Youth Clubs? By Andrea Longstaff

Why is it that the only youth club in the Newland Avenue area opens at ridiculously limited hours? I went out for provisions (milk) the other evening and there were four teenagers sat on the outside stairs. I asked them what they were doing, they looked cold. Nothing really, so I asked them if they wanted a cuppa, they ended up coming in and talking, yes talking! They were very respectful young people and talked a lot of sense. Why did I invite them in? Because I wanted to!

I'm sure a lot of people would say what a good thing to do but they wouldn't have them in their homes! Anyway I asked them in, yes I actually asked them in and I'm still here to tell my tale.

Why were they hanging about on the street? A valid question I thought. I was informed that there aren't any youth clubs at all in this area apart from the one that is only open for a few brief hours! People complain that these youths are hanging around yet nothing is done for them! What else are they going to do? The police actually came thumping on my door as well. There had been a complaint of peanuts, of all things, being thrown at passers by.

Now I know I shouldn't laugh but it's not exactly the crime of the century now is it! Mischievous, at best. The police strutted in commando style, after I asked them to, and spoke to these teenagers like they'd just killed someone's parents! Ok, yeah abuse at passers by and chairs being thrown. Well lock them up and throw away the key! I don't know if it was these four, I never got a proper chance to ask them!

I was under the impression that this country operated under the innocent until proven guilty policy. Apparently not. I refused to let them in the next evening when three of them came back. I stand by my decision not to let them in because I think that my home would have been turned into a youth club and to be honest I don't want one in my flat. I don't regret inviting them in though. It was a pleasant unexpected evening.

Too many so called adults condemn young people before even one word is spoken and there are an awful lot of adults who appear to like scoring points, so to speak, off them! Why? Respect is something that is earned; it's not an automatic right! If you talk down to someone then expect to be treated with respect, it's you who has the problem! Everything's a learning curve and I for one happen to think that there are some very advanced young people about if anyone actually bothered to listen to them! The thing that really pisses me off about the no youth club situation is that the teenagers of today are our future yet no one seems to give a fuck!

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