Young people create a place they can meet

It took two years for Angela Eyre, Gary Harker and Amanda Dixon, now all aged 18, to raise the money needed to build a youth shelter in the Gilesgate area of Durham.

Last Friday their hard work paid off and the new facility was unveiled.

The three students got together shortly after the City of Durham Community Safety Partnership commissioned research into what was available for young people in the Gilesgate area in 2001.

One of the key findings was that young people had nowhere to socialise with their friends and so gathered on the streets. This often resulted in residents calling police and officers would move them on.

Angela, Gary and Amanda formed a group called Changeforce and set to work.

They looked at youth shelter facilities in Oxford and Edinburgh, spoke to young people to find out how they used shelters and held open meetings, inviting residents from the Gilesgate and Belmont area to hear about the ideas and comment on the proposed shelter.

The students prepared and delivered presentations to local councillors, police and youth agencies to gain support for their youth shelter.

They then submitted a plan and approval was given.

The youngsters were supported by County Durham Youth Offending Service and Durham County Council's Education in the Community Service and funding came from a variety of sources, including the local councils.

Deputy manager for the North Durham Youth Offending team Julie Scurfield said: "It's a real triumph. Young people want to get together and meet their friends like adults do, but to do that in a residential area becomes problematic.

"They wanted to get invo*ved to stop young people getting into trouble in the first place. It's been daunting for them to talk to a room of police or councillors, but this has all been very empowering for the young people."

The new youth shelter is located in Sunderland Road next to the Belmont Community Association.