No boredom at Wokingham Bearwood Recreation Ground
Fridays nights are offering more activity for Winnersh youngsters – now Wokingham Borough Council has tackled boredom and turned anti-social behaviour into positive action at Bearwood recreation ground.
A dispersal order has been put in place by the Wokingham council and Thames Valley Police in partnership. The order is for Winnersh station and surrounding areas following complaints from residents of youth anti-social behaviour which have been received by both the council and police.
The Wokingham young people feel they have nowhere to go on a Friday night and being aware that the dispersal order would drive the young people to other areas, community safety operations manager Jenny Bennett and Wokingham council’s youth service have organised for the ‘mobile youth provision’, a van with activities that can be taken wherever youth workers think it would best be used, to visit Bearwood recreation ground. The van comes with youth workers, activities and soft drinks and is designed to provide somewhere safe for the young people to gather. It is currently on hand at the recreation ground every Friday evening from 6.30pm until 9pm.
“When we meet the young people we can make them more aware of the borough-wide activities that are available to them, and we can discuss anti-social behaviour,” says Wokingham area youth work manager Richard Ferguson.
Co-ordinated by Wokingham council’s community safety operations manager and youth service, local partners including Thames Valley Police, British Transport Police, South-West Trains and some residents who live near the train station have all been involved in tackling the problem of anti-social behaviour at the station.
Community safety operations manager Jenny Bennett said: “Now there is somewhere for young people to go when they need a safe place for socialising. So far the youth service team has been to the recreation ground three times and met with groups who have been moved on from the station and local young people who have been hanging around the park. This week the fun fair is using the site but the youth service will still be there – it will be an even better opportunity to meet young people and sign post them to summer activities. We can also make them aware of the dispersal order and what it means.”
Wokingham Neighbourhood inspector Lindsey James said: “I fully support the facility. My officers have been promoting it for a number of weeks in an attempt to help young people realise that there are areas where they can socialise safely. I hope that the young people take the opportunity to go and see what it offers. Those who do not wish to visit the van and continue to cause anti social behaviour will be dealt with under the powers of the Dispersal order.”
Executive member for community safety Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman said: “This is a great way for different agencies, including the police and the train operators to collaborate with us and help young people find a positive outlet for their energy. The youth service has a wealth of activities on offer for teenagers, especially during the summer holidays, and is always keen to join up with partner agencies to help raise awareness of all the opportunities on offer. This new activity on offer is a direct response to the needs of the young people and the community they live in.”
The mobile provision will be attending the recreation ground every Friday until the end of September, when the council will evaluate the success of the initiative in order to decide how to take it forward.
A dispersal order has been put in place by the Wokingham council and Thames Valley Police in partnership. The order is for Winnersh station and surrounding areas following complaints from residents of youth anti-social behaviour which have been received by both the council and police.
The Wokingham young people feel they have nowhere to go on a Friday night and being aware that the dispersal order would drive the young people to other areas, community safety operations manager Jenny Bennett and Wokingham council’s youth service have organised for the ‘mobile youth provision’, a van with activities that can be taken wherever youth workers think it would best be used, to visit Bearwood recreation ground. The van comes with youth workers, activities and soft drinks and is designed to provide somewhere safe for the young people to gather. It is currently on hand at the recreation ground every Friday evening from 6.30pm until 9pm.
“When we meet the young people we can make them more aware of the borough-wide activities that are available to them, and we can discuss anti-social behaviour,” says Wokingham area youth work manager Richard Ferguson.
Co-ordinated by Wokingham council’s community safety operations manager and youth service, local partners including Thames Valley Police, British Transport Police, South-West Trains and some residents who live near the train station have all been involved in tackling the problem of anti-social behaviour at the station.
Community safety operations manager Jenny Bennett said: “Now there is somewhere for young people to go when they need a safe place for socialising. So far the youth service team has been to the recreation ground three times and met with groups who have been moved on from the station and local young people who have been hanging around the park. This week the fun fair is using the site but the youth service will still be there – it will be an even better opportunity to meet young people and sign post them to summer activities. We can also make them aware of the dispersal order and what it means.”
Wokingham Neighbourhood inspector Lindsey James said: “I fully support the facility. My officers have been promoting it for a number of weeks in an attempt to help young people realise that there are areas where they can socialise safely. I hope that the young people take the opportunity to go and see what it offers. Those who do not wish to visit the van and continue to cause anti social behaviour will be dealt with under the powers of the Dispersal order.”
Executive member for community safety Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman said: “This is a great way for different agencies, including the police and the train operators to collaborate with us and help young people find a positive outlet for their energy. The youth service has a wealth of activities on offer for teenagers, especially during the summer holidays, and is always keen to join up with partner agencies to help raise awareness of all the opportunities on offer. This new activity on offer is a direct response to the needs of the young people and the community they live in.”
The mobile provision will be attending the recreation ground every Friday until the end of September, when the council will evaluate the success of the initiative in order to decide how to take it forward.
Wokingham Borough Council
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