Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Fighting for the youth in North Kilburn -Cllr Mary Arnold
Last November, residents around Dunster Gardens sent a petition to councillors, officers and police about their serious concerns of anti-social behaviour they are experiencing in the neighbourhood north of Willesden Lane. I organised a meeting with all the agencies (police, ASB Unit, Youth Services and Brent Housing Partnership) and the ASB Unit undertook to co-ordinate a multi-agency action plan which we duly took to a 50-strong residents' meeting in January.
At the meeting residents recognised the important work the police are doing and the need for residents to report all incidents. They also wanted some CCTV and physical changes around the walkway through James Stewart House which the Brent Housing Manager was looking into. But most of all they called for youth services in the area to engage young people in activities already in place and to identify other needs and co-ordinate services for North Kilburn young people. Shocked by the failure to provide and the fact that youth services growth budget has been cut, a petition to restore funding and provide services and facilities was signed by residents at the meeting.
As Vice Chair of Children and Families Scrutiny committee, I got this on the agenda for March 1st committee meeting. In the meanwhile residents from the BEST (Brent Eleven Streets) area raised similar concerns about street crime and lack of programmes for the local young people and asked about community safety initiatives. Their concerns are being passed to ASB unit to include in their action.
The petitions for Youth Services and community facilities in North Kilburn were well received by the committee on March 1st and there was a commitment that the director should help to resolve the impasse with the Scout Hut situation at 1A Streatley Gardens. The Scout Hut is designated for community use but is derelict and difficult to sell. Meanwhile there are no local community facilities to provide a base for the youth service and to plan co-ordinated activities to support local young people, some increasingly at risk.
At a meeting I arranged (March 23) following this commitment between the Director, the Head of Youth Services, the Scout Association representative with the community representatives from Dunster Gardens and BRAT (Brondesbury residents) and the chair of BEST (Brent Eleven Streets) we learned that there are no longer youth service resources to support a local programme although this offer had been available last year. The offer is to provide a six-week outreach programme supported by the ASB Unit, as a short-term measure.
One positive was that the director is finding out if a bid-writer to develop a partnership bid for external funding can be provided as there are lots of willing partners in the area - eg the Tricyle has made offers of space and there is local community planning for facilities for bike workshops which could be shared. The director is also looking into playspace facilities and the options associated with Extended Schools Strategy and Christchurch School. Finally and most important he has undertaken to liaise with Planning colleagues to identify any suitable locations and funds to kickstart community facilities.
Labels: Young people in norht Kilburn
