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Conference explores ‘Strategies for Life’ findings

14 February 2000

 

Youth policy makers, academics from across Britain, and leaders from the South Bank Community will meet at a one-day conference ‘Youth, Risk and Leisure’, on Thursday 17 February at the Middlesbrough Football Community Centre, Eston Leisure Centre Site, Normanby Road, Eston from 10.30am-4.30pm.

The conference will look at findings from the three-year research initiative ‘Strategies for Life’, undertaken by the University of Teesside’s Centre for Social and Policy Research (CSPR) in partnership with several groups in Middlesbrough’s South Bank area. The £247,500 project, funded by the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB), was a collaboration between CSPR and the Redcar and East Cleveland Policy Unit.

The University’s role in the project was initiated by local residents of South Bank who were experiencing problems with young people committing crimes. Through the South Bank SRB Programme they contacted the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Derek Fraser, to see if the University could help, which led to CSPR’s involvement. Researchers from CSPR have interviewed 600 young people from South Bank aged 11-24, since 1997, on a range of issues, including crime, drugs and leisure facilities in their area.

The project was developed after an exchange of ideas between Professor Eileen Green, Co-Director of CSPR and Deborah Cadman, Head of the Policy Unit.

Dr Robin Bunton, Co-Director of CSPR said: "There are various findings to the research, for example the majority of young people felt they needed more space and improved leisure facilities. A lot of their concerns were similar to adults; they were worried about drinking, drugs and violence. The conclusions are also positive, young people are aware of the risks they are taking and deal with it in quite sensible ways, they have strategies for coping."

Graham Brownlee, Chair of the South Bank SRB Partnership Board said: "So often young people are excluded from setting priorities and making decisions. This project has given young people a voice in identifying risks in our community and setting alternative ways forward, which include some eagerly awaited events."


 
 
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