Youth service releases encouraging statistics
Coordinator of the Web Youth Service, Mr Dion Richardson, has released statistics which he says show that youth "feel a part of" the Web and respect it.
The Web operated over 37 weeks at the Peninsula Community Centre in the last 12 months.
In that time, 4440 youth attended the service on Friday nights, and Saturday night attendance was 3870 youth.
In the 20 months of Friday and Saturday operation, there was an average of 120 youth turning up on Friday, and Saturdays average was 80 youth, he said.
"We hold a dance party every third Friday of the month; with an average attendance of 400 youth.
"As you can see by the numbers, it us well supported by youth in our area."
"We have a database of over 1100 individual youth that use the service," Mr Richardson said.
He said statistics had also been recorded on violence, alcohol- and pot-affected, assistance asked for, assistance given, and unacceptable behaviours of youth.
The youth workers monitored attendees and all incidents were noted in a daybook.
A statistical breakdown showed that on average, "we address six unacceptable behaviours per night".
Alcohol- or pot-affected youth was down to two per night, compared to 17 per night in 1996.
Youth asking for assistance averaged three per night and 95% received assistance.
Mr Richardson said there are very few issues for so many youth in one place.
"This just reinforces for me that young people need places to go and they will respect what they feel a part of."
He thanked the community for support, especially Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club, Woy Woy Leagues Club, the Peninsula Community Forum, and Gosford Counci.
He said: "The Youth Activities Project was funded as a pilot project even though it had opened on Friday nights since April 1995.
"Initially DOCS funded the service for a worker to provide outreach referral and support and advocacy.
"It didnt take long to find out that the youth wanted a place to go where they could access referral, support and advocacy. Even more though, they wanted a place to hang with things to do, socialise in a safe environment, a place they could have some ownership and be accepted in our community.
"The problem was there were too many young people turning up for one worker.
"Today we have a Youth Service that provides support, referral and advocacy Tuesday to Thursday as well as the Youth Activities Project on Friday and Saturday nights.
"This project employees myself and two other youth workers and a security guard.
"The project is, in my eyes, a crime prevention model.
"The model was given a stamp of approval by Dr Fred Mathews. I met Dr Mathews at the First International Youth Models Conference in mid-April.
"He is a community psychologist based in Toronto, Canada, who has researched youth in communities over the past 40 years, written books and articles on crime prevention, violence and lots more.
"He was very impressed with our model and was keen to keep in contact with me. Its great to know that what you do has worth!"
Mr Richardson said dance parties attracted youth from out of the area as well as local youth.
"Attendance by Police Youth Liaison Officer Snr Constable Brad Leonard, Web and local volunteers has kept issues to a minimum," he said.
"The Area Health Service's Sexual Health Outreach Clinic called Teen-Arena is a mainstream service that comes to the Web every second Friday night.
"It is a confidential user-friendly service that provides education and consultation on health issues.
"In the last 12 months 288 youth used this service, which is the highest number of youth ever reached by this type of service.
"Since February 2000, the Area Health Service has provided a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor to the Web every second Friday night to provide information, education and attempt to break down barriers between counsellors and young people.
"There are 20 youth on average asking for D & A information, education or referral per night. The counsellor also introduces some innovative programs to minimise D & A usage."
Mr Richardson said Peninsula youth had a service other youth have not.
" I have found no services that open on Saturday night. The 10 others that open on Fridays are different in some aspects."
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