You may have read reports recently about anti social behaviour in and around Gwersyllt Resource Centre. It wasn’t good reading and rightly the community were concerned.
But just what does happen when youth workers see these reports either from the media or direct from those involved? Well here’s what happened on this particular occasion.
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“Overcoming challenges”
On this occasion officers from our Youth Justice Service took the lead in overcoming the challenges faced.
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They arranged meetings between key organisations – Police, community, local councillors, school, housing, parents and most importantly – the young people themselves.
Over the next three or four weeks they arranged a series of meetings to repair the harm done by the young people’s behaviour, restore relationships and come up with a resolution.
They were more than just talking shops – during the meetings the young people were challenged as to why they were behaving like this and their responses were taken seriously the outcome was positive and the situation has now improved dramatically.
As an added bonus to listening to young people the Community Council in Gwersyllt took on board what they would like to do and have kindly agreed to provide an art project for them as a token of their restored faith in the young people of the village.
One young person stated “I understand more about how my behaviour affects other people.”
And a member of staff from the local Estate Office commented that they saw the young people in a “different light now”
North Wales Police summed it all up by saying “It’s great to see everyone working together to solve the problem.”
Cllr Andy Atkinson, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti Poverty, said: “Working with young can people can be an absolute privilege and on this occasion everyone has responded in a positive way for the benefit of the wider community. Our Youth Justice Service team members are to be commended for their role in bringing everyone together in order to address an issue that was of great concern to all those affected.”
Wrexham Youth Justice Service would like to thank everyone who took part in getting around the table and engaging with this innovative project. We want to support communities to feel empowered so they can resolve their own issues.
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