‘Negative portrayal’ of Strathfoyle challenged

The “negative portrayal” of Strathfoyle in recent days has been robustly challenged by Enagh Youth Forum.

Established in 2010, the Forum is youth-led and aims to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of children and young people, aged 10 to 25 years of age, within Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Enagh ward.

Paul Hughes, a youth and community worker employed by Enagh Youth Forum, said he felt compelled to contact Derry News to give a contrasting view.

“I just wanted to say to people who might have heard the recent, extremely negative portrayal of Strathfoyle, ‘Look, there is a tremendous amount of good work going on on the ground here’. 

“There is anti-social behaviour in Strathfoyle. We are not hiding from that. It has been going on for about six months with a particular group of young people. It has included burning bins, breaking windows in a few properties, breaking fences, lighting fires, and generally annoying people.

“And it was fair that this should be highlighted because people are aggravated. Residents want to live in peace and they are getting annoyed and people are fearful. However, what I am saying is, there is another side to the Strathfoyle story. There is good work going on here on the ground.

“Behind each one of those young people there is a story, there is an issue. It is not  as simple as it has been made out. On Wednesday, it seemed as if we were moving towards the view, ‘Get the young people arrested and criminalised and that will solve the problem.’” said Paul Hughes.

According to Paul Hughes, Enagh Youth Forum would argue criminalising young people would not solve the anti-social behaviour problem in Strathfoyle.

He said: “Young people and families need support. Strathfoyle is a working class area. It is an area of deprivation. There are multiple complex issues here.

“Enagh Youth Forum is a local youth provider. We are a voluntary sector group funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. In addition you have the Education Authority’s full time youth centre and The North West Youth Service has a street team here every Thursday night. Then, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the Derry City and Strabane District Council Rural Community safety wardens are in the area. We all have a part to play.

“I just felt on Wednesday, while every one of the issues mentioned was real and a large section of the community was aggravated, the idea coming across was, ‘‘What’s going to be done? It is time to arrest these young fellas and take them off the street’ 

I just wanted to give a contrasting view to say ‘Look, there is good work going on here on the ground’. Young people should be supported and not smeared all the time. In the opinion of Enagh Youth Forum this drive towards criminalising young people does not and will not work,” said Paul Hughes.

Enagh Youth Forum is also launching a new youth project ‘Youth Links’ in April.

“We are going to continue reaching out and engaging with young people and their parents and families,” explained Paul Hughes. “We want to build and strengthen that support network. 

“There will be a lot of that work about directly challenging young people, through projects which will improve their confidence and self esteem, and by exploring the hard issues and consequences. 

“Young people and law and order, this is the type of thing they are involved in but they might not necessarily see it that way and understand there are real consequences to their actions. However, we are there to support them and their families to overcome the issues, as opposed to criminalising them,” said Paul Hughes.

The youth and community worker said a holistic approach was needed.

“This is not an Enagh Youth Forum problem or a Community Association problem. It is going to take everyone to play a part.

“For example, Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group offers a full time  mental-health counselling service, available to women and men.  It also offers a number of workshops around dealing with difficult behaviour in teenagers, because it is not always easy on parents either.

“Criminalising and demonising young people simply doesn't work. Young people and families need support.”