Why don’t you...
Summer's here, school's out and you have woken up from that recurring dream about your parents secretly booking an amazing foreign holiday only to find it is raining outside, community tensions in the city are running high and riots are breaking out sporadically. What can young people do in Belfast over the precious summer months?
| Put posters in shops or in cinemas – that’s where most young people go, NOT to libraries. |
A chorus of "there's nothing to do round my way, its dead boring" booms from a bunch of Children's Express reporters, some of whom admit rioting is one of the activities that spices up the summer holiday.
Research revealed there is life after the end of term. Despite extremely limited resources and funding, a host of voluntary organisations and statutory agencies provide summer activities and alternatives to street violence.
One project manager said something needs to be done to target and refocus young people during the summer. Like others, he feels lack of government and council funding is a nonsense and shows misplaced priorities. He added, if more money was spent on prevention schemes, less money would have to be shelled out on replacing wrecked traffic lights and paying out compensation for burnt out shops and vehicles.
In East Belfast, as part of a strategy for youth in the area, the BASE Inner East Youth Project working with other groups asked young people what they wanted to do in July and August and what activities would keep them safe and out of trouble.
In the late evening and twilight hours, young people could swap rioting and becoming embroiled in violence, for midnight football, a turn on the climbing wall, pool, film screenings or nightline, where blindfolded participants must follow instructions and a rope to get to their destination. This innovative idea is in its first year but funding shortages may limit the projects life span.
In interface areas, with support from the Youth Services Community Relations, registered youth groups and other interested organisations are working with local residents and parents to actively remove young people from trouble-spots. They provide day-trips, recreational breaks, social activities and residential mini-breaks. Enhanced youth organisation summer programmes, a number of international exchanges and outreach summer activities are also funded by Youth Services, despite a severely restricted budget.
The West Belfast Festival, which runs from August 3-12 was set up 14 years ago to address the problem of youth violence during the 'troubled months'. It provides something for all ages, including street theatre, street parties, exhibitions, ice-skating, face painting, carnival, puppet shows and workshops. This year the Grand Finale is Atomic Kitten in concert.
And Festival Radio will hit the airwaves during August. A young people's radio team will provide hourly news bulletins.
In terms of parties and festivals, Belfast is rocking over the summer.
At the end of July the North Belfast Festival offers a similar fare of events but on a smaller scale. In East Belfast, the Beat Initiative is running mask, dance, costume and arts workshops in preparation for the festival carnival on 18th August. Young people are extremely welcome to give a hand in party preparations and take part in the parade.
Towards the end of July, fiddle or tin whistle classes, drama, storytelling or art workshops are offered by the McCracken Summer School in the New Lodge.
In June, young people living in the Greater Shankill area have been involved in some mad-cap activities, which include - it's a Knockout, disco competitions, talent shows, balloon modelling and pop concerts.
For those young people who prefer a little more independence summer schemes at local leisure centres throughout the city are worth checking out. Expect to pay between 80 pence to £1:10 a day, which could give you access to indoor football, trampoline, the pool, arts and crafts and away trips. These activities seem to attract young children and younger teens, according to leisure staff.
For the outdoor types, Colin Glen Forest Park, west Belfast welcomes young people who want to help with practical conservation and learn about the environment. They will even pay your travel expenses and provide lunch.
On afternoons in July and August in selected city parks 5-12 year olds can enjoy bouncy castles, treasure hunts, street entertainment and loads more.
Belfast City Council also supports summer schemes in 27 community centres and four play-centres throughout the city providing games, arts and crafts, outdoor activities and day-trips.
Working through local community groups Belfast Community Circus offers summer circus workshops. Budding big top performers can learn Diablo, juggling, to walk on hand-held stilts, unicycle and acrobatics. BCC will be putting on a spectacular circus show in Barrow Square just after lunch on 10th August.
Snowed under by glossy brochures and pamphlets, CE reporters are stunned by the available activities. However, if they were not involved in researching the issue they said "they would still be in the dark."
Victoria Murray, 14 said "it might be a good idea to have all the information in one place, for example on a website because lots of young people use the Internet."
Michael Leathem, 14, added "it would be a great idea to put posters in shops or in cinemas about what is going on because that's where most young people go, NOT to libraries."
About the team
This article was researched by Johnny McKim, 14 Sheena Hall, 14 Daniel McCrisken, 11 and Sharon Armstrong 14. It was published in Fortnight in Northern Ireland.
