Manchester

Young People Demand Proper Facilities

MANCHESTER CITY Council is always attacking young people for hanging
around on the streets. But what else can young people do when they have
nothing to do and nowhere to go? The council have spent plenty of money in
the city centre – £75,000 for a skate park, over £1 million a year for a
"city life museum" but we need decent youth facilities in
Benchill and Wythenshawe.

Lynn Worthington talked to Cheryl, Clare, and Alex (all 15), and
Nathan (9)

"There’s nothing to do in the area but meet up with our mates on
the street and have a laugh. The police don’t want us to hang around so
they stop us and PNC us (check on the police national computer -Eds). They
ask us what we’re doing on the streets and sometimes give us abuse. The
older people try to get us to move somewhere else. It’s boring. If we stay
in the house we just get moaned at by our parents."

There are nearly 8,000 young people aged 16-24 in Wythenshawe. The
council provides just two youth clubs, in Baguley and Woodhouse Park. In
Benchill there are no facilities at all. The housing company Willow Park
promised new facilities as part of the housing transfer. They never
materialised.

What there is, such as Newall Green youth club, is totally inadequate:
"All the girls got was a small room with chairs in. The boys had most
of the room and things like a pool table and table tennis, only two
Playstations and two computers. We would have liked a music room, classes
aimed at us like hairdressing and trips out. It seems to just be for the
little kids like Nathan.

"The local school did trampolining on Sundays and it cost £3.50.
Now the school only opens it when they feel like it. It’s too dear for us
to use. The school was given money for an all-weather pitch but that’s
used by local sports clubs, like Manchester City youth team. The school
spent too much money on things just aimed at boys and not us girls."

Wythenshawe needs free, community-controlled and publicly funded
facilities for young people. Existing facilities need proper funding and
youth involvement. Areas without youth clubs should be given them. The
council and Willow Park should be forced to deliver the money.