More bored teenagers could find themselves getting into trouble if Islington Council pushes ahead with 1.2 million of planned cuts to its youth services, Childrens Express reporters discover.
| It’s so boring just sitting around doing nothing. |
Its so boring just sitting around doing nothing. It encourages people to do things they wouldnt normally do, like drink, says Stuart Fletcher, 16, from the Ring Cross estate off Holloway Road.
Teenagers in Islington already find themselves in a lose-lose situation too old for the majority of play initiatives, not adequately served by those that are on offer.
Jasmine Ferguson, 15, was forced to leave a play scheme at Birchmore Hall on Highbury Quadrant estate when she was 12. She has failed to find anything to match it for her age group.
When I was younger I went to a play scheme. We went canoeing and stuff. It was really good. Its just boring as you get older.
Similarly, Ricky Allen, 12, laments growing out of his old haunt, The Friday Club, based at St Davids Hall in Holloway. I used to go a lot but because I dont go to Ring Cross School anymore, I havent been allowed to go, he said.
Some teenagers believe that clubs that they would want to attend are not widely advertised. Others believe too much emphasis is placed on the educational benefits of schemes and suspect the organisers are appealing to parents rather than their children.
Jasmine said: Youve just finished school and all you want is to get away from it. But then they want you to go back to get more education in your holidays.
Cost is the other main barrier to satisfied customers. Most young people believe more, not less, funds need to be ploughed into youth provision as they struggle to find activities they can afford. Nowheres free except the parks, said Stuart.
But Duane OGarro, 13, confessed that he enjoyed a fun-filled summer for less than one weeks pocket money. This was at the Summer Action scheme run by police at St Andrews School in Matilda Street, Barnsbury.
It only cost 2 to sign up and you could do football, basketball, horse-riding, go to Chessington World of Adventures, he said. There was even a disco at the end.
Younger children point out that if money was spent on making open spaces safer, less would need to be spent on organised activities. While Paradise Park for example is a favourite among older teenagers in Holloway, its reputation as a trouble spot puts others off.
Theres always trouble over there with gangs and old boozers, says Steven Cording, 12, also of Ring Cross. Stuarts younger brother Chris, 13, says, Ive been beaten up there there are always people saying and doing things. You cant go out really.
About the team
The discussion was led by editor Kathleen Dawes, 15, and reporter Jessie Mears, 13, with editor Stuart Fletcher, 15, and reporters James Fletcher, 9, Isaac Fihosy, 10, Chris Fletcher, 13, and Ricky Allen, 12. This story was published in the Highbury & Islington Express.
