By Community Correspondent Anjali Parshotam It’s been a busy start to the year this month, with teenagers all across Hounslow starting to go back to school, battling the cold weather and many, starting their exams. However, nothing has stopped them from planning ahead, thinking about their weekends and free-time. This month, thousands of bids have been pouring in by the dozen, with teenagers requesting a grant to fund activities in their local area. From trips to the theatre to games consoles at their local youth club- the PEEP’s panel do their best to save teenagers, one bid at a time!

The Government introduced two sets of funding, firstly, the ‘Youth Opportunity Fund’ and secondly the ‘Youth Capital Fund’. These were initiated to give teenagers more opportunities in their local area.

The ‘Youth Opportunity Fund’ was allocated so that teenagers could experience new things, that were educational, challenging and most importantly- FUN! Similarly, the Youth Capital Fund aids teenagers who require more resources and equipment for their project, for example more games for the local youth club. According to the ‘Every Child Matters’ website, a total of over two hundred million pounds has been divided between fifty different deprived local authority areas, to be used until 2011.

In 2006, Hounslow was a lucky beneficiary of such funding and as a result worked to set up a panel of young volunteers. They are known as ‘The PEEP’s Panel’. Monthly funding from the Government meant that teenagers in Hounslow, between the ages of 13 to 19, were eligible to bid for money that could support them in organising extra-curricular clubs, equipment and activities for their local youth club or even, money for a day out with friends to the cinema.

Each request is submitted on a comprehensive application that includes an estimation of cost. The PEEP’s Panel then reviews explanations given to support each potential spend. Decisions are based purely on documentation received; candidates are not seen therefore you can give an un-biased response. Successful applicants are conveyed the good news virtually straightaway. Conversely, unsuccessful applications are not rejected but constructive feedback is given to improve their bids, giving them an option to re-submit.

A member of the PEEP’s Panel informed me “We have had hundreds of different ideas sent in to us, from trips, to the theatre, to a local dance group requesting for storage units for their costumes! It is encouraging to see how a little grant money can go a long way!”

Steve, a youth worker in Hounslow, is a facilitator on the PEEP’s Panel and has been working in this sector since 1996. He said, “ Working with the PEEP’s Panel has been great fun, largely because I not only get to work with some really cool people, but I also get to do my bit to help out many others”.

What’s great about The PEEP’s Panel is, that you can present a bid for anything you can imagine. However it must match the PEEP’s Panel criteria. For example, your bid must be beneficial for the youth of Hounslow, be considered as fun and educational and be a good value for money. Halima, another member of the panel added: “ A good bid is one that addresses the most people, where you can see that the money is being used wisely and gives teenagers a once in a lifetime experience!”

Furthermore, Halima explained her experience with working on the PEEP’s Panel, “ It gives me a sense of responsibility, especially when we have to accept or reject bids. Accepting bids is amazing; to know that you’ve made someone happy is a feeling words cannot describe!”

If you are aged between 13 to 19 and are interested in being a member of the PEEP’s Panel or would like to bid for some money towards one of your projects, drop a line to Steve at Stephen.Hutchinson@hounslow.gov.uk, or contact him on 0208 583 2947, to get more information.