A rallying call has gone out to residents of Woodhouse and Spring Bank from the estate's new youth and community worker. Paul Lowndes wants people living in the area to put forward ideas for activities and volunteer their time to help organise them.

He has invited residents to attend a public meeting on Monday at 6.30pm in Wood-house and Spring Bank community centre off Hainworth Wood Road.

Mr Lowndes, who is responsible for running daytime activities in the building, will outline his own plans and the philosophy behind his work.

But he is keen to get local people involved in organising groups and events, particularly for children and young people on the estate. Mr Lowndes' immediate priority is a summer playscheme and he hopes to continue the centre's tradition for arts, music and drama projects.

He will invite professional musicians to work with local children and bring in a kinetic artist to help youngsters use computer-aided design to make kites.

Mr Lowndes hopes to bridge the age gap by publishing a 'living history' of Woodhouse featuring interviews with older residents undertaken by youngsters.

And he is forging links with the Bangladeshi Youth Organ-isation, in nearby Holycroft, as part of moves to involve the youth of Woodhouse with youngsters from Asian communities.

Ingrow man Mr Lowndes, 47, has been a volunteer youth leader at the community centre for the past few years.

He previously worked as a textile overlooker, engineer and salesman, but now concentrates on writing and is a published poet.

He will concentrate his work on young people aged eight to 16 and tackle issues that affect them such as AIDS, teenage pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse.

Mr Lowndes will continue with the centre's well-established 'rough residentials' where teenagers go on fishing and camping trips.

He plans to add 'posh residentials' where the youngsters will sleep in a barn and take part in outward bound activities such as abseiling.

He says: "I need volunteers to help with all these things, especially people interested in drama. I especially need female volunteers."

Anyone interested in helping out should go to the meeting or phone 604299.

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