OVER half of the 16-20 year olds who responded to a youth appraisal for the Okehampton area are planning to move away, it has been revealed.

Employment and education opportunities are the main reasons with accommodation, housing, social and recreation coming into the equation as well.

Youth worker Carol Jones, who has been working on the appraisal with Okehampton Teens to Twenties (OTT), said the figures were very worrying.

'Some 51 per cent of those who filled in the questionnaire are definitely leaving the area. And although some maybe going to college or university the problem is there are very few opportunities open to them if they want to come back,' she said. 'Employment is the biggest issue. Reasonably well paid jobs are hard to find.'

Almost 700 young people aged 10-20 responded to OTT's appraisal questionnaire which was carried out to provide a fuller understanding of the social and recreational needs of young people in Okehampton and the villages and towns surrounding it.

A total of 276 lived in Okehampton and the remaining 411 in the surrounding area.

Some of the questions were specifically aimed at the 16-20 age group.

A report revealing figures and recommendations is being sent to all services and organisations that influence or provide opportunities for young people within the area including parish and town councils.

The development of a young persons' supported accommodation project is being recommended after 53 per cent of youngsters aged 16 and over said there was not enough affordable housing in the area.

Ways of providing better public transport is high on the list with the majority of young people having to rely on parents or friends for lifts into Okehampton to use sports facilities and so on.

The appraisal has suggested joining up with a neighbouring community and looking into hiring a local minibus.

Seventy-eight per cent of those questioned from all parishes said they would use a young people's cafe in Okehampton and 40 per cent would like a rollerblading/skateboarding area.

Less than one third knew of an undercover area outside which was specially for young people and Lydford, Bridestowe, Sampford Courtenay and Sourton were highlighted as places which had no facility like this for youngsters to go.

Carol Jones said the aim of the appraisal was to get people working together to address the needs of young people.

'One of the things to come from this I hope is to get people to recognise these needs are the same as what they were ten years ago,' she said.

'Things will not change unless we allow change to happen.'

She said decision makers and organisations needed to involve young people.

'They need to be given support and belief,' she said. 'Young people have a lot of offer, they just need to be given a chance.'

The youth worker said she would like to see parishes develop young people's action groups.

'I would like to see parishes committed to the needs of young people — nobody said it was going to be easy but empowering young people in all aspects of the community is a good way to start.'

The young persons appraisal, which is the first of its kind in the area, received financial backing from West Devon Borough Council, OCRA and the Okehampton Area Youth Forum and was supported by the Community Council of Devon.

For more information about the appraisal phone 01837 53800.