Date published: 05/07/2004

The borough's teachers and youth workers have received invitations to preview a brand new information shop for young people that will open in September.

Professionals who work with people aged between 13 and 19 will attend a presentation about Rochdale Council's new shop on Tuesday 6th July at its premises at Waterside House, Water Street, Rochdale.

Rochdale Youth Service Information Shop will provide information about legal rights, money, benefits, education, training, employment, health, relationships, housing, homelessness, leisure, community services and travel.

Young people will be able to access the shop's services either by group visits organised by their school, youth worker or by popping into the shop themselves.

The shop will be open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. There will be a drop-in session from 11.00am to 2.00pm on the fourth Saturday of every month, and extended opening hours on Monday evenings if requested in advance.

Tina Woodward, from the Council's Youth Service, said, "We want to make as many people aware of this new service as possible. We want to involve teachers and others who work with 13 to 19 year olds because we can provide sessions that tie in with the national curriculum and we also want to encourage them to direct young people to our service."

For more information about the information shop, contact Tina Woodward on 01706 864968.

A number of projects for young people are located at Waterside House. They include:

• Youth Empowerment, which supports Rochdale's Members of UK Youth Parliament. They hold meetings on the third Tuesday of every month.
• Rochdale's Youth Bank who meet every Wednesday from 5.00pm to 8pm
• The Boroughwide Asian Young Women's Forum, who meet fortnightly on Tuesdays from 5.00pm to 7.30 pm.

A computer suite is also planned to open soon at Waterside House.