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What do you think? Are we demonsing teenagers or is it unacceptable to hang around in large groups that can indimidate others using public space?

sammy
i dont like the way people are always putting yp down why not just give them more in the area to do give them a break

Suzanne
As adults, we need to treat young people with respect and then we would get it back. Show them a positive attitude and be a positive role model. We ALL have to take personal responisbility for our actions - young and old alike. Why do we let other people do our thinking for us? We blame the government for so much but we have allowed them to take all power away from us. We can't round up children just because they are out late at night - it will become (if it has not already) a police state - we should beware of where this country is heading ....

sammy
thanks to all those who have stood by challenge for youth

Lee in Ballerin
im 15 and from the countryside! I do mi homework and feed up round the farm in the evening! Those belfastys dont need to be outside! Get a partime job do something useful!

David
I am 23 now but we all did our fair share of runnin bout the streets local parks and the new trend seems to be running bout the city centre at night. I have never had the police to my door for causing damage or trouble so why do kids think that it is ok nowadays to wreck all round them insult elders and generally be an annoyance to anyone of authority. I think discipline needs to be instilled in the home and parents need to tell their children that they will not tolerate anti social behaviour.

CHRIS
MOST YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE LIMAVADY AREA HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO AND NOWHERE TO GO TO DURING THE WEEK WITH ONLY UNDERAGE DRINKING AND HANGING AROUND ESTATES AND STREETS MOSTLY AT THE WEEKENDS.THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL TO COLERAINE OR DERRY TO GO TO THE PICTURES OR BOWLING ALLEYWHEN I WAS A TEENAGER IN THE VERY EARLY SEVENTIES LIMAVADY HAD 2 CINEMAS, VARIOUS YOUTH CLUBS AND VARIOUS DANCE VENUES - NOW THERE IS NOTHING BUT THE LOCAL LEISURE CENTER WHICH IS ONLY AT CERTAIN TIMES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.YOUNG PEOPLE NEED THE SAME CHANCES AND FACILITIES THAT I HAD IN MY YOUTH

Paul Fleck
There is something for young people to do in the evenings - Scout & Guide Groups exist in every major town in N Ireland.

Tommie
Cheers Youth Centre in Ballymoney has been running a drop in facility for young people in the town for about 20 years or so and it has proved very successful. I would like to wish CFY every success in their new venture.

Margaret
It's not right that you have to take abuse from young people and feel threatened walking home from work. But you need to look at the bigger picture also. Its not just that these young people have nothing to do. Its that they have no one making a possitive impact on them. The reality today is that all young people have possitive people in their life and this doesn't just include family, but friends, teachers, neighbours and the stranger who walks by and only sees the "yobs needing to grab everyones attention". Young people need possitive role models in their life who give them the same respect that they want to get back and who are open minded enough to realise that no one ends up on the wrong path all by themselves. When you're young its easy to get influenced by others and if your not then you're all too easily labelled by adults as a problem. Only through engaging with young people, and not being afraid to (dare I say it) take a little bit of responsibility as adults in our community, can we expect young people to be a possitive part of it.

Denise Robinson
I have to pass by gangs of youths practically every evening. They are not quiet decent children, they shout abuse as people walk past. These are total strangers and are minding their own business yet these yobs need to grab anyone and everyones attention and are often drinking. Parents need to wake up and take responsibility for their off spring. It is not everyone elses problem, they brought them into the world but it doesnt stop there and it is time they were reminded of that. Good children are not hanging about the streets, so the ones that are are, quite rightly demonised for their atrocious behaviour.Aidan from Omagh says what alot of people say, we need to give them something in their area to do. Where I live there is loads for them to do, lots of sports facilities and groups to go to but these yobs do not want to join in things like that, their attitude would not allow them to mix with decent youngsters, they would wreck the facilities and bully the others. They just need proper discipline which no one is allowed to or willing to meter out.

susan
Everyone needs a space to be themselves and young people are no exception. There is definately a need for a youth-led city centre space such as the one proposed by this group of young people at Challenge for Youth.

Jamie Lowry
I am a teenager from South-East Belfast and I meet up with my friends on the streets at night. It started off as just a few people but quickly grew to close to 40 people some nights. Most of us are respectful and try not to make too much noise or damage the area but a few of the group scream and shout and have broken a fence. Because of this our whole group is now viewed as bad people. We are now constantly moved on by the police from one place to the next and insulted and shouted at by the residents of the area. We can't be moved on forever.

Aidan from Omagh
Stop demonising young people, its too easy to blame them for all the problems. I feel we need to support young people and offer them something to do in their local community. They can be a great resource in their local community given a chance.