MORE YOUTH FACILITIES NEEDED

Youths in Nottingham need more access to clubs and facilities according to a Government Minister.

The announcement came during a conference held in the city on Thursday.

According to Beverley Hughes the Minister of State for Children and Young People – 1.4% cent of youth clubs are open at the weekend in Nottingham – compared with a national average of 2.5%

She reckons more should be done. She said: "We've got to bring youth services and facilities into the twenty-first century and have them open when they're going to benefit young people and when they want to use them."

ABOVE: Beverley Hughes MP
SUCCESSFUL

The city’s youth agree too.

Bilborough teenager Ashraf Reid is on Nottingham’s Youth Council. He reckons the new five million pound NGY youth centre willl help to curb youth crime.

"I think it'll be really successful," he said. "It will be in the middle of the city centre and be easier for everyone.

"Because youth clubs are in different areas and people from Radford would want to go to the club in St. Ann's, they'd probably get beaten up because it's like a sort of territorialism.

"I think there should be a stop to it to be honest."

Recorded youth crime has fallen by a quarter over the last four years in the city.

The Minister said the Government was committed to opening new youth centres as a part of rehabilitating young offenders

She said: "I want to make to clear too, that we're clear on custody being a last resort for offenders who have committed serious and violent crimes. And when other options wouldn't protect the public."