Harrogate Borough Council

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The Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership has funded the shelter as part of plans to address the common problem of youths having nowhere to meet and socialise with their friends.  This is the fourth shelter to be provided in the district and requests are coming in for more.

 

When Mark Wilkinson and Roger Hampshire undertook a study of youth shelters as a course at the University of West England they thought that their paper would have a limited but worthwhile readership.  Twenty five thousand copies later they are into a second reprint and are astonished at how many people are finding their work a useful research tool.

 

Chair of the Harrogate District Safer Communities, Councillor Les Ellington, said:  "This paper confirms what many people believe and that is we have long regarded gatherings of young people as a problem to be eliminated rather than as a need to be catered for.   This is nothing new and goes back centuries.  Young people need to socialise as part of their normal growth and development.  And yes sometimes they do get too boisterous and show off inappropriately in front of their peers.  But it is much better for them to do this in a designated space out of harm's way, than to try and stop them gathering outside shops or bus shelters and asking the police to move them on.

 

"Youth shelters are not the whole solution, young people need other structured environments such as youth clubs and organised events which the Partnership is also pleased to support.  But I do hope that local residents will give these young people a chance.  They know that if they misbehave or cause a nuisance then the shelter may be removed."

 

Sergeant Penny Taylor of North Yorkshire Police responsible for Starbeck area, added her support for the youth shelter   "By working together with other responsible organisations in Starbeck, such as the 4Youth service and St Andrew's Church, we have come a long way in reducing anti-social behaviour in Starbeck.  As well as targeting those young persons committing crime and anti-social behaviour by enforcement, we are keen to offer facilities for those who just want somewhere to gather and socialise and at the same time feel safe.  The youth shelter will hopefully provide this and deter those congregating in other areas of the High Street, which can be intimidating. We will be monitoring activity at the shelter by way of patrols." ENDS