vital and feels adults will not contribute if they see youngsters doing little to help themselves.

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