Priti Patel MP with Kelly Parr (alongside Priti, left) and her team of volunteers with some of the young attendees on the night, alongside Cllr Ron Ramage and PC Simon Jesse, back row (right).
Priti visits Witham Hangout Youth Group
The Member of Parliament for Witham, Priti Patel, has paid a visit to the Witham Youth Hang Out Group (WYHOG) at its latest meet on Wednesday 9th August at the Witham Rugby Club in Spa Road.
The youth club, which was formed by volunteers in 2018, is dedicated to providing fun activities for children and teenagers between the ages of 11 and 17 and who live in the Witham area. They provide a healthy environment for the social development of those who attend and organise a variety of events deigned to expand the interests of the children taking part.
Priti, along with Witham Town Cllr Ron Ramage and PC Simon Jesse from Essex Police, met with Kelly Parr who runs the group and saw for herself some of the activities going on at the meet, which is normally attended by up to 60 children. The MP also had discussions with Kelly about funding for the group and some of the difficulties they face in finding affordable premises.
Speaking after her visit, Priti said: “The Witham Hang Out Youth Group is doing great work in providing children and teenagers with a wide variety of entertainment and activities. Whilst funding has already been kindly provided by local councillors through Braintree’s Councillors Community Grants Scheme in 2018/19, as well as the National Lottery Community Fund, I will be following up with other options available, such as the Essex Association of Local Councils Community Initiative Fund which could help further support this excellent local project.”
Kelly Parr, organiser of the Witham Youth Hang Out Group said: “It was a pleasure to meet Priti and give her a taste of what we do here at the Group. Her interest in our work and in the issues that we face in keeping it going were very much appreciated.”