Helen welcomes investment in Oswestry youth services

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has praised the work of Oswestry Town Councillor Jay Moore after a years-long campaign to return youth services to the town.

This comes after news that Oswestry is set to see an investment in council-provided youth services, after the Town Council have set out plans to buy The Centre on Oak Street.

Councillor Moore helped to open The Centre on a voluntary basis after Shropshire Council cuts saw services withdrawn around ten years ago.

Town Councillors have now voted through plans to take over provision at The Centre at a budget meeting near the start of January, setting out terms for the eventual purchase of the building and provision of youth services.

Helen Morgan MP has welcomed the change and says that many of the issues that come up on the doorstep are a product of a lack of provision for young people in market towns like Oswestry.

Former youth worker and Gatacre ward councillor Jay Moore has been campaigning for the Town Council to invest in youth services since he was first elected in 2017.

Jay Moore, Oswestry Town Councillor for Gatacre, said, “Having been a youth worker myself, I know first hand how vital these services can be. We have a duty to the making good decisions that benefit the town not just today but for years to come, and Oswestry should be really proud to be taking that responsibility seriously.

“When I was first elected to Oswestry Town Council seven years ago, this was the number one priority for me. There have been setbacks along the way, but I think this just shows that offering some hope and persevering with a good idea means that change can happen

"Thank you to Helen for coming over and hearing all about the campaign and the work that's been put in to get to where we are.”

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, added, “It is a really positive step to see Oswestry investing in youth services and supporting our next generation.

“When I speak to people on the doorstep and at surgeries across our market towns, a lot of the social problems we’re facing come back to a lack of opportunity and provision for younger people. I’m really hoping that this programme of investment will help combat that and have a benefit for everyone.”