Youths at Newfield School Bridge

richjob · 06-03-2007, 12:25

I was talking to a neighbour of mine who said that they were a little uneasy with the youth's who are hanging around the entrance to Newfield School, on the new bridge/roadway. My neighbour said they felt scared in their own home from the noise etc.

Now, I have seen these kids but had no trouble from them, but it's not fare that someone feels scared in their own home. I have suggested that they call the 101 service and I polietly ask anyone else in the area who has any trouble to do the same.

Also can anyone tell me if there are any youth clubs/drop in's or outreach services for young people in the area. I think they need to improve the services for young people in the area and I would like to get in touch with them. Someone said try Sheffield Futures on Division Street ?

Rich · 06-03-2007, 12:31

I see Newfield's still full of chavs then? Nothing's changed in nigh on 20 years I take it?!

I lived through 5 years of a feud between Gleadless Valley and Newfield Schools back in the late 80s/early 90s you see.. They used to try and drag me into it but being from outside of the Norton area I didn't even know where Newfield School WAS so how the hell could I feud with it?!

richjob · 06-03-2007, 12:40

Most of the trouble appears to be well after school time, after 7pm, so I don't know school they come from.

Rich · 06-03-2007, 12:44

It won't be Valley, the School was demolished about 3 years after I left, and in its place stands a big housing estate nowadays... Best thing they ever did to that place IMO

sezemeseeds · 06-03-2007, 13:03

my son goes to newfield school. and as I for one would hope that these kids are reported to school and ask the school to sort it out. If one of them was my son I would welcome any complaints of this nature. I trust my son but when out of sight of parents they dont necessarily behave. i would not like my son to be hanging around making other people feel threatened. So phone the school and complain

richjob · 06-03-2007, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by sezemeseeds

my son goes to newfield school. and as I for one would hope that these kids are reported to school and ask the school to sort it out. If one of them was my son I would welcome any complaints of this nature. I trust my son but when out of sight of parents they dont necessarily behave. i would not like my son to be hanging around making other people feel threatened. So phone the school and complain

Thank you for such positive comments. The only problem is that this appears to happen at night, after 7pm, and I don't know if the kids go to Newfield School. I assume they live local, but you never know.

The problem appears to have happend since the new bridge was built and the new street lighting was put in place. The youth's sit on the new comfy fencing under the lights. It's my neighbour I feel sorry for, I've had no trouble, but then I'm not an elderly, disabled woman.

LibertyBell · 06-03-2007, 13:22

Sorry about your neighbour, but what are they actually doing wrong?

Sitting is no crime I've ever heard of.

Sometimes the perceived threat is much greater than the reality. People's own fears and insecurities can make their lives a misery whereas in reality there is no real threat or risk.

Don't know how to use this to help your friend though as it's like trying to reason with someone with a phobia.

Stockers · 06-03-2007, 14:08

I live in Norton Lees and fingers crossed i have yet to have any trouble with any local youths. I've talked and had a laugh with them, they might be a little cockey but which kids aren't plus they're not nasty or disrespectful. I know people don't like gang of kids hanging about but if they're not causing trouble what can you do?

richjob · 06-03-2007, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by LibertyBell

Sorry about your neighbour, but what are they actually doing wrong?

Sitting is no crime I've ever heard of.

Sometimes the perceived threat is much greater than the reality. People's own fears and insecurities can make their lives a misery whereas in reality there is no real threat or risk.

Don't know how to use this to help your friend though as it's like trying to reason with someone with a phobia.

As I have said I personally have not had any trouble from these kids, but my neighbour is on her own, elderly and disabled. She has had trouble with eggs been thrown at her window and door bells being rung in the past, by who I don't know. So when she see gangs of kids near her home shouting, screaming (as kids do), smoking etc then she gets a bit nervous, especially as it is at night, when we all feel a bit more vulnerable. I have told her to phone me or knock on my door if she gets any trouble or call 101.

richjob · 06-03-2007, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stockers

I live in Norton Lees and fingers crossed i have yet to have any trouble with any local youths. I've talked and had a laugh with them, they might be a little cockey but which kids aren't plus they're not nasty or disrespectful. I know people don't like gang of kids hanging about but if they're not causing trouble what can you do?

I also have not had trouble from these kids but I have had trouble with other kids in the past. My neighbour is really worried about the kids on the bridge, see other post for reasons.

Give the kids something better to do than just sit around in the cold on a bridge.

Stockers · 06-03-2007, 14:33

I can understand the elderly feeling vunerable when kids are about and all it takes is for a few of them to start showing off and acting about for something silly to happen.

Lets face it we've all innocently hung about in a group at sometime or another as a youngster, it doesn't mean you're out to cause trouble though.

landi · 06-03-2007, 16:36

but the whole attitude of our younger generation is degenerating in my opinion.

Some yeah but not all

Stockers · 06-03-2007, 16:40

I vote for Military Service, there is no deterant or fear in todays society which is why SOME children run riot.

Kids don't get slaps of there parents and fear no one so why wouldn't they do whatever the hell the want?

LibertyBell · 06-03-2007, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by richhen04

As I have said I personally have not had any trouble from these kids, but my neighbour is on her own, elderly and disabled. She has had trouble with eggs been thrown at her window and door bells being rung in the past, by who I don't know. So when she see gangs of kids near her home shouting, screaming (as kids do), smoking etc then she gets a bit nervous, especially as it is at night, when we all feel a bit more vulnerable. I have told her to phone me or knock on my door if she gets any trouble or call 101.

You sound like a good neighbour. I suppose living alone can play havoc witrh your "fear -meter" especially if you feel vulnerable.

I'm sure the kids individually are 95% good uns. It's just the feeling of being part of gang can cause them to play up cos they want to prove them selves to their mates etc and this can be seen as threatening, even if it really isn't.

RosyRat · 06-03-2007, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madornay

too true, i was talking to a police officer not so long ago about the difference in crime rates since the police were told to stop erm allowing people to fall down stairs....cough...
which was'nt long after the current government took over.
And its intriguing to find out after what the stats were if we were to revert again for a year.

There is a youth club at Herdings Youth Centre and Gleadless Valley Community Forum do outreach youth work with local young people. The Rangers run activities for local youths, as do Activity Sheffield. It isn't that the young people are short of things to do. It's just that they choose to sit under the bridge.

So you are actually suggesting that the police should use physical violence against other people's children to deter them from even considering committing crimes?

Why not just go out and give any young person you see outside their own home a good kicking, just in case they might be considering chucking an egg ? To suggest that the police routinely did this and ought to revert to it is irresponsible and ill-informed. We have members of the police force who post on the Forum. I hope they read your post.

go4it · 06-03-2007, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosyRat

There is a youth club at Herdings Youth Centre and Gleadless Valley Community Forum do outreach youth work with local young people. The Rangers run activities for local youths, as do Activity Sheffield. It isn't that the young people are short of things to do. It's just that they choose to sit under the bridge.

Problem is that a lot of these activities are pants. We live in a completely different society these days.

There are many activities after school, but after 7 is the problem. Many parents / carers would insist that their kids stay in to complete their homework. Some do not. Some kids have finished their homework and head off out.

Kids will congregate outside the school gates as this a location they all know. It's psychological, they meet somewhere where other people will see them and where they feel safe.

I have lots of experience in running activities for teenagers. One thing I have learnt is that most of the time they just want to sit and chat, they don't want to do activities. Kids/ teens these days need a safe place they can do that. I used to run various activities and have a timetable which all the kids had. 9 times out of 10 when the kids turned up for the activity they did not know what the activity was, they hadn't bothered to look. All they cared about was that their friends were there to chat to. Kids / teens crave acceptance.

CorkerSWFC · 06-03-2007, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

It won't be Valley, the School was demolished about 3 years after I left, and in its place stands a big housing estate nowadays... Best thing they ever did to that place IMO

I went till near enough the last day and ur in the minority of being glad valley went, i know many people who have many fond memories of valley.

richjob · 07-03-2007, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by go4it

Problem is that a lot of these activities are pants. We live in a completely different society these days.

There are many activities after school, but after 7 is the problem. Many parents / carers would insist that their kids stay in to complete their homework. Some do not. Some kids have finished their homework and head off out.

Kids will congregate outside the school gates as this a location they all know. It's psychological, they meet somewhere where other people will see them and where they feel safe.

I have lots of experience in running activities for teenagers. One thing I have learnt is that most of the time they just want to sit and chat, they don't want to do activities. Kids/ teens these days need a safe place they can do that. I used to run various activities and have a timetable which all the kids had. 9 times out of 10 when the kids turned up for the activity they did not know what the activity was, they hadn't bothered to look. All they cared about was that their friends were there to chat to. Kids / teens crave acceptance.

I am thinking of writing to the Learning Centre in Newfield as they open late to see if they can offer a drop in for the local youths, somehwere warm where they can get a soft drink and use the internet etc or just chat and chill.

go4it · 08-03-2007, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by richhen04

I am thinking of writing to the Learning Centre in Newfield as they open late to see if they can offer a drop in for the local youths, somehwere warm where they can get a soft drink and use the internet etc or just chat and chill.

That would be great. I am all for activities as they are a fantastic way of meeting people, but after the activity people need to chat.

richjob · 20-03-2007, 14:53

Received a leaflet through my door yesterday from the Norton and Newfield Tenant Action Group (or something) to say that the problems have been brought to the attention of local councillors, police and the school.

It was really bad on Friday 16th March, at about 10.50pm about 10 young people drunk, shouting and fighting as they left the bridge area and carried on all the way up Harvey Clough Road. What a disgrace.