Scheme to build bridges (From Stroud News and Journal)

Scheme to build bridges

NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch has the unenviable image of belonging to curtain-twitching suburbia. But the modern version aims to put the neighbourly feeling back into the community.

CASHES Green has had more than its fair share of trouble in recent years.

Headline-grabbing stories of open drug dealing in the streets and youths running amok have plagued those who live there and tarnished the area's reputation.

But a pioneering scheme led by Neighbourhood Watch is already making great strides towards putting things right and repairing the rift between young and old.

Last autumn Neighbourhood Watch field officer Rick Pellatt started visiting Cashes Green to try to build some bridges. "We knew there were problems there and we wanted to tackle them," he said.

"We used to go out and try to talk to the young people hanging around the streets.

"At first they thought we were spying and likely to tell the police about things that were going on.

"But we explained we wanted to bring the community back together and after a while they started to talk to us."

Martin Abel, 16, was one of the first young men to strike up a conversation with Rick.

He is now well on the way to becoming a qualified youth worker and has helped set up a much-needed youth club in Cashes Green. He also attends regular Neighbourhood Watch meetings as a fully-fledged committee member.

"At first I worried about whether they would take me seriously because I was the only 16 year old there and they were all much older," he said.

"I didn't think they would listen and thought they would dismiss what I said.

"But they are prepared to hear what I have to say and seem to respect me.

"Things are going well."

Rick said a lot of the problems in Cashes Green had grown out of distrust and a generation gap.

"A brick wall had built up between the older and younger generation and we had to break down that barrier," he said. "We're gradually getting there."

Martin openly admitted that youth crime had been spiralling out of control before the youth club was introduced.

"Before that there was nothing else to do and that's why there was crime," he said.

"It all boils down to boredom and not having the money to do anything."

He pointed out that crime such as vandalism, graffiti, smoking cannabis and anti-social behaviour were not offences for profit but rather things to keep them occupied.

Rick stressed it had not just been the youths who were at fault - adults treating them with suspicion and accusing them of things they had not done had added fuel to the fire of tension between the generations.

"We got blamed for everything because we are youths," said Martin.

"It was getting worse - we got chased down the street by a man with a garden fork because he had gyp off some young people once but it was nothing to do with us."

Cashes Green youth Scott Harris, 15, said: "You don't even know whether to say hello to people in the street because they get scared when you try to talk to them."

His friend Kurt Lodge, 17, said older people thought the teenagers were dangerous and threatening because they hang about in the streets with their hoods up, wearing caps.

But, he added, that was simply fashion style and they were not doing any harm.

Now things seem to be genuinely improving as young and old alike make an effort.

Street crime is down and adults are becoming less suspicious. "It's going quite well," said Martin.

"It's all about respect and helping the young and old people understand each other. "Everyone's up for it.

"If the youth club keeps us off the streets one night a week then the older people are happy."

"And parents don't need to worry because they know where their kids are.

"Elderly people have been more friendly towards us too, because they know we're making the effort."

Helping young people set up much-needed facilities and discouraging suspicion may seem a far cry from the traditional activities of the Neighbourhood Watch but Rick insists the curtain-twitching days are long gone.

"It's not like that at all any more," he said.

"We're dragging it into the 21st century."

"We're trying to bring people together so neighbours can trust each other and rely on each other for help."

"It's about lawful communities and bringing the community spirit back."

* The youth club meets at Cashes Green Youth and Social Club in Queens Drive on Monday evenings. Juniors meet from 5.30pm to 7pm and seniors from 7.30pm onwards. All are welcome.