YOUNG Downley and Disraeli residents are being given the chance to make a difference to their area through a new body.

The Downley and Disraeli Youth Steering Group, made up of adult volunteers, was formed after Downley Parish Council along with the Neighbourhood Action Group began receiving increasing reports of anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

The council commissioned a report from Street Dreams, a High Wycombe-based charity which works on projects to solve problems such as disengagement, after residents complained of groups of youths hanging around in the streets and drug taking and dealing.

In its report Street Dreams surveyed a group of teen residents, most of who felt there was nothing for them to do in the area, which led to them hanging around the streets.

The report recommended setting up a steering group to help engage with teenagers in the area, find out what they wanted and set about providing more activities for them in a bid to bring down the number of incidents reported to police.

On Thursday the steering group was officially launched and given £500 worth of funding to get it kick started.

It is now going to be working with youngsters to find out what they would like see done in the area as well as promote groups they can get involved in within Downley and Disraeli.

Patrick Crotty, acting chairman of the group, said teens and groups, such as the scouts, guides and sea cadets, are being encouraged to approach the group with ideas that would improve the area. These could include organising a day trip or building a new skate park.

Mr Crotty said: “The steering group helps them to make it happen. We get the idea from the young people and we consider it, check it out, is it dangerous, risky, does it have the ability to have a broad appeal?

“If it's what people really want then the money can be forthcoming.”

The steering group is currently working on a project to help refurbish the headquarters of the High Wycombe Sea Cadets, which has members from Downley and Disraeli and is also helping to set up a youth council, which will feed ideas and projects into the group.

Mr Crotty added: “In two years time I would hope that we have an active and well supported youth council and I would anticipate that we will have a programme of annual events.

“I would want it to be that when you ask a young person what do you like about living in Downley or Disraeli, they will be able to give an answer that's positive and they will no longer be saying there's nothing to do here.”