9. Young Peoples Concerns

[Rod Shelton]

9: YOUNGER PEOPLES CONCERNS

This section was about identifying the needs of young people in the parish.

These are the concerns that this section of the community indicated as most needing action: (These are the views indicated by the majority of numerical responses received to the questionnaire)
· To have a well-run Youth Centre in the village, open to all.
· To have a voice in village affairs and a section in the parish newsletter
· To be able to receive more vocational advice (How to do a CV : Conducting an interview: How to get a temporary job)
· To learn new skills (Film making: Acting: Playing an instrument)
· A general willingness to help (particularly in money-raising events)
These were all the verbatim comments added to the questionnaire sections: (We would point out that these are individual comments and do not necessarily represent the views of the majority of respondents)
YOUNGER PEOPLES COMMENTS
1: WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT ABOUT A YOUTH CENTRE?

· The leaders must be young, enthusiastic.
· People running it - youth workers, used to working with teenagers.
· A good leader
· Really kind people to run it.

· Where it is - need somewhere new, modern - not just use of a room in an existing building.
· Modern not old-fashioned
· That there is a member of staff present at all times.
· A set of rules people have to stick to.
· Doesn't matter where it is
· It would be great to have a youth club that was run so that bullying and stuff did not happen.
· We don't have a youth club.

· Must have activities that suit everyone
· Where everyone has a chance to do what they enjoy.
· Team building activities
· Available for 11-17 years
· Younger children should get a chance to go.
· A bar-b-que.
· Sports facilities

2: WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN OR TAKE PART IN?
· Just talk to friends and meet new people.
· Socialising with people of our own age.
· Volunteering within the village.
· Boxing, careers help, bands playing, showing films.
· Fencing
· Swimming
· Photography
· Skateboard park
· Football classes
· Football & cricket
· Football
· Football, tennis
· More sports
· Rounders & tennis
· Dancing
· Ballet

· Activities related to the creative arts (music, art, etc.)
· Art & Design
· DT (Design Technology)
· An art club

· Creative writing class, arts & crafts.

· Cookery classes, craft clubs

· Clubs for cooking and fire-making.

· Homework help

3: WHAT ELSE WOULD IT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE ADVICE ABOUT?
· Crime reporting and prevention
· Advice about dangers and risks from the internet, etc.
· Most things
· Homework.
· How important is it not to smoke.
· Sticking up for yourself.
· Safe driving (for the "older" young people).
· Universities
· Choosing a university & the right courses.
· Where you can go to get stuff at shops.

4: WHAT ELSE COULD YOUNG PEOPLE DO TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY?
· Helping in village events, e.g. village fete.
· By running stalls at local fetes and helping to organise events.
· Having a stall at Otford Fete

· Childrens' events with sponsorship to raise money for the village.
· Have sponsorship events and fundraising days.
· Put on special events organised by young people with a little help.
· To do more fundraising events.
· Hold events to raise money.
· Put on shows, drama, music for people.
· Get money donations. Make posters promoting different things in the community.
· Put on shows, fundraisers and this money could be used to improve the playgound eqpt. In Recreation Ground.

· Joining local clubs
· Being involved in village things.

· Help people with things.
· Keep the facilities which they already have, clean, attractive & well going.
· Help deliver newsletters
· Have a community garden in the park near the tennis courts.
· Having a suggestion box.
· Keep out of trouble.


5: WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN OTFORD?

· Peaceful, scenary & surrounding countryside. Our local school
· The pond.
· It is a pretty village and most of the people are very friendly.
· It's not that busy so I can ride my bike
· The community spirit
· A good community
· Pretty small so you know mostly everyone.
· A lot of friendly & helpful people.
· It’s a nice friendly village
· Low crime rate, good transport links.
· Everyone is happy

· My friends live in Otford
· Friends here.
· All of my friends
· Lots of friends live in the Otford. Quiet village
· I know lots of people in the village.
· Table tennis club, nice people,

· Easy access to a station.
· Easy access to other areas such as London, shopping centres & other areas of Kent
· Easy transport to places even though it is in the middle of nowhere.

· The Recreation Ground and Hale Lane Rec. Ground.

· Not a lot - there's nothing for youth to do.
· Nothing - Otford is bad!!!

6: WHAT ELSE WORRIES YOU ABOUT LIVING HERE?

· Anti-social behaviour particularly at the station in early evening
· The station.
· Railway station - dark, unmanned in the evenings.
· The station. I have been mugged many times as have people I know - crimes are (not) reported as no point.
· CCTV at the Station is often not working. Surrounding areas in darkness – It’s easy for people to deal drugs there.
· Train fares too expensive i.e. Travelcard £5.80.
· Delayed train services.

· No footpath on Shoreham Road.
· Pavements get thin sometimes.
· Speed of cars. Not enough pavements.

· A few local teens are really bad people. There's a lot of chavs and gangs.
· Small gangs attempting to throw rocks and bricks at me and get shouted at along the street.
· There are a few bad people hanging around.
· Unwelcoming people stopping me from where I want to go.
· I don't like the groups of kids that hang around near Hale Lane.
· People vandalising village property.
· The behaviour of certain individuals in The Charne.

· Nothing. You shouldn't be worried about things in the place you live!
· Prejudiced views towards the young people.
· Nothing worries me
· I have no worries at the moment.
· Nothing worries me as such but there isn't a lot to do with my friends.
· Bus service is useless.
· No buses. You can’t get anywhere after 5 o’clock

· Too many new building developments. Soon it won't be a small village any more.
· Going out at night when its dark.
(From Main (Adult) Questionnaires)
many teenagers attend youth projects or don’t do so because their lives are outside the village. Set up a youth team and “outside” youth project that takes activities to young people rather than making them leave their safe place – contact Sev Area Youth Trust (SAYT) for help. Also – a skate park or hard-surface area would suit trend for “ripsticking” (skateboarding fashion).
· Youth clubs are essential for our young people
· More youth activities would help too..