Newport youngsters take lead in anti-social strategy
17 Jun 2008
Young residents of a Newport estate are playing a pivotal role in making life there safer and happier by taking the lead in an initiative aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour.
Talkback NP19 is an annual youth consultation day organised by young people from Ringland—NP19 is the Ringland postcode—aimed at making young people across the city more socially aware of issues in their communities.
Supported by Newport Youth Service, Ringland Community Association and Newport’s Holiday Inn Hotel and funded to the tune of £5,000 by Corus, the event—taking place at the Holiday Inn on Sunday, June 29—is expected to be attended by around 150 youngsters aged 11 to 25.
The day will comprise 16 workshops at which the young people will present the work they’ve done on the subject through the medium of film, music, singing and drama.
Entertainment will be a big feature of the day and include graffiti screens, cheerleading, self-defence routines, dancing, and t-shirt and baseball cap-designing—all available at breaks, lunch and dinner. There will also be a ‘VIP lounge’, designed to draw out comments about issues concerning safer communities.
Talkback NP19 won the Community Safety category in the prestigious Regional Monitor Excellence Awards 2007, for which they were invited to an award ceremony in Westminster, London. They were nominated by Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East.
Ringland Community First Youth Development Worker Jamie Witt said Talkback NP19 was one of the few truly peer-led conferences in South Wales. “It’s not too formalised and completely organised by the young people themselves,” he added.
“The aim of the day is to highlight a positive approach to safer communities, the raising of citizenship issues and community and social understanding, which reflects social behaviour in communities and schools.
“I’d like to thank Corus for their continued support and kind donation for this year’s event, Holiday Inn for providing the facilities for this year’s event, Newport Youth Service and Ringland Community Association. Without them, the young people would not be able to express themselves, educate and share information on issues that affect them.”
Corus helped lay the foundations for the initiative four years ago. As part of its decommissioning programme at the Llanwern works, the company sought to invest in several small local community projects.
"Corus is delighted to be involved with Talkback NP19,” said Keith Farron, Corus spokesperson for Community Assist programmes in South Wales. “The project reflects the growing relationship that businesses need to develop with the local community in which they live.
“It’s also very important to understand and listen to the views of local residents, including young people in their own community environment."
Jessica Morden said: “I visited Talkback NP19 last year and was so impressed that I nominated them for the Regional Monitor Awards. I was delighted they won the Community Safety category.
“I think this is an excellent initiative—not least because the day is organised and led by young people themselves, focusing on how we can together tackle anti-social behaviour. A big thanks to all the local sponsors, including Corus, who make the day possible.”
