Birks Holt TARA
Sec
retary: Lisa Lees
The Youth Community Group, which currently has 14 members, is forging better relationships with 2010 Rotherham Ltd and its partners, including South Yorkshire Police, Youth Workers, RotherFed (Rotherham Federation of Tenants & Residents) and Neighbourhood Wardens. All the young people have signed a behavioural agreement – any reports of an individual being involved in anti-social behaviour would mean they had to leave the group. The young people themselves are full of enthusiasm for the group.
“It keeps you out of trouble!” say Kennedy, eight, Beth, nine, and Jessica, 12.
“It gets you off the streets,” says Luke Buttle, 13.
2010 Rotherham Housing Officer Rebecca Whorton said: “By offering young people opportunities to learn new skills, make friends and work positively with ourselves and other agencies we hope to decrease criminal damage and youth nuisance incidents, the root cause of which is often just boredom.”
The young people have already played an important part in the consultation process around a Good Neighbour Agreement for the Birks Holt Estate. This is an agreement between residents and their neighbours setting out what residents themselves think is good neighbourly behaviour and promoting good community spirit.
The Youth Community Group began as an off-shoot of the Birks Holt Tenants and Residents Association (TARA). Any other TARA wishing to set up a similar scheme in their area can speak to Neighbourhood staff at their local housing office. In addition, RotherFed can offer two Criminal Record Bureau checks for volunteers and free child protection training. Please contact RotherFed on 01709 822258 for further information. Birks Holt TARA is presently refurbishing their community house and leading on regeneration on their estate in Maltby.
