When it comes to keeping the kids occupied on a Friday and Saturday night – X marks the spot!
The X-Zones is an exciting new concept aimed at providing young people age aged between 11 and 21 with a host of fun-packed activities to keep them off the streets and safe during the busiest nights of the week.
Spearheaded by Wigan Council’s Youth Service the X-Zones are the result of Wigan Council successfully applying for £25,000 in funding as part of the government’s Youth Crime Action Plan. It has also been successful in receiving further funding from Greater Manchester Police, and Wigan Council’s Townships making a grand total of £55,000.
The money will be used to trial the X-Zones each Friday and Saturday at various locations in Wigan and Leigh for three months.
The team behind the X Zones includes the police, fire service, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, ward councillors along with various council teams such as the Youth Services, Community Safety and Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team.
So what’s on offer?
Shiela Martland from Wigan Council’s Youth Service explains:
“The government funding is specifically aimed at providing activities for young people over the weekend and we were delighted when we found that we had been successful in getting money.
“Since then we have been working with young people across the borough to find out what interests them and what they would want to do and we are currently drawing up a list of activities we will be able to provide.”
“The X- Zones will be designated areas where the young people will come to and take part in the activities. We are hoping that they will be both indoor and outdoor activities and include everything from sports such as football training through to cultural and artistic activities such as music and recording.
“We would also like young people to see the X Zones as just a great place to socialise, hang out and chat.”
Young people who want to be part of the X Zones will have to get permission from their parents and sign up to a strict set of rules about how they will behave.
The ground rules include:
- No drinking or drugs
- No violence or bullying
- Treat each other with respect
Shiela says:
“The project is our response to concerns raised by residents who are becoming increasingly concerned about young people hanging around the streets on a Friday and Saturday evening.
“We believe it’s a good way to keep them out of potential trouble, and get them involved with their communities.”
It’s also a response to that perennial cry of There’s nothing for us to do!
“We are really excited about the project,” adds Shiela. “There may be elements that we need to change and improve as we go along but it is a trial.
“Above all the X Zones will be a safe, trouble-free place to allow young people to enjoy life without causing nuisance to the neighbours. If the trial is a success we will be hoping to make it a permanent feature in these and other areas of the borough.”
The X-Zones have received the backing of all the partners involved.
Inspector Peter Clarke of the Pemberton Neighbourhood Policing Team said:
“Reducing anti-social behaviour is one of our top priorities, and we are therefore supportive of any initiative that encourages young people to get involved in positive activities.”
Insp Clarke adds:
"This is a fantastic opportunity for all agencies who work with young people, including the police, to show what a difference we can make by helping to create positive role models in communities."
And Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People Cllr Susan Loudon adds:
“Young people often receive a lot of negative press – sometimes justifiably but often unwarranted. We have to ensure that we do not stereotype young people and remember that they are members of our community along with our other residents”
Cllr Loudon adds:
“Whilst we are all acutely aware of the misery that anti-social behaviour can cause we will achieve nothing by turning our backs on young people and criticising them.”
Cllr Loudon adds:
“We are all acutely aware of the misery that anti-social behaviour can cause but we will achieve nothing by turning our backs on the problem.
“The vast majority of our young people are decent, well-behaved, enthusiastic and talented. It is our job to feed that talent and enthusiasm and channelling their almost boundless energy into the kind of activities they want.
“The X Zones are our answer and we hope everyone will work with us to make them a success.”
- Full details of the X Zones will be announced soon and young people can find out more by visiting the LINC website or by calling 01942 705321.
