Harrowgate Hill Youth Initiatives

10.32.47pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 15th Nov 2006

Alan Macnab of the Harrowgate Hill Focus team has met with Darlington Borough Council's Youth Service to discuss the findings of his young people's survey.

The Youth Service has a number of pilot sports schemes taking place in or near the ward soon. They are also looking at various local buildings for more permanent youth facilities.

The approach of the Liberal Democrats is to ask young people what they want to see which will occupy their free time: something which they can take ownership of. Dictating to them about what they want will not work. The majority of young people want to go somewhere with a roof over their heads, where they can feel safe and where they can meet their mates.

Young people who gather together on the streets or in parks do so because everything is closed to them.

We are aware that temporary funding was secured for the West Side Project in Branksome which resulted in anti-social behaviour in the area dropped by more than 60%. We would like to see a similar project in Harrowgate Hill.

The Focus team will continue to work with the Youth Service and local people to publicise the activities which the Council provides for young people and to campaign for more facilities in the ward. We will be seeking alternative funding streams, such as the European Community.

We will be carrying out another, broader survey of young people's views and needs. In addition, Alan Macnab will be going on patrol with the local police to see the problems for himself.