A new community centre is already getting kids out of anti-social behaviour before it’s even opened.
Kids who were causing trouble have been helping transform the new building and are now showing pride in their work, project bosses say.
The Pavilion opened on Saturday (July 20) in the former bowls pavilion of King George’s Park in the St Anne’s area of Sunderland.
Knife-crime campaigner Tanya Brown says the centre can provide exactly the type of early intervention needed to end the scourge of blades that tragically claimed her son’s life.
Karen Noble with Simon and Tanya Brown. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The venue has been masterminded by Karen Noble of the Pallion Action Group, and will by managed by Tanya, mum of murdered teen Connor and founder of the Connor Brown Trust.
The building had been plagued by anti-social behaviour and was ruined by kids, Karen says. But some of those who once hung around outside it were taken under the wing of a project to transform it into a bustling community asset.
A fun day was held to mark the opening. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Karen Noble said: “We’ve worked with these kids for nearly two years to be able to speak to them, tell them what we wanted.
“Here today they’ve cut the ribbon, opened the doors. They’ve gone from calling us a few choice words to really respecting us and being really amazing.”
The site lay derelict for almost 10 years before being taken over by the action group.
Work started just four months ago and has been completed just in time for the summer holidays.
Hundreds of locals descended on the venue for its opening day on Saturday.
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Tanya hopes the work will tie in with her long-running campaign, alongside The Northern Echo, to end the scourge of knife crime.
She said: “Our aims and objectives are all about young people and early intervention.
Tanya's son Connor was murdered in 2019. (Image: Contributor)
“We’re engaging with young people, we’re providing these activities for young people.
“Nobody decides to just pick up a knife, if we can do the early intervention before they do that then we’re stopping the problem from occurring.
A memorial to Connor at the new site. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
“We can prevent it from escalating, because it can escalate into knife crime and other violent crime. That has to be a key element in what we do. Inspiring them, and giving them aspirations, creating positive activities to create positive attitudes.”
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
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Throughout the summer the centre will be running activities for young people will be hosting outreach workers to give advice.
The Echo has long been campaigning for an end to knife crime with our Knife Crime Taskforce, bringing together local experts including Tanya with politicians and leaders.
Last year Tanya met with now Home Secretary Yvette Cooper who said her story would help form Labour’s policy on knife crime.
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