Problem children
Problem children
Rather than blame the children for hanging about the street and causing trouble. May I ask where are the parents, giving them bus fares and sending them down to Porty for the day is not the answer. Our children are our responsibility not everyone elses.
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Old Git
Problem Children
Children have been coming to Porty on their own for many years. Perhaps when I was a lad during the war we were not so troublesome as the kids of today.
Instead of constantly griping about all the young people that 'hang around' Porty why not provide somewhere for them to go? The Youth Clubs and Guides/Scouts are only on one night a week, and we need something more diverse to cater for the broad spectrum of young people living in and around Portobello.
How about a Youth Cafe, open every night, different nights for different age groups/sexes? There was talk of the old Laminate Flooring Shop/SSP HQ beside the Sue Ryder Shop being turned into something of the like, but as usual its all talk and no action.
Anyone have any news/comments/ideas about this issue?
Rachel
How about a Youth Cafe, open every night, different nights for different age groups/sexes? There was talk of the old Laminate Flooring Shop/SSP HQ beside the Sue Ryder Shop being turned into something of the like, but as usual its all talk and no action.
Anyone have any news/comments/ideas about this issue?
Rachel
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Guest
Rachel
I was at the most recent meeting of the Problem Solving Partnership the other night, which over the last year or so has been looking at 'youth issues'. These meetings have involved local residents, the police, local councillors, youth workers etc. and the idea is that we meet to share ideas and experiences and adopt a 'joined up thinking' holistic approach to some of the problems we share. The meetings have been very constructive and valuable for everyone concerned.
The first point to make is that thankfully there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of 'youth disturbance' calls in recent months. A lot of good youth work is going on in the background, not just in Portobello but also in outlying areas, from which a lot of our problems have emanated. The Police can take their share of the credit as well, while other measures like CCTV have definitely made an impact.
The old carpet shop was a contender for a youth cafe of some type but its proximity to residential areas was an issue. Rumour has it that this is now being considered as a possible new home for Portobello CAB. Local youth workers have now identified a room in the Indoor Bowls Centre which they feel would make an ideal venue and this is currently being discussed.
I was at the most recent meeting of the Problem Solving Partnership the other night, which over the last year or so has been looking at 'youth issues'. These meetings have involved local residents, the police, local councillors, youth workers etc. and the idea is that we meet to share ideas and experiences and adopt a 'joined up thinking' holistic approach to some of the problems we share. The meetings have been very constructive and valuable for everyone concerned.
The first point to make is that thankfully there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of 'youth disturbance' calls in recent months. A lot of good youth work is going on in the background, not just in Portobello but also in outlying areas, from which a lot of our problems have emanated. The Police can take their share of the credit as well, while other measures like CCTV have definitely made an impact.
The old carpet shop was a contender for a youth cafe of some type but its proximity to residential areas was an issue. Rumour has it that this is now being considered as a possible new home for Portobello CAB. Local youth workers have now identified a room in the Indoor Bowls Centre which they feel would make an ideal venue and this is currently being discussed.
There is actually a Youth Club on a Thursday night which my 15 year old son and his friends go to and absolutely love. They also go to the Pits to play football or down onto the beach to play football. Admittedly sometimes they just hang around albeit in a gang, but not usually causing anybody any bother apart maybe from the noise that teenagers tend to generate. The problem is not so much the youths from Portobello but the gangs that come from other areas. My son was brought home in a Police car last night (for his own safety) because a gang from (allegedly) Craigentinny had come down on motorbikes intent on causing trouble. It's a sad fact that the kids who have been brought up in Portobello are unable to hang around in their own area without being harrassed and accused of things they haven't done. It sometime appears to them that they are lepers in their own Community - all tarred with the same brush. I can appreciate that 6,7, or 8 6' tall youths can be a daunting sight for some people but by their very nature teenagers are loud and exuberant - this doesn't make them bad!! I am totally in agreement with Rachel - a once a week Youth Club is a start but not enough to get them off the streets and out of trouble (whether of their own making or somebody elses!)Rachel wrote:Instead of constantly griping about all the young people that 'hang around' Porty why not provide somewhere for them to go? The Youth Clubs and Guides/Scouts are only on one night a week, and we need something more diverse to cater for the broad spectrum of young people living in and around Portobello.
How about a Youth Cafe, open every night, different nights for different age groups/sexes? There was talk of the old Laminate Flooring Shop/SSP HQ beside the Sue Ryder Shop being turned into something of the like, but as usual its all talk and no action.
Anyone have any news/comments/ideas about this issue?
Rachel
the beach is a draw for kids from all over edinburgh - just as it is for the hundreds of visitors who come from all over. i think the focus should really be down there. i have already commented on the plans for "the paddy" and the need for some kind of focal point for the whole community down on the prom, run by people who are willing to keep an eye on things. the beach, after all, is one of this communities most prized assets.
Kidz & ypeople
The Youth Club is very good - from my bumping into them and working along side them in Porty C Centre - the staff and the young people seem concerned to build up a really good use of the Centre by young people and give them a safe place to be themselves and do what they want to do - young people are often the butt of prejudice too - and are often unsafe when out and about so they tend, I am told, to hang about in groups for their own safety but this can look intimidating to others. I am not saying gangs with trouble in mind don't exist - some of the crimes against young people are by other young people - but I tend to think that there is probably not enough for young people to do e.g. whatever happened to the skate park that was suggested eons ago - the young people involved in this idea over 10 years ago must be 25 years old now! still its being discussed and hasn't happened. And not all yp want to skate - but want a whole range of cheap or free things to do (because they don't have money to go into cinemas, etc) e.g. sport, discussion groups, art, just hanging about together - can't speak for them - and hope some young people will contribute to this thread - but from a nearly 50 something's point of view I would think a Youth Cafe in the evgs and weekends, with films, discos etc - would be a great idea and one of the empty shops or the C Centre, would be a good venue - but it would need money for staff - probably not a lot as they probably don't unfortunately get paid a lot - but enough to staff it unsocial hours and properly supervise it but make sure it is a good venue for young people to come out to and be involved in running etc - just a few thoughts - certainly I would support an extension of funding for the existing Youth activities at Porty C C on a Thursday night (and Fri now??) Carla 