Divis Youth Strategy Report


DYSotivruiastthegy.St.Peter’sImmaculataYouthCentre’s www.stpetersimmaculatayc.org| Report on Event held 10th May 2018

Contact Details.St Peter’s Immaculata Youth CentreSt. Peter’s SquareAlbert StreetBelfastBT12 4BUT: (028) 9033 1287E: [email protected]


 Introduction.The focus of this youth- It has high levels of crime,centred event was the very high levels offuture of Divis – to gather economic inactivity andideas and build aspirations has been a regular site ofwith local young people. paramilitary threats and so-The day revolved around a called ‘punishmentseries of activities and shootings’ against localinputs that allowed young youth. However, when youpeople to feel relaxed, visit the club, you enter acared for, consulted and place that is run for andinvolved. It was the first with young people fromevent of its kind and it is the community, and whichtherefore important to look sees them in terms of theircritically at the event, what capacity and potential –the young people and staff not in terms of labels orgained from it, as well as problems. It is remarkablesuggesting ideas for that the club has createdbuilding on the event in such an atmosphere offuture years. love and acceptance – andTo any outsider, Divis looks not something that shouldlike a very tough place to be taken for granted.be a teenager.

Th
 e Event.The plans for the event were ambitious – to get 100+ young people through the doorsfor an intense reflection on the area and its future, and their role in that future. Tocreate an atmosphere that was relaxed and reflective, a series of activities wereplanned to include:• Cookery • The completion of a new mural• Hair dressing, nails and eyebrows • DJ-ing• Other therapies • Food• Arts and Crafts • Computer games (friendly competition)Whilst the event didn’t quite live up to the ambition (there were around 50 youngpeople who took part, and much of the day was activity based, rather than focused onthe development of ideas) – it was clearly a valuable, nurturing and enjoyableexperience for those who took part – the majority of whom stayed for the entire day.Those delivering the activities were skilful – both in terms of their craft, but also interms of engaging the young people and helping them to feel valued and cared for.A questionnaire was prepared before the event to gather the feedback of participants,and 38 of those in attendance completed the survey. In addition, a wall in the dancestudio was given over to feedback from the young people against a range ofquestions about the current realities facing young people in Divis, and their hopes forthe future. In addition to the staff team (most of whom I understand were working in avoluntary capacity), a team of American Students from the University of North Carolinaattended the event and helped young people to complete the questionnaire.

Results & Findings:82% felt of they had a 76% said that they strong sense of felt Divis is arespondents belonging to the respondents good/positive Divis community to community. live within. (31 out of 38)However, there was also pretty broad consensus about the hard issues that affect thearea including:• Alcohol and drug abuse • Car crime• Mental health • Violence, Relationships with the Police• Anti-social behaviour • Paramilitaries• CrimePercentage of key topics as issues:66% 68% 47% 37% phrooubsleinmgsrewlaitthiopnoslhicipes paramilitaries lacktoofdthoingsInterestingly there was almost the same response to the relationship to the police asan issue (66%) as the impact of paramilitaries (68%). The lack of things to do (47%)and housing problems (37%) were the only two issue highlighted by less than half ofthe participants with alcohol and drugs, anti-social behaviour and car crime allhighlighted by over 80% of respondents. It is somewhat paradoxical that so many feelit is a good place to live given the scale of these problems, but points to the sense ofpride and shared identity felt by the young people.

Re
 sults & Findings:How these topical issues affect young people:70% feel that the 61% supported the problems listed idea that itrespondents affect negatively respondents harms young on their sense of people’s safety. education prospects.55% supported the 55% supported the idea that it idea that itrespondents harms young respondents harms young people’s mental people’s social health. life.Young people felt that they also harms their job prospects, their wider health, andtheir relationships.Asked what might help improve their lives in the area the responses included:• More opportunities and support• Youth and wellbeing facilities• A more safe and secure environment (including less crime)• Less violence• No paramilitaries and an end to police intimidationThe Future for Divis: worse or much worse/remain the sameIn terms of the future – around 10% of -10%respondents felt that Divis would beworse or much worse in 20 years time – a little better or much betterand around the same figure felt itwould remain the same. However, 80%encouragingly just over 80% felt it willbe a little better (39%) or much better(42%).

The survey ended with 4 open questionsabout 
improving education, health andrelationships, as well as wider suggestionsabout what would improve life for youngpeople in the area.Education:On education, there was a great variety of suggestions – many of them aroundbuilding the esteem of students, and offering better learning support. It alsoincluded changing ‘the way teachers talk to us’, and changing the education system.Some saw the complimentary role of the club – providing programmes that enhancetheir education or help them to learn. Some also noted that reducing crime in thearea could create a better learning environment.Health:On health – reducing the impact of drugs and alcoholin the community were heavily emphasised. Somementioned the impact of crime on health, and severalpeople called for better health and wellbeingprogrammes, including therapeutic resources and awellbeing centre for the area. One person mentionedthe availability of fresh healthy food. Some also notedthat by cleaning up the area it could help create ahealthier environment and better sense of wellbeing.Other areas:There was a lot of recognition of the importance of healthy relationships, and ofthe need for the community to work together. Some saw crime in the area assomething that damaged relationships – and others felt that the communityneeded to work on its reputation as a way of developing its collective self-esteem.Asked about other things that would make things better in the area, severalpeople suggested working on the image and reputation of the area. One personsuggested there should be more grass and play areas, and others thought thereshould be better facilities and services.

Ideas Wall.On the ideas wall, young people were able to add comments on post-its – sometimesencouraged by staff members and some of the American students. How is life for young people growing up in Divis?Despite the positive response to the question about their sense of belonging in thesurvey, the overall picture of life for young people in the area is somewhat grim – withdrugs and crime cited as the main problems, and young people feeling ‘put down’. Asone young person put it, you “have to try harder than if you live somewhere else.”There were some more positive comments though these were in the minority, and oneperson said that they feel for pensioners living in the area. One person said there are“lots of good people in Divis”. What might Divis look like for future generations?Asked what Divis might look like for future generations, the absence of crime and anti-social behaviour as well as new housing and community facilities were key to thevision. One person said they’d like to see Protestants living in the area. Bettereducational opportunities and improved chances of getting to University were alsolisted – as well as the absence of violence and paramilitaries. What changes would people like to see in Divis?In terms of changes that people would like to see, there were a lot of these. Notablyone young person wanted “not to be labelled by where I live” and others talked aboutthe need for more positive thinking and the need for the area to have a good name.Getting rid of crime and improving the environment were also important, and the ideaof Divis becoming a shared neighbourhood was mentioned again – as well as theneed for housing for different needs. Again both the paramilitaries and the police areseen as problems by some – and they would like to see the absence of both in thefuture.

How do we get to these changes? Ideas Wall.In terms of getting to these changes, several points noted the need to develop andwork on plans for change, and to get people actively involved in delivering on them.The paramilitaries were seen as an obstacle to progress, and one asked for “lesspolice input”. Improving education and the environment and increasing participationin the youth club and the number of full-time youth workers were also mentioned.One suggested “Talk with the people who are committing crime in the communityinstead of isolating them”. Who needs to be involved to make these changes?The list of “who needs to be involved to make those changes?” was extensive.Encouragingly people saw themselves as key – young people, other members of thecommunity, teachers and youth workers. They also advised the importance ofinvolving politicians and the government, and involving those ‘causing problems’.Recommendations.I really felt it was a very positive Given that it was the first eventday and I enjoyed observing of its kind, the team shouldn’tand engaging with be disappointed with theparticipants, volunteers and turnout or the levels ofstaff on the day. St Peter’s is a engagement. It was great thatcentre that goes out of its way the Members Forum wereto make you feel welcome and involved in the plans for thecomfortable – even if this day and in the drafting of themeans risking a good slagging questionnaire. I felt the dayoff at times! Of particular note was a good use of resourceswas the ease with which the and was greatly appreciated bygroup of American students those who attended.fitted into the day. It is clear In the survey results it wouldthe young people are used to have been useful to be able tovisitors and comfortable and distinguish between youthcurious with diversity. Credit is participants, volunteers andalso due to the students – who staff responses – and this isdespite being heavily jet-lag worth keeping in mind forengaged willingly and future events.enthusiastically with the youngpeople.

Evaluation of the Day.The event is something to Likewise the day was being A longer-term aspirationbuild on – perhaps moving to documented by a skilled could be to develop a festivala ‘Festival of Ideas’ – and photographer/videographer, of learning for young peoplemaybe running over a but the event would lend across the Divis area and theweekend rather than a one- itself very well to film – and it neighbouring lower Shankill –day event. The Members would have been good to with young people visitingForum could feature more have a team of young people each other’s neighbourhoodsprominently in the event – trained to produce a film and hearing about the worktaking more of a leadership about the event. This way going on there. As arole in facilitating activities they could be involved in stepping stone there couldand discussions. It might workshops over a number of be parallel festivals withinclude things that stretch the weeks/months before the some interaction betweenaspirations of young people event so that they arrive with them, but it would be great iffurther – for example by a plan of how to document it. this led to a fuller joint festivalengaging with the tech Short video clips before the at some point in the future.community (possibly via the event on social media couldFab Lab or similar group), or also help to drive up interest Conclusionbringing people in from a in the event, including fromrange of professions to give potential participants. practical demonstrations of Of course this is all extra work Stephen Hughes, his staff,the work they do. This could and St Peter’s is a club that is volunteers and Members’include ideas for developing already doing so much with Forum should be proud oflocal enterprise/social so little. However it would be the event they ran. It was fun,enterprise – by supporting good to see better interactive and engaging foryoung people to develop congruence between the the young people whobusiness ideas and skills. It high quality work of the attended. It was a high-would also be good if the ‘Global Service Leadership’ quality event – and the strongfestival included some and ‘Ambassadors for Peace’ values of the club were wellcelebration of the ideas the programmes carried across evidenced on the day. Theclub has been working on into this event. In particular – suggestions above are notduring the year – or some the service learning or ‘Civic intended as criticism, butideas developed during the Youth Work’ model inherent rather as suggestions forfestival one year, could be in much of the rest of the development into the future.celebrated the following year work of the club, should carry What the club is alreadyfor their impact and the through into this work – for doing is remarkable – givenlearning gained. example by having its resources and the localTo do this it would be useful presentations on action social circumstances. Itto look at the skills-set of projects carried out in the would be great to see eventsboth staff and the Members area, or by developing action of this quality in youth clubsForum. Most staff seemed to project ideas during the across the city.feel more comfortable with festival that would impact indelivering and supporting the neighbourhood over theactivities than engaging the following months.young people in discussionand the development of 1 A model for improving the culture of learning in neighbourhoods developed by Dr Jeromeideas. Stein of the University of Minnesota – see www.learningdreams.org



StYDroaiutvetishgy.www.stpetersimmaculatayc.org