But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I wasn't surprised to see the 'Observer report on the 200 youngsters found 'on the streets' by police,during a one night operation.
These days it is all too common to see youngsters hanging around in large groups.
When asked to move on,the usual comment will be that they have nothing to do.
The news report tells us that not all youngsters want sport or to attend a youth club.Fair enough what do they want then?
Apparently one cause of the large groups is that the Young Peoples Neighbourhood Team advises them to stay in groups for their own safety.
Surely better safety advice would be to keep off the streets late at night.
It beggars belief that authorities spend thousands of pounds a year on facilities to provide safe indoor entertainment for youngsters, only to see them underused.
I don't know if many teenagers access this site but I would be interested in what they would actually like to do to solve the boredom issue?

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I don't ever remember feeling bored as a teenager in the sixties. We had dancehalls, youth groups, coffee bars, cinema - and yes we used to hang around in places like the Deck, not in large groups as I remember. And I remember walking the streets with a boyfriend and another couple for miles at a time. But feeling bored? No.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Yes Susie there did seem more to do back then,or have I got my rose tinted specs on?

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

The generation of young folk featured has been accustomed to being entertained without effort, by TV and video games indoors.

They aren't aware of any 'outdoor ways' of 'being amused', hence they express 'boredom'.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Yes Margaret was going to add words to that effect to my first post but didn't want to over egg the pudding. You're quite right though.

I fear this thread runs the risk of being hijacked by those of us of a certain age looking back!

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

As far as i'm concerned its more down to a lack of imagination, before we were old enough fer dance halls n such stuff, we were out all day playing at various things, expeditions oer the coppice visiting various swings up the parks, playing hop scotch, nick,nack, n allsorts of stuff. Why its different now i think cos, its in general, a Namby Pamby society.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

All those things I mention that we used to do are available today, and more as well I would say.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

One venue in Accrington is the New Era youth club it provides youngsters with various activities pool,table tennis, football, computers.All for 30p.
Surely parents can afford this for their offspring?

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Blackburn with Darwen have just opened the 'Youth Zone' in the middle of town, it caters for kids from 8 to 21, open daily in the holidays until 10pm they have allsorts going on, Reece goes down every few days to use the Gym, play footie, pool, table tennis and just have a good time, all for 50p, they can also buy food down there, i suppose it's very much like New Era, it keeps the teenagers off the streets and off their games consoles, to me it's wonderful.

If Reece isn't down there he's off on his bike with his mates or i'm i'm really lucky we go out for the day (according to him he's too old to be seen out with mummy now) he'll be 16 in a month and does things i used to do when i was a kid AND he comes in at a decent hour and isn't hanging around the streets

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Sounds like a great idea -do they not have anything similar in Accy -there are some great parks which are probably not being used as they could be for example.

Do the council not promote any youth activities over the summer?

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Thats good value n well worth it, Nice one shaz, Its also the difference between good uns n deadheads.;)

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Opened a month ago, not just for the summer, and 40% funded by the council, plus lots of local businesses.

About | Blackburn Youth Zone

One may be on its way to Accy, see post 33 on this thread...

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ml#post1007596

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Don't think so lampman, we made our own entertainment, we didn't need to make a nuisance of ourselves, apart for a bit of nick knack:D, I've watched kids being dropped of by their parents at the bottom of Rhyddings Street on a friday night carrying a six pack, and I don't mean coca cola either, so they can meet their mates up the Park and create havoc, well away from their own doorsteps.

Although there is some blame to be handed out here, the Youth Club on Harvey Street Ossy, is virtually closed now, Martin the youth leader who had done some outstanding work over the last 10 years has been moved to Rossendale, what for god only knows, but of course as always, its the authorities who know best, god how I wish we were a unitary authority

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I hope they do get one in Accy, this place is well manned by loads of staff and the police bob their head in now and again to have a natter with the kids, Reece has just gone down their now with a couple of his mates

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I don't think that Accrington will be affording the millions of pounds that Blackburn Youth Zone cost.The one on the garage site seems to be a church based group.I've seen the one in Ossie and it seems a well run place,though not perhaps what your local street cred kid will want!
As for Martin,Jaysay yes he was a hard working bloke who got things done, perhaps his transfer is a promotion?

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I can assure you it isn't Lampman, Martin was told that there was no longer a job at Ossy and he even had to apply for the job in Rossendale. I know Martin very well, he's a friend of mine, in fact he popped round to see me last week, so I know all the ins and outs off this, what I can only describe as a fiasco.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

it isn't cool to be part of the organisations that occupied us as youngsters...cub Scouts, guides, church youth groups....and those of us who didn't go to these organised activities had enough imagination to occupy ourselves very well.
I can't say I was ever bored....or couldn't find anything to occupy my time with....I had chores to do......and siblings to supervise....there was hardly time for much else.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Everytime I hear of this subject the older generation always have the same reply 'we made our own fun' but nowadays its a different world there's alot of peer pressure for kids to grow up. So whereas you had people in high school who were old kids now those people of the same age are young adults.

I remember playing hopscotch in primary school but by the time you get to high school theres no way in todays schools you would play it. I think it would help if youth clubs didnt just stick to the building they're based in and get outside on a summers night with some footballs and go to a local playing field. Any straglers wondering the streets would be tempted to join in. Not every teenager wants to go to a youth club to wait half an hour for there go at pool.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

You pratt!!!

I'm 36 would you class me as 'the older generation'? Me and my mates ued to make our own fun too, even as teenagers

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

A Pratt because i'm speaking from experience. Just because you're not quite in the older generation doesn't make me wrong. I'm sure there won't be any teenagers reading the original post calling people pratts because they don't hang out on the street not everyone is the same.

Grow up and post something constructive

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Oh, so human physiology and psychology have changed, and all of a sudden humans develop differently:eek: And peer pressure now flourishes in new and improved ways.:rolleyes: If you are attempting to argue that there has been a major change in the nature of adolescence, you made a lousy attempt. And "straglers wondering"! No doubt twas brillig that night.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

youth clubs, and church groups(scouts, cubs, guides etc) had a role to play in forming the bonds of community.....fostering a feeling of belonging.
They allowed young people to let off steam...to get rid of excess energy.
Table tennis was played, indoor football(five a side)...there were dances....all active healthy pursuits.
It wasn't always a case of making our own entertainment, but what we didn't do was sit around moaning saying 'I'm bored' - 'there's nothing to do'.
Those who want to find something with which to occupy their time, will do so...those who have no imagination and less motivation will not.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I'm not arguing anything im putting my point of view forward to the topic. The original post stated there might not be many teens read this forum and although i'm not one I bet I went through adulthood allot later than allot of people posting on hear so I thought a younger opinion maybe helpful.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

... and they came galumphing back.

Brilliant, Eric - a gentle correction, with humour. Wish I had that knack - perhaps I need a go on your Yoda bong...

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Apparently the old Volvo Garage on Sydney st is being turned into another youth club.

I never knew but underneath the garage there is a large car park so it would have plenty of space.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I think this is going to be a youth club that is run by achurch/religious organisation........and these days youg people find this so un-cool....they would rather hang around getting up to who knows what, than participate in any activity organised by a church/religious group.
You can provide water for the horse....it may not drink it(my paraphrase of leading a horse to water).

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

True Marg, very true.

I think they should make the school holidays shorter, it will solve the problems then! :D

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Are you really suggesting that we entrust our impressionable youth to god botherers? The Kevin Logans, catholic perverts and muslim martinets of our world??

Way I see it....the 50's had teddy boys, the 60's mods/rockers, the 70's skinheads, etc..etc..

This aint a new phenonmenon, you hit 14/15 and basically you are screwed until you are 17/18..there really is nothing that interests them, they are too old to do kids stuff and too young to do adult stuff.

What has changed is parenting, policing and awareness.

Nanny state says parents cannot chastise, police cannot administer slap round the earhole.

The information highway, social media and mobile phones with cameras means that unlike us oldies, who long ago used to get the proverbial kick up the backside for being caught scrumping/playing knick knack/writing I love sandra in felt tip on the phone box, todays youth can now have the backside kicker tried, sentenced and publicly humiliated courtesy of you tube.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

No....I'm not suggesting anything.
Quite the opposite. I was saying that young folk today would not participate in such a club......because it is being run by a christian organisation....not cool in the eyes of their peers.
And just because there are some unsavoury characters in some religious groups doesn't mean they are all the same.
It doesn't matter what is provided for some youngsters....they will not participate, but prefer to hang around street corners.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

.I wouldn't have participated in such a club way back in the early 70's, because it was un-cool way back then. Nothing has changed in 40 years, it is not a new phenomenon.

There we'll have to disagree, in my opinion ALL religious groups are unsavoury and someone who blindly follows the dogma of the religion should be nowhere near impressionable kids.

Agreed..that particular age group want nothing you or I can provide. A street corner to them is an accyweb to us dinosaurs ;)

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Ya but we're not all Brahms and list on here guinness every Friday and causing a nuisance, well the majority aren't anyway:rolleyes::D

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

It is Ok to disagree.
I think that for children to be able to make decisions they have to have a variety of experiences.
I must be at least 20 years older that you are. We went to church and to Sunday school.....and it was through these organisations that we had contact(real contact) with other children of our own age. We were given options to do things(or not do them)...to attend parties(well if you call a spam butty and a glass of Kia Ora, a party)...we went on outings, to panto's, the seaside....and this was our only opportunity to do these things. Some of us made friendships which would last through life.
We had experiences which made us able to determine what was 'rubbish' and what was not.......we didn't believe all that we were told...so obviously, not that impressionable. I guess that is why I am now so very cynical...my background, my upbringing, my social contacts.
Todays young folk communicate by text...even when they are in the same room...they don't do face to face conversations...they talk in text speak...they have few interpersonal skills.......they are the product of society and in some instances, what can only be considered, lazy parenting.( please note the 'some' in bold).

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

So here we have a 19 year old..

Obviously poorly educated, more than likely a real handful for his teachers, probably got up to who knows what rather than going to a youth club, church social, when he was 14/15

Obviously some pretty lax parenting went on too..becase he writes to his mum incorporating the f word a couple of times.

'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...' - Home News - UK - The Independent

(I still have a lump in my throat)

Strange how another young soldier, well educated, praised by his teachers, who still goes to church regularly, has had a wider variety of experiences than the previous young lad and has probably never used the f word to his surviving parent and step mother makes a different headline the same day

Naked pictures of Prince Harry published - Home News - UK - The Independent

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Um very apt Gremlin

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

And there is the link between these two boys.......although one is a privileged toff......they both went out to an inhospitable place to serve their country......only one came home. The one who came home lets off steam in the way that lots of young men do...but because he is in the public gaze he is slated for it........who knows what he saw. What horrible sights he is trying to bury by partying and acting the 'lad'.

I'm sure if Cyrus had survived he would have gone to Amsterdam and partied with his pals, he would not have received a second glance...or any criticism.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I kinda agree with you Margaret, however I really doubt that Harry would be placed in anywhere near the same danger as the other young lad. But fair play to Harry sowing his oats, and like you I'm sure the other young lad would have done the same in Amsterdam.

Many arguments in this debate have been about kids using their wide experience, going to youth clubs and church socials making them better people.

I'm trying to point out that this is not the case, and that newspaper headlines about 14/15 year old kids moaning about having nothing to do are pretty much aimed at reinforcing some of the cliches made in this thread about the kids of today, many of whom will become, like this young soldier, something to be proud of

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Sorry Guinness got you mixed up with Gremlin:o

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Hehe..been called far worse than that ;)

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I agree that there are many young folk who do not fit the stereotypes - they are the ones who go out and become involved in their community.....unfortunately these are not the ones who make the headlines....so the picture is always going to be a bit 'skewed'.
Sometimes it takes time for the young folk to see that what their parents(or adult guardians) are telling them is to stop them from making the mistakes made by those parents/adult guardians.....we forget that the only mistakes that you learn from are those that you painfully make, and have to correct.....It doesn't stop us from trying to tell them what not to do though.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

The only problem today Margaret seems to be that the words don't do that, is like switching a light on for some youngsters say I'll do that then, that didn't happen very often in our day

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

To some degree I think we, as parents haven't helped.......we have had hard lives(or certainly my early life was hard) and we wanted better for our children......we have gone too far the other way in making things too cushy for many youngsters. To develop and grow there has to be a degree of 'need'....and I'm not sure I have explained that very well.......but I hope you get my point. We have mollycoddled them instead of making them stand on their own feet.
We haven't been hard enough with them...they missed out on the 'tough love'.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

At last, some sense, kids, children, offspring, call them what you want, of course they're spoilt in comparison, no-one want's them to go through the hardships that centuries of toil and scarcity their Parents et al went through, so now they have it handed to them on a plate?

Try being an ordinary child and being able to find a job when you leave school, they are expected to, but they see how nearly impossible it is in their last years at school. We wanted to improve, we, had the chances of, if we worked hard we got rewarded, they work hard and if they are really, really, lucky get put on a useless training scheme that has no prospects at the end of it.

Call them for their shortcomings if you wish, I think they are having a harder time than we ever experienced, no wonder they give up.
:o

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

it is a different kind of harder time.
I don't know about you, but I left school and hit the job market in one of those 'bulge years'........I don't recall there being any kind of training schemes....unless of course you were taken on to be an apprentice.
Pospects were not that bright for us either. You might say 'yes, but there was always manufacturing'.....and there was.......if you could get a job.

I eventually got a job...but it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

And we didn't leave school with the expectation of having our own house and car within a few years as well as everything else that goes with that.

I wouldn't want to be young these days - too many pressures of that sort from every direction.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Well, I certainly didn't have any expectations. I left school at 15 with no paper qualifications......my only expectation was hard work and plenty of it.(that was spot on!)

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

At least you did get a job, which paid you a wage, the prospects for most school leavers today is stated in the title of this thread.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Yeh could get a job virtually anywhere when i left school n i certainly did. if yeh leave n get a job today its like winning the lottery.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Cashy...you and I are roughly the same age.....but I didn't find it easy to get a job.
And it wasn't for the want of trying. I wrote letters and turned up at factories and offices.

Yes Less....I did get a job. My first wage was 50 shillings......and I worked five and a half days for that. For those who are resourceful there is always something out there....it might not be what you want to be doing for the rest of your life, but it gives you a start.
I know quite a number of young people....some of them do not put any effort into getting a job.
One lass I know has been working on Saturdays and Sundays at Next since she was 16, she also worked at the Walton Arms washing up in the evenings......to fund herself through University which she starts in October.....she actively went out and searched for these two jobs.......that is what you have to do.....get out there and show those who will pay you that you can put the effort in.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Really doesn't say much..are you saying that the 'some' are a majority or a minority, how many is a 'number'..2, 3, 4, 10, 20, 30, 100?

Sorry if i'm being a little pedantic here, but it really is far too easy to use cliches like that without quantifying.

Your example of the pillar of society young girl who has worked her way to university is admirable, unfortunately if she stays in this country after she has gained her masters, chances are she'll probably be back at the Walton washing dishes. Thanks to 30 years of politicians sucking up to non producing bankers, stockbrokers and financial traders whilst systematically destroying all semblance of productive industry.

Todays kids are far more media savvy than we were, they already know how bleak their future is, but i'll argue that the majority of them, when they get past that god awful 14/17 age range, still try to find work, despite the cruddy job centre weasels making them apply for 6 o'clock starts in Leyland, despite the platitude dispensing career officers and despite an education system full of second rate teachers that stifle creativity.

On a side note..You were looking for a job as a young girl in a mans world, was kinda different for us blokes in those days, think i've said it somewhere else on this forum, walk out of a job monday morning, knock on a couple of doors and be gainfully employed by tuesday morning was the norm

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

That has probably nailed it i think, its summat i never thought of to be honest, i aint bragging, but have worked virtually everywhere, its just fact.but it was a mans world back then, women were just expected to cook n have sprogs.:D in the main.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I left school in the 70's and the jobs scence was decent..you could walk around to local business or the even the larger manufacturing companies and ask for a job and sometimes be employed..all that changed when Thatcher got in..the then large manufactuers like the engineering went down hill and the small businesses could pick and choose the youngsters they employed in no future jobs like selling Xmas cards and such..any building work was all of a sudden run by a near enough closed shop of agencies..from a working town point of view Accrington died

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

My first job was 73, and even then you could walk out one day and the next day get a job somewhere else.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I said SOME because you know very well I can't quantify....and yes you are being pedantic.

This young girl isn't a pillar of society...she is a normal young lass with a range of interests...she has a social life of sorts, but she has had it instilled into her by her parents that to get what you want in life you have to put the effort in and not expect someone else to do the legwork.
She has been taught to be resourceful....to have a plan, but also to have something in reserve in case things don't work out. She is focussed on what she wants, but is preapred to do other things that some young folk consider menial.
Sometimes it is what you have to do...and railing against the system(while it might vent some fury) is not in the least bit productive.
You have to do what it takes to get where you want...believe me I know.....I did it myself against the odds.
Perseverance and hard graft is what the youngsters need to learn...and a diversity of interest.

And yes, I know that it was a male world when I left school.....I would have taken an engineering apprentice-ship...or a plumbing apprentice-ship, but the ideology of the time was such that they were not available to girls......for us it was shops, offices, or the sewing room.

And as an aside, I thought this thread was more about youngsters spending their free time on street corners....not about youngsters of working age not being able to get jobs.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

As for todays youngsters being media savvy.....well in my day the word media wasn't invented........what media was there? Newspapers.....radio, TV was something that was a luxury and most households didn't have it.
Todays youngsters have been brought up in the world of media...and one argument maybe that todays youngsters are socially handicapped in that they rely very much on text speak rather than communicate face to face. This means that interpersonal skills are very poorly developed in many of them.(no, of course I can't quantify figures for you - that is before you ask).

As for education - my education was very basic, but I chose to improve it. This choice is still available to those who have the foresight to see the value of education(but to some, educationis uncool)....and probably easier with internet access.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

We were exporting jobs out of the country long before the Thatcher Era.
I worked in a weaving mill in 1966 that transferred lock stock and barrel to South Africa, manufacturing costs were cheaper.
I was out of work for only one week.

Much of industry went the same way...sanctioned by the government of the time, who were more interested in exporting(Queen's Award to Industry - Exports) without looking at the future consequences...after all they were not worried, it was not going to be their problem.
Now we are left with a small manufacturing base(which is getting smaller) because we simply cannot compete with places like China and India.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

Please don't forget the part the Trade Unions played in the decline as well, we had a great car and shipbuilding industry but were destroyed by the Red Robo and their communist paymasters

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

I hesitated to mention them for fear of Mancie daubing me with the 'tory' label...but yes, undoubtedly they played a part in the whole fiasco.

We cannot change the past, we have to learn to live with the consequences, adapt and become wiser.

I think we failed the younger generation in many ways, but could not see it at the time....personally, I was too busy getting on with making a life and a career for myself....too busy to lift up my head and see the wider horizon...and that is what political parties want us, the plebs, to be occupied with.
Idle plebs become revolutionaries.

Re: But there's nothing for us to do!
 

The Likes of Mancie conveniently forget about daily lightning strikes because somebody had changed a light bulb who wasn't a sparks, all out brothers, we can't have that, another few thousand hours down the pan.

Always reminds me of the old story, about a Union leader addressing HIS members, I've some good news for ya lads we've reached an agreement wi management for a one day week, we will be working Fridays, militant on the front row screams what every flaming Friday;)