ARMADALE YOUNG PEOPLE'S PAGE

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Updated 22 July 2008

The Dale Experience (Armadale Youth Issues Day) at Armadale Community Centre, 19 May 2007

Maria and Clare in front of an informative

West Lothian Youth Action Project stall

Scott (right) being shown the results of

Armadale Young People's Questionnaire

Karen of the Healthy Respect drop-in clinic, still smiling

after a busy 4 hours

Claire telling Rosie more about the Armadale Questionnaire

Paul spreading the word about Armadale Waste Wise Project

James sorting his information packs

Elaine (right) in front of designs for the Armadale Community Trust logo and clouds of suggestions for youth facilities

REVIEW OF THE DALE EXPERIENCE 2007

The photos at the top of the page show a few of the individuals that young people met when they visited the exhibition of work by Armadale Academy's Youth Issues Group at Armadale Community Centre on Saturday 19 May.

We visited at the start of the day when Claire and Scott were busy with last-minute arrangements. When we returned towards the end of the day, there was still plenty of activity.  Football and snooker were planned, but the bungee run proved to be very popular.

One hall was filled with stalls manned by people well-equipped to show young people what services and opportunities are available to them.

Freebies were popular (as usual!) and Paul was kept busy showing products made from recycled materials.

Also, Karen, James, Elaine, Maria and Clare were all kept on their toes by the many young people that visited during the afternoon.

Upstairs, boys and girls enjoyed the Pamper Room where Katie provided hand massage while Ashley styled hair and Gillian created beautiful nails.

Walls in the Community Centre were covered with information, particularly the results of the Armadale Young People's Questionnaire, conducted by ten pupils from Armadale Academy's Youth Issues Group.  300 young people responded in the survey and a summary of their findings is given below.

We have been told that nearly 200 people visited the Dale Experience.

ARMADALE YOUNG PEOPLE'S QUESTIONNAIRE 2007

The Background

300 young people took part in the questionnaire which was carried out within the Academy with volunteers from the school.

The questionnaire aimed to find out what the issues were for young people in Armadale and the hopes they had for the town.

The findings from the questionnaire highlight areas for action which need young people to be involved in to actively challenge these issues.

Main Themes

• Young people recognise that some other young people do cause problems in Armadale.

• Negative views of young people are exaggerated.

• Young people have a right to hang about the streets.

• There is a lack of facilities and activities for them.

"...the gangs are a problem, they get drunk, damage property and cause violence."

"Older people drink and fight as well, but elders excuse them and their behaviour."

Areas for Action

• Improve activities for young people

- More clubs

- Discos / nightclubs

- More events / afterschool activities / fun things

• Better amenities in town (i.e. shops, facilities, etc)

• Improve condition of parks for young people

• Somewhere for young people to congregate

- Indoors - building or space

- Outdoors, i.e. a teen shelter

• Community safety

- Improve young people's behaviour e.g. graffiti, violence

- More police / better police service

- More surveillance / security

- Legal / political solutions i.e. stop getting moved along the street

- Stop access to alcohol and smoking

"We hang about the streets because there is nowhere else to go."

"There is a lack of local activities and places to go at night, especially for people aged 13 - 17."

"I have experienced the intimidation by neds hanging up the street."

"Adults group all young people as being antisocial and disruptive.  They call the police to move us all the time when we are causing no trouble."

"Some people do cause a lot of trouble but some just want to hang around with friends."

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We acknowledge the hard work of the ten Armadale Academy Pupils who were involved in this project, and we would like to name four in particular who presented  the group's findings to class representatives as well as to local community groups:

Johnathan Cox (S6)

Murray Armastrong (S3)

Darren Jones (S2)

Gary Bowman (S2)