Sports project can give teens options

Jun 26 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

STRATHAVEN community police officers will next week launch a new project next week in the town.

The Strathaven Youth Diversity Project was created after young people were being moved from streets and corners by complaining residents.

Police said that since the Strathaven Academy School building and sports centre has been demolished to make way for new school buildings, the young people have had few places to go. Although they are not doing anything wrong, by hanging around the streets and corners of residential areas they are annoying local residents.

Community Police Officers Maryann Bolton and David Dundas have jointly organised a number of fun sports days, the first of which is taking place on Wednesday, July 2, between 1pm and 4pm in the George Allan Park car park.

The other scheduled dates are the Fridays of July 4, 11, 18 – at the same place, same time.

Community police officers say that the project could become a permanent feature in Strathaven if these organised fun days are well attended. PC Bolton said: “We have secured £1000 from Locality Funding to spend on creating a youth project in the area.

“We also have £400 from the Wellbeing Trust to be presented to the Strathaven After School Club, based in the Ballgreen Hall, during the sports day.”

The After School Club runs from Monday to Friday, from 2.30pm till 6pm.

He added: “The Strathaven Dynamos Football Club will also be presented with £500 from the Wellbeing Trust fund, hopefully also on Wednesday.”

If there is a good turnout at the event, Universal Connections could become a long-term service in the town too.

PC Bolton added: “The fun sports day will include a climbing wall overseen by two fully qualified climbing instructors, the digibus will be there, street dance performers and instructors, Universal Connections and sport events.”

Blantyre-based Terminal One project are providing the climbing wall and sports equipment for the day.

For more information contact Community Police Officers Maryann Bolton, Davie Robson or Strathaven Academy Campus Officer, Colin Strachan, on 01357 520 222.