The questionnaire was designed and produced as a supplement to the ‘Your Town, Your Community’ survey published in the spring 2009 edition of the Town Council’s Newsletter.
Responses from the questionnaire survey, produced by Hailsham Town Council in partnership with the Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce, have been received from over 500 students in Hailsham, aged 11 to 17 years.
According to the survey, 91% of young people in Hailsham preferred to shop outside their home town (particularly Eastbourne), and of those that shopped in Hailsham, supermarkets (75%), newsagents (51%), stationery/card shops (33%) and barbers or hairdressers (31%) were the most widely used.
The majority of survey participants stated the need in Hailsham for more clothes shops (66% in favour of national chains such as Next or New Look; compared to 26% asking for independent clothes shops). Entertainment/
Of those who took part in the survey, 32% felt satisfied with the range of services available for young people, and 54% expressed the need for improvement to services including youth clubs and careers information centres. Only 37% felt there were enough recreational facilities for young people in Hailsham, with over 51% of survey participants stating the need for additional facilities such as a skateboard park or outdoor roller-skating area.
The Mayor of Hailsham, Cllr Dr Ian Haffenden, said: “This survey is a very useful tool to help identify the opinions, concerns, attitudes and experiences of young people in Hailsham. This in turn can provide guidance for local authorities, youth-related service providers and funding bodies, and information for future program development and public policy.”
“Providing adequate youth services, shopping, community and other facilities continues to be an important priority, and the results of this survey can be used to help us understand their needs and to set proposals successfully to meet those needs.”
“I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the questionnaire and who took the time to complete it.”
Malcolm Adams, chairman of the Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce, said “The results of this survey show how important it is that local businesses don’t neglect the needs of the young people of Hailsham. With support of the residents of Hailsham, hopefully our local trades can grow and offer what is missing.”
Complete results of the survey will be available to download at www.hailsham-
FOR ALL ENQUIRIES RELATING TO THIS PRESS RELEASE, CONTACT:
Terry Hall, Hailsham Town Council
Inglenook
Market Street
Hailsham
East Sussex
BN27 2AE
