East Lothian Courier | News | Fear for youth projects

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 10th April, 2008 09:00

Fear for youth projects

THE posts of nine full-time community workers were axed this week. And Dunbar councillor Norman Hampshire,who hit out at the move, fears that progress made with youth development projects throughout the town, could now unravel.

On Tuesday, East Lothian Council decided not to renew funding of £200,000 to retain the posts as part of the 30-strong community liaison team.

Casual employees will continue to work on individual projects to “maintain consistency”.

And a warden system will now replace the community outreach programme

One of those made redundant, Susan Butters, was instrumental in setting up Dunbar and District Youth Forum and the Friday night ‘Chat and Chill’ at the Countess Youth and Community Centre.

Both had been successful, she said, catering for between 40 to 70 young people at a time.

She was “annoyed and disappointed” that she could not develop them further.

Councillor Hampshire said that outreach workers had linked up with different projects in Dunbar to keep youths from hanging around the town centre with nothing to do. They had started a dialogue to ind out what young people wanted.

But just as their work was starting to take effect, the council decided to switch tack, from diversionary activities to the “big stick” approach.

“If youths are doing something wrong wardens will hand out fines,” he added.

“It’s more of a big stick than trying to work positively with young people.”

A council statement on the decision acknowledged the “many excellent initiatives” in which the team had been involved.

It went on: “We are keen to ensure that these continue under a new structure.

“In the case of the Dunbar and District Youth Forum, Gavin Clark, the depute head at Dunbar Grammar, will act as the forum mentor to ensure that this impetus will continue.”

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