AROUND 40 young people, including representatives from Tavistock Youth Council, were among the delegates attending an innovative conference about life in West Devon for young people.

The new three-year West Devon Community Safety Strategy was launched by Cllr Gretta Madigan, chair of the community safety partnership, at the recent conference in Okehampton.

More than 80 delegates including representatives of the borough and county councils, Police, Neighbourhood Watch, youth services and community and voluntary groups were at the conference.

'This was one of the most dynamic conferences I have been to and now we have to concentrate on putting our words into action,' said Cllr Madigan.

Crime reduction officer Sgt Brendan Brookshaw said: 'This was an excellent opportunity for young people to explain their concerns directly to local policy makers. I thoroughly enjoyed the day'.

Di Simpson, manager of Youthwize, Devon Youth Association, said: 'It was a really constructive day and everyone who attended should now be more aware of the work taking place in West Devon'.

Drama students from Okehampton College delighted the audience with a

presentation about issues affecting young people, followed by five workshops. These included:

l Drug and alcohol issues for young people run by peer educators from Tavistock College

l WestDEN 'Getting There' Rural Youth Transport Project which enables young people to stay and work within the local community by dealing with transport limitation and rural isolation

l Project COSMIC: computers in the community, including Project ORBIT 'On the road broadening information technology'. Project Orbit is a 15-metre 'space shuttle' shaped trailer containing laptops, high tech multimedia equipment and a satellite link to the internet

l Fusion, Devon Youth Association: a peer education programme looking at attitudes to racism in a predominantly white region

l Okehampton Teens to Tweenies: democracy and young people. Run by members of the Community Youth Council, aiming to successfully involve young people in the decision-making process.

The conference closed with a short concert by the Okehampton Community College Youth Choir.