Youth initiative's success (From The Advertiser Series)

Tudhoe youth club helps curb anti social behaviour

12:35pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield)

A YOUTH project is helping to keep young people entertained and reduce anti social behaviour in their neighbourhood.

Around 20 to 30 youngsters attend youth clubs at Tudhoe Community Centre, in St David’s Close, Tudhoe, on Tuesday and Friday nights.

The sessions were set up for over 11s after a period of outreach work in 2010 when youth workers talked to youngsters who were hanging around the streets in Tudhoe and were often perceived to be causing trouble.

Now many of them gather at the community centre for activities such playing computer games, dancing, cooking and crafts and also enjoy trips such as to the cinema and swimming.

Funding for the scheme came from Durham County Councillors Neil Foster and Barbara Graham’s neighbourhood fund, money the council allocates to members to support initiatives in their ward, via Spennymoor Area Action Partnership.

Their donation followed complaints from residents about young people causing a nuisance, particularly teenagers drinking alcohol in woodland nearby.

Coun Graham said: “Concerns were raised at Pact (police and communities together) meetings and we felt this was a way to keep young people busy and safe and to help residents with fears, particularly the older ones.

“Some young people were encouraged to come into the centre for activities and if not then at least they are engaging with youth workers and getting access to other services.

“All round it has been very positive, one example was when the youth club put on the entertainment for a Christmas event and all generations had a good time together.”

Anne Hardy, positive activities for young people senior worker for the One Point service, a Durham County Council and NHS partnership, manages the initiative.

She said: “It has given them somewhere safe and warm to meet up, something constructive to do.

“It detracts from the anti-social things they may otherwise do. “

With the younger ones, positive work can prevent them drifting towards drink or anti social behaviour, instead of Friday night being a dead night they have something structured to do with their time.”

PCSO Adam Grundy, of the Spennymoor neighbourhood police team, said: “The opening of the youth club in Tudhoe Community Centre has helped contribute to the big decrease in anti social behaviour and youth related calls within the Tudhoe area.”