Youth group breaks down the barriers

Barrier Breakers is Oldham’s youth forum for children and young people with additional needs or disability.

The group, for those aged 11 to 21, comes from across Oldham and meets weekly to raise issues and develop projects to bring about change for themselves and their peers.

The members also undertake consultation work for local services to ensure they are effective for young people with additional needs. The group is supported by three youth workers.

Barrier Breakers received a £2,260 grant earlier this year from Kerrching, a youth-led fund managed by members of Oldham Youth Council.

The money was requested by the group to help fund a summer residential course for three days at an outdoor education centre.

The activities, chosen by the young people, aimed to build on their existing skills, develop friendships, help improve community cohesion by bring together young people from different social backgrounds and appeal to their sense of adventure and fun.

The group also identified that the trip would provide opportunities for individual members to build confidence and get more physically active.

Eleven young people went on the course and activities included problem solving, zip wire, laser tag and low ropes courses.