Agenda item

Micklegate Ward Committee Young People's Consultation Workshops

Meeting of Micklegate Ward Committee Young People's Event, Micklegate Ward Committee, Tuesday, 29 April 2008 2.30 pm (Item 2.)

Minutes:

Pupils were asked to take part in three workshops:

Graffiti Workshop run by Street Environment Services

Clair Bailey, John Wood and Ben Hyde asked pupils their views on graffiti:

QUESTION	Group A	Group B	Group C
Is graffiti art or crime?	· Art – 6 · Not sure – 2 · Crime – 10	· A large number thought it was a crime. · A small number argued that it was street art but was a bad way to express themselves · One indicated that it was a marking of territory	· It depends on the area graffitied · The group thought a Tag was a crime but a picture was art · Bishopthorpe Bumps was raised as an area that you could legally tag.
Which groups do it?	· It is spontaneous · Gangs of 14 – 16 year olds	· Kids with troubled family lives who are angry at their home life · Gangs of 14 – 16 year olds · Chavs · Trouble makers	· Chavs · Plebs · 13 years and older
Should we provide designated graffiti areas?	· Yes – 7 · No – 11 · One pupil recommended age limits on paint sales · One pupil suggested that those doing it got an adrenaline burst from the act	· Yes – 2 · The idea for a paint wall was floated about as it was argued it was possible to control the content · Some thought Bishopthorpe Bumps was a legal graffiti area	· Skate parks should be used for graffiti but also to make them larger for the amount · Graffiti workshops · Bishopthorpe Bumps
What is the effect on local residents?	· This is never considered by taggers	· No second thought by taggers	· This is not considered by taggers

It’s Up 2 U –

Workshop run by the Micklegate Safer Neighbourhood Team

Members of the SNT explained what the It’s Up 2 U Competition is about. Groups of between 2 and 5 young people can enter the competition over the summer. The groups would need an adult mentor and must come up with a volunteering project that would benefit their community. The project should be carried out over the summer where groups should keep a journal which is submitted to the organisers at the end of the project for judging. Entrants would be able to apply for Yorcash funding for their projects and approach local businesses etc. The first prize is a trip to Disney Land Paris with a youth worker.

The pupils were asked to think about a project that would benefit their communities and encouraged to consider entering the competition.

Neighbourhood Action Planning –

Workshop run by Vicky Fuggles and Dean Elson, Young Peoples Services

Pupils were asked for their views and ideas on the four Neighbourhood Action Plan Ambition Statements for Micklegate Ward.

The following statements under each of the Micklegate ward Neighbourhood Action Plan priorities were identified as the most popular views for young people.

For the second stage of the consultation young people were asked which statements did they agree with, in order of priority. In total, approximately 120 young people participated.

YOUNG PEOPLE & COMMUNITY LIFE PRIORITIES

1^st