By Lauren Cameron
Copyright inverness-courier
The first day of a new youth initiative in Inverness city centre has drawn crowds of young people, with activities ranging from football and clay modelling to DJ lessons and youth workshops.
The Street Scene pilot, run by Inverness BID in partnership with Police Scotland, Highland Council, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and more than 30 other organisations, will run across three Fridays in September and October as part of the wider Operation Youth Respect initiative.
The first day of the three-week programme featured cage football sessions in Falcon Square, clay workshops in the Eastgate Centre, a dedicated youth zone at Scran, and DJ lessons at Ember Café. Local charities also set up stalls and information stands.
Owen McManus, senior community safety co-ordinator at Inverness BID, said the programme has been shaped by young people’s feedback.
“It’s a three-week programme, designed to give kids something to do on a Friday afternoon”, he explained. “The young people said they’ve really enjoyed it and they want it to happen more often. One of my colleagues has had people come up to her and say they should be doing this kind of thing every week.”
Mr McManus added that the initiative is about building opportunities as well as providing fun.
“It’s not just the council or BID, it’s all organisations joined together”, he said. “Everybody that’s part of it gets to benefit.
“For example, we’re going to get a week trial at McDonald’s, so they could get a job in the future – but also gives McDonald’s staff or customers for the future. It’s a symbiotic relationship, where everybody can benefit, and it can benefit the city centre.”
He added: “The young people of today are tomorrow’s customers in the city centre. If we don’t make them welcome or feel welcome in the city centre, there won’t be a city centre.”
More than 30 partners are involved in the programme, with businesses donating time and resources. Caley Thistle provided 25 tickets and a signed shirt, McDonald’s offered vouchers, and Ross County contributed prizes.
Azhar Khan, from Ember Café, said offering young people a safe, welcoming space was at the heart of the partnership.
“I think it’s about time that we started doing something like this because I know when I was young, 15 years ago, this didn’t exist”, he said. “A lot of times young people can often be pushed away from local businesses and people putting deterrents in place. We’ve never done that and I don’t believe in it in any way, shape or form.
“Young people are always allowed in here. Always. So I’d like to see more of this and more businesses getting involved and trying to do something.”
Further activities will run on September 26 and October 4.
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