The youth of Seaton

Yesterday and this evening I was at the Town Hall in meetings. On both evenings young people were messing about around the toilets next to the building and on both evenings threw toilet rolls into the foyer.

This evening I went out to them and talked with them. There were 3 girls and 3 boys about 14 years old. I asked them why they were doing such daft stuff. They said they were bored and it was a laugh (it was the boys trying to impress the girls - and failing miserably I might add!). They were quite sheepish and agreed to clear up all the mess.

I asked them what they would rather be doing. The said "Having a rave". That isn't as bad as it sounds - they would like to be somewhere warm and cheerful, indoors, where they can play their own music and lark around a bit.

Now let me think - where could that be? You don't want them too close to people - youngsters do make a lot of noise. You want somewhere in the town centre. You want somewhere they could drop in and enjoy themselves where they might perhaps also come into contact with good role models for their later lives or find information about things they want to know about but are too embarrassed to ask about.

Hang on, that sounds familiar - I think I've just invented something called a "Youth Club". Now where could we put it .......

Oh, this makes me SO ANGRY. These are the young people who would have been at the youth club had we still got one. Instead they are throwing toilet rolls into the Town Hall.