If ever there was an example of how to shape your own community, then it happening every single day in Dagenham and Rainham.
It is not just a sport of the political classes, nor those in their senior years. Young people care too.
I am working with a fantastic group of young people from all walks of life and political beliefs.
Last year a fourteen year old student walked into my office and articulated the problems that he was facing in our community. At the time, I don’t know who was more shocked; me worrying about his concerns and how we could resolve the issues of today when the Conservative party get into government; or him actually speaking to “a politician who listened [to him]” and agreed to take action.
One year on and we now have an inspiring group aged between fourteen and nineteen who have met up throughout the year, collated their ideas and have articulated their concerns to a host of politicians from Shadow Cabinet to City Hall.
They are clear that local government doesn’t have all the answers nor do they believe that the laws are on their side, but they do know that they want to shape their community so that they feel safer. They also now know that people like them should be encouraged to give their solutions to today’s problems.
In the last few weeks the government has made clear that the ASBO’s haven’t had the desired effect. The people at the front line aren’t just the elderly; in fact you’re statistically twice as likely to be a victim of crime if you’re young. For too long the current government has paid lip service to the issues effecting young people today. The example set by the group of young people in Dagenham and Rainham should be a shining example of trusting the people.
Local community leadership means that people of all ages in places like Dagenham and Rainham are at the centre of the solutions to the problems this country faces today. These guys have been an inspiration.
( 3 comments ) Tags: young people
Comment by Jon Harvey on September 9, 2009 at 11:00 am
Fabulous story – I hope that whoever gets into power after the next election – supports projects like this. Too many adults condemn young people – whereas often they are the ones that need most help. I yearn for the days when local councils will really, really, really listen to young people and act on what they say. Whatever national government can do to support this – is a good thing in my book.
Comment by Mike Chadwell Heath on September 12, 2009 at 12:53 am
Ask young people to assist and take responsibility? – this sounds like the re-birth of common sense – is that possible?. Perhaps the gutter press could loose the title “gutter” by looking elsewhere for positive stories on community inclusion the majority of young people attempt to achieve. Stop giving anti-social people the advantage of publicity and celebrity status – guns, knives, drugs, gangs are about mindless individuals who are only violent and brave whilst in a crowd covering the fact they are all scarred cowards who would run away at the first sign of individual responsibility; unlike the young people involved in this project – every success to all concerned.
Comment by Tom on March 31, 2010 at 2:36 pm
‘Criminalising grandmothers in local council sting operation for selling goldfish to 14 year old’ with the latter being the bait.
Orwells vision in 1984 is now almost a reality in UK but what has the opposition to say about this case -who will stand up for the British values we once knew ,the common sense and fairness we appreciated that have now been arrested and are serving life sentences?
It’s always a sign of ideological drift when the young are recruited to denounce adults, especially their parents: it shows that the ideology, the state or the sect has taken over the place of the family and its natural rights. Scary stuff, as Orwell understood.
Local councils are acting in a very high handed manner even if within the law. I keep wondering where are the councillors who were elected to serve the voters’ interests?
The reason journalists have suddenly woken up to the fact that they now live in a quasi police state is that “The People” until very recently have not given a toss about things like this while they had plenty of disposable income, oodles of equity in their homes, generous lenders and an ever lengthening credit card limit. All of a sudden people have begun to realise what a lot of very intelligent people have been saying for a long time – if you don’t make anything (remember manufacture) you don’t earn anything. And I don’t want to hear the “Thatcher destroyed Manufacturing Brigade”, Labour have taken manufacturing from 22% of the economy to a little over 11.
This nasty little regime hasn’t just introduced spying on each other as well as legalised government infiltration of public bodies, large corporations and the like. This was the plan from the start.
there is no personal accountability from those whose salaries (and inflated pensions) we, the tapayers, pay for. No-one ever takes responsibility for mis-applications of the law, major cock-ups and stupidity by government departments (national or local), or even for crimes committed by public servants – including MPs.
How to solve it? Easy – every time there is a decision by a public employee that adversely affects the life of one or more members of the public (i.e. their employer), a person’s name has to be attached to that decision; not “a spokesperson for…” or “the department said…” or “the Council decided…” – no, there has to be a person who is accountable and contactable, and who cannot hide behind a smokescreen of departmental privelege.
Since most decisions are made by individuals, I think that compulsory “naming and shaming” would have a salutary effect, and might lead to some more thought being given to potentially stupid ideas. By the same token, of course, public servants who have a positive impact on people’s lives should be “named and praised”…
there is no personal accountability from those whose salaries (and inflated pensions) we, the tapayers, pay for. No-one ever takes responsibility for mis-applications of the law, major cock-ups and stupidity by government departments (national or local), or even for crimes committed by public servants – including MPs.
How to solve it? Easy – every time there is a decision by a public employee that adversely affects the life of one or more members of the public (i.e. their employer), a person’s name has to be attached to that decision; not “a spokesperson for…” or “the department said…” or “the Council decided…” – no, there has to be a person who is accountable and contactable, and who cannot hide behind a smokescreen of departmental privelege.
Since most decisions are made by individuals, I think that compulsory “naming and shaming” would have a salutary effect, and might lead to some more thought being given to potentially stupid ideas. By the same token, of course, public servants who have a positive impact on people’s lives should be “named and praised”…
Will the Conservatives revoke these changes?