Youth worker: Investment key to solve Castlefield problems (From Bucks Free Press)
Send your news, photos and videos by texting bucksfreepress to 80360 or email
Youth worker: Investment key to solve Castlefield problems
10:10am Monday 15th August 2011 in News By James Nadal
Saqib Deshmukh
YOUNG people's grievances must be listened to or the country will suffer in future, a former High Wycombe youth worker warns, following the national riots.
Creating new facilities in Castlefield, such as a sports area, is vital to ensure problems seen there last week improve rather than escalating to the level of disorder elsewhere, according to Saqib Deshmukh.
The trouble in Castlefield paled hugely in comparison to what was witnessed around the major cities.
But police cars were attacked around the estate and there is significant anger and tension among the youth population, Mr Deshmukh said.
The High Wycombe father-of-two still knows many of the families on the estate after years as a youth worker.
He said: “The issue for them is they've got nowhere to go, it's facilities.”
He said this was the case from when he began working there in 1997 and said there had been a “short sighted” approach.
Mr Deshmukh said he had raised these issues from the start with both Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council.
Cash is needed to regenerate areas like Castlefield not just town centre projects like Eden, he said.
Various proposals for Castlefield such as a sports area and youth centre never materialised in his time, he said.
“There's a trail of broken promises and young people have memories,” he said.
He said he felt accountable for the projects not becoming reality and felt “a sense of failure” when explaining to the youngsters that the council was now unable to make it happen.
“I don't think we've learnt our lessons in terms of be able to say right we need proper resources put into this area, full time staff,” he said.
Youngsters want to talk to the police and council to raise issues and explain the kind of facilities the area needs, he told the Bucks Free Press.
Mr Deshmukh said, nationally, there needed to be long term solutions, rather than just responding to a crisis.
“If you don't have young people talking, expressing their views, they look at other ways which are negative, anti-social, and we've seen that up and down the country.
“If we don't listen, I think sadly in the future we're going to suffer.”
Mr Deshmukh agreed there was a sense of hopelessness among some of these groups involved in the trouble.
“If young people have no stake in anything in society they think they've got nothing to lose and don't care. I do find it very worrying and distressing and we've got to break that cycle.”
He added: “Sending them to prison really doesn't solve the problem in the long run.”
Comments(55)
geoffW
says...
11:51am Mon 15 Aug 11
.
Councillors are all too keen to spend money on the big projects that carry the kudos, but a few thousand pounds well spent in areas like this could make a difference.
.
Unfortunately the Egos that are councillors don't often think logically. They prefer the big projects that they can point to at election time and say "Look what I did ... vote for me."
SHussain
says...
12:01pm Mon 15 Aug 11
I too agree that we do need more positive activities for youths in Castlefield but again dont see how this can be done with all cutbacks and the current climate.
I dont like Saquib or Mr Zia Ullah i feel he/they has his own issues wth the police and is using this situation in Castlefield to his own advantage. They dont live in Castelfield nor have ever helped us in any way before.
It is a shame I love where I live in Castelfield but young lads to seem to want to cause trouble and it seems like its never ending. Sadly it is our own asian lads that are the troublemakers. I really wish they did have more facilities where they could go and get involved in activities they are inetrested in so that they are off the streets and not causing trouble. I know that wont solve the problem as those that want to cause trouble will still do so but it might help. I dont know but lately it makes me so sad when I read all these stories about trouble in Castlefield - not a day goes by when something hasnt happened. Some people who comment say oh u live in Castelfield u are all yobs - but we arent all like that and we are entitled to feel safe in our own homes and also entitled to live
peacefully. We cannot continue to live like this I really wish something is
done and soon.
S Hussain
Mother Knows Best
says...
12:46pm Mon 15 Aug 11
The youth workers are reinforcing the youngster’s belief that they are different, and misunderstood by the rest of society. Perhaps if people spent a bit less time treating these kids as if they were “special” rather than helping these kids understand that they are just like the rest of us, then we would not be raising another generation of self-obsessed people.
Instead of these kids being told they need to be given things to do, perhaps they should be encouraged to contribute to the community they live in, then they would grow up knowing they had helped someone, knowing they had contributed, have pride in themselves, and understanding the feeling of self-worth that can be gained from work.
Every generation has felt, when they were young, that they were misunderstood by their elders, why are we so scared that this generation should be the same.
Judge 2
says...
1:01pm Mon 15 Aug 11
ArnyP_HW
says...
1:07pm Mon 15 Aug 11
ArnyP_HW
says...
1:07pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Judge 2
says...
1:11pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Mother Knows Best
says...
1:22pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Slimster
says...
1:23pm Mon 15 Aug 11
tigeran
says...
1:26pm Mon 15 Aug 11
holly4
says...
1:30pm Mon 15 Aug 11
GeorgeCoombs
says...
1:31pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Malc London
says...
1:37pm Mon 15 Aug 11
The riots and looting are purely because people think they can't be punished and being caught is a risk worth taking.
You need to get kids to respect their own environment and other peoples property before you can begin to improve facilities.
ArnyP_HW
says...
1:41pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Trip
says...
1:48pm Mon 15 Aug 11
holly4 wrote:QFT.
The boys involved in the car vandalism are the same boys that have pushed up Marlows petty crime figures.. nothing is ever done about them! They are 14.. come to Marlow with its plentiful parks / youth clubs / skate facilities and just abuse people and the facilities on offer here. They are jumped up little gangster wannabes's that wear their stupid red or blue colours ( sorry not sure which is their crew!) mug people for their phones, beat people up, threaten girls and carry knives. The police are well aware of them but can not do anything cause nobody will report them or be a witness against them cause they are afraid of the consequences. These people need arresting and examples need setting... not giving them their own way because they smash up a police car. And yes.. I'm on a hype ting man innit fam!.... Pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!
deecee01
says...
2:03pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Slacker
says...
2:04pm Mon 15 Aug 11
There real culprit is lack of morals, lack of proper parenting and bad teaching by peers.
SuperSharpShooter
says...
2:09pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Trip
says...
2:15pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Plus ça change...
says...
2:20pm Mon 15 Aug 11
What you are not doing!
discerningeye
says...
2:33pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Cressex Offender
says...
2:47pm Mon 15 Aug 11
This story added to the recent spate of vandalism of police cars (seemingly with no ramifications) in Castlefield has left me convinced that either the birch or napalm is the only solution.
No-one is entitled to anything in this life, least of all the thieving vandals in Castlefield.
Cressex Offender
says...
2:47pm Mon 15 Aug 11
This story added to the recent spate of vandalism of police cars (seemingly with no ramifications) in Castlefield has left me convinced that either the birch or napalm is the only solution.
No-one is entitled to anything in this life, least of all the thieving vandals in Castlefield.
Cressex Offender
says...
2:47pm Mon 15 Aug 11
This story added to the recent spate of vandalism of police cars (seemingly with no ramifications) in Castlefield has left me convinced that either the birch or napalm is the only solution.
No-one is entitled to anything in this life, least of all the thieving vandals in Castlefield.
holly4
says...
2:53pm Mon 15 Aug 11
SuperSharpShooter wrote:Let me think... what am I doing.. oh yes I am working full time, studying part time, bringing up my children, cooking and cleaning for my family and trying my hardest to show them that in the real world people work for the good things in their life and do not expect freebies cause they feel hard done by! Maybe the parents of these children could take 10 mins out of their own busy lives to actually care for their own children in their own communities. Charity begins at home and I for one am not prepared to help people that are too **** lazy and ignorant to help themselves. ..their children are disgusting but the biggest blame lies with the ignorant parents. I work hard, pay my taxes and I am active in my community... don't even start telling me I should do more! Time for these people to start finding that their is a consequence to their actions
But don't you all see the lack of morals etc is a direct result of what Mr Deshmuck is talking about... And the fact remains that Mr Deshmuck and Mr Ullah some of the only people who give a **** enough to be active in the community. What do the rest of you do apart from whine and moan?
holly4
says...
2:53pm Mon 15 Aug 11
SuperSharpShooter wrote:Let me think... what am I doing.. oh yes I am working full time, studying part time, bringing up my children, cooking and cleaning for my family and trying my hardest to show them that in the real world people work for the good things in their life and do not expect freebies cause they feel hard done by! Maybe the parents of these children could take 10 mins out of their own busy lives to actually care for their own children in their own communities. Charity begins at home and I for one am not prepared to help people that are too **** lazy and ignorant to help themselves. ..their children are disgusting but the biggest blame lies with the ignorant parents. I work hard, pay my taxes and I am active in my community... don't even start telling me I should do more! Time for these people to start finding that their is a consequence to their actions
But don't you all see the lack of morals etc is a direct result of what Mr Deshmuck is talking about... And the fact remains that Mr Deshmuck and Mr Ullah some of the only people who give a **** enough to be active in the community. What do the rest of you do apart from whine and moan?
holly4
says...
2:53pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Judge 2
says...
3:15pm Mon 15 Aug 11
The young people in Castlefield have no respect for their communities, they p**s the police off day in day out with their pathetic antics, carry out prolonged arson attacks, terrorise the residents on a daily basis along with the rest of the s**t they get up to. The parents don’t care nor challenge them.
For the record these are the same young people who attend his “vigils” and he stands up for in public meetings AFTER THEY TERRORISE the community. Don’t tell me about “pathetic small-minded agendas” when Mr Deskmukh is doing exactly that. Try going to community meetings to see the whole truth, not just what you read in papers!
He doesn’t have to live or see these people day in, day out, we do! He speaks up when it helps his cause (of not liking the police) but I cannot recall him being active in any other “community” matters. Don’t talk rubbish to me!
SuperSharpShooter
says...
3:15pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Cressex Offender
says...
3:19pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Judge 2 wrote:Spot on.
@ discerningeye: If he wants to stick his head above the parapet he should speak the truth! The young people in Castlefield have no respect for their communities, they p**s the police off day in day out with their pathetic antics, carry out prolonged arson attacks, terrorise the residents on a daily basis along with the rest of the s**t they get up to. The parents don’t care nor challenge them. For the record these are the same young people who attend his “vigils” and he stands up for in public meetings AFTER THEY TERRORISE the community. Don’t tell me about “pathetic small-minded agendas” when Mr Deskmukh is doing exactly that. Try going to community meetings to see the whole truth, not just what you read in papers! He doesn’t have to live or see these people day in, day out, we do! He speaks up when it helps his cause (of not liking the police) but I cannot recall him being active in any other “community” matters. Don’t talk rubbish to me!
SHussain
says...
3:43pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Hear hear - u r absolutely spot on.
discerningeye
says...
4:52pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Judge 2
says...
5:01pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Judge 2
says...
5:04pm Mon 15 Aug 11
discerningeye wrote:The article doesn't but poeple like you do. We live in the area, grew up in the area and want to bring our families up without any of this bulls***! All we want is the best for our area and this guy doesn't share that goal. End of.
Oh dear. Seems plenty of hysterical over-compensating posting going on. Does the article hit a nerve? How sad and pitiful for you and the young people of your town.
holly4
says...
6:35pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Judge 2
says...
7:08pm Mon 15 Aug 11
holly4 wrote:for the record the 32 isn't someone they look up to. He's a drug user!
The men, aged 24 and 32, were arrested after the police received a call around 7.50pm to say that there were a group of people throwing stones at houses in Cross Road. - New Bucks Free Press Report on trouble in Castlefield. God help the kids that look up to these " adults" looks like the parents did go out to find out what there children were up to... and decided to join in!!!
Saqibd
says...
7:43pm Mon 15 Aug 11
I would like to put the record straight and confirm that I was a full time worker and a manager for the County Council between 1997 and 2008 and still live in the town close to Castlefield. Initially I was an outreach work in the town and on the estate and when the old Green St School closed down in 1999 myself and and Adult Learning staff took over one of the main buildings and established a campaign to save the old Victorian building which was celebrated in 2007. All this time I still ran sessions on a part time basis in Castlefield and programmes of trips with other youth workers or myself leading and young people attended reguarly @ Green St. I was at the forefront of pushing for a sports area to be created from the remainder of the SRB money for the area in 1998 and a few years after that for a shopfront for a youth facility. Both of these did not happen and you will need to ask the officers & Cllrs @ BCC & WDC why this did not happen. In the following years I helped to set up the boxercise sessions at the Community Centre and to create a youth room which we used as a base. Additionally I worked tirelessly with young people and families on the estate and trained young people as leaders and to take part in the NAG meetings with the police. What I could not do was dedicate ALL my time to this and other workers came and went. What Castlefield needed from day one was a full time qualified youth & community worker and it still needs that today to work with ALL the families and young people on the estate.
I would like to personally thank James and the BFP for putting my view and my colleagues Zia's views over and though I am concerned about the hysterical nature of some of the responses we need to stay focussed. I would like to propose a public meeting after Eid for people and agencies in the area to come to together in a constructive way. I no longer work in the area but was concerned enough to come straight after working in Leicester on Friday and ended up being on the streets till midnight with Zia. The question that really needs to be asked is where the Cllrs and community leaders are at this time as with the exception of one or two individuals we saw very few people out on all the nights. Whilst I welcome the 'discussion' we need more engagement and less rhetoric and excuses. These young people belong to ALL of us and the more energy we spend on looking at solutions the better. When the meeting is called please come and give your support at this challenging time for all of us around the country and in High Wycombe.
bequia
says...
8:09pm Mon 15 Aug 11
Plus ça change... wrote:Giving them a good slap upside their heads. Why? Because we 'the parents' would become the criminals.
Parents. What you are not doing!
-
If the authority of parents is taken away then how can we expect the children to respect any other kind of authority?
wayneo
says...
9:26pm Mon 15 Aug 11
SHussain wrote:Well said! Assuming for one minute that their behaviour isn't just about throwing stones at Police 'cos they can', I think this is much less about what WE or the Council can do for these 'youngsters' but more of what they can do for themselves and for their Community. Challenge them to engage in the democratic process and prove that they have what it takes to create something rather than breaking, give them worth and make them work for their facilities.
Hi Judge 2 - hope you are well. I too agree that we do need more positive activities for youths in Castlefield but again dont see how this can be done with all cutbacks and the current climate. I dont like Saquib or Mr Zia Ullah i feel he/they has his own issues wth the police and is using this situation in Castlefield to his own advantage. They dont live in Castelfield nor have ever helped us in any way before. It is a shame I love where I live in Castelfield but young lads to seem to want to cause trouble and it seems like its never ending. Sadly it is our own asian lads that are the troublemakers. I really wish they did have more facilities where they could go and get involved in activities they are inetrested in so that they are off the streets and not causing trouble. I know that wont solve the problem as those that want to cause trouble will still do so but it might help. I dont know but lately it makes me so sad when I read all these stories about trouble in Castlefield - not a day goes by when something hasnt happened. Some people who comment say oh u live in Castelfield u are all yobs - but we arent all like that and we are entitled to feel safe in our own homes and also entitled to live peacefully. We cannot continue to live like this I really wish something is done and soon. S Hussain
brookie77
says...
12:23am Tue 16 Aug 11
Judge 2 wrote:& the 24 year old holds a lot of self pitty & because of this he has yougsters doing all his errands 4 him, i actually watched him yesterday with a younger lad behing him, pick up the bricks(the younger lad), break them up under the camera & wait 4 the next motor to come past, ooops unfortunately it was a police riot van....CATCH!!
holly4 wrote:for the record the 32 isn't someone they look up to. He's a drug user!
The men, aged 24 and 32, were arrested after the police received a call around 7.50pm to say that there were a group of people throwing stones at houses in Cross Road. - New Bucks Free Press Report on trouble in Castlefield. God help the kids that look up to these " adults" looks like the parents did go out to find out what there children were up to... and decided to join in!!!
dr death
says...
6:31am Tue 16 Aug 11
Robert37
says...
9:48am Tue 16 Aug 11
I am afraid to say that the do not belong to me! They belong to the parents that made the decision to have them, if their life is so deprived then why would they want to have them in the first place if they know that they will turn out like them??
I work hard to look after myself and my own - not pick up the pieces from the simplest form of stupidity....
Judge 2
says...
10:32am Tue 16 Aug 11
Saqibd wrote:Any discussions need buy in from all parties. For me it is simple, the young people and parents have a bigger role then local authorities. Unless you know more then I do, the parents never turn up and if they do they just blame the Police. There is no intention to work for the betterment of the community from the young people or parents. We as the community should not have to risk the safety of ourselves and our families to police the area. You now as well as I do, these young people have no care for their families let alone others. The last thing we want is a situation similar to Ealing or Birmingham where people lost their lives protecting their areas.
Firstly I would like to say that I am not sure whether I should take the level of 'discussion' from the two articles that I have been mentioned in as a compliment or not... I would like to put the record straight and confirm that I was a full time worker and a manager for the County Council between 1997 and 2008 and still live in the town close to Castlefield. Initially I was an outreach work in the town and on the estate and when the old Green St School closed down in 1999 myself and and Adult Learning staff took over one of the main buildings and established a campaign to save the old Victorian building which was celebrated in 2007. All this time I still ran sessions on a part time basis in Castlefield and programmes of trips with other youth workers or myself leading and young people attended reguarly @ Green St. I was at the forefront of pushing for a sports area to be created from the remainder of the SRB money for the area in 1998 and a few years after that for a shopfront for a youth facility. Both of these did not happen and you will need to ask the officers & Cllrs @ BCC & WDC why this did not happen. In the following years I helped to set up the boxercise sessions at the Community Centre and to create a youth room which we used as a base. Additionally I worked tirelessly with young people and families on the estate and trained young people as leaders and to take part in the NAG meetings with the police. What I could not do was dedicate ALL my time to this and other workers came and went. What Castlefield needed from day one was a full time qualified youth & community worker and it still needs that today to work with ALL the families and young people on the estate. I would like to personally thank James and the BFP for putting my view and my colleagues Zia's views over and though I am concerned about the hysterical nature of some of the responses we need to stay focussed. I would like to propose a public meeting after Eid for people and agencies in the area to come to together in a constructive way. I no longer work in the area but was concerned enough to come straight after working in Leicester on Friday and ended up being on the streets till midnight with Zia. The question that really needs to be asked is where the Cllrs and community leaders are at this time as with the exception of one or two individuals we saw very few people out on all the nights. Whilst I welcome the 'discussion' we need more engagement and less rhetoric and excuses. These young people belong to ALL of us and the more energy we spend on looking at solutions the better. When the meeting is called please come and give your support at this challenging time for all of us around the country and in High Wycombe.
This requires action from the parents (because the kids belong to them) with community leaders, councillors and local authorities supporting them, NOT the other way round. Unless this happens there will be no change
john_b
says...
11:05am Tue 16 Aug 11
SHussain
says...
11:09am Tue 16 Aug 11
SHussain
says...
11:41am Tue 16 Aug 11
Judge 2
says...
11:48am Tue 16 Aug 11
erm
says...
12:46pm Tue 16 Aug 11
J B Blackett
says...
1:13pm Tue 16 Aug 11
J B Blackett
says...
1:13pm Tue 16 Aug 11
Mother Knows Best
says...
1:38pm Tue 16 Aug 11
Any money coming from Local Councils or National Schemes should be spent to the benefit of the local community. We have a local sports centre, tennis centre, judo centre, badminton centre, astro-turf, many football pitches, open parks, and miles and miles of open countryside.
Why should funds be spent on anything that is for the benefit of one small estate within the town. As has been said above, most of us, get off our rear-end and take our children to places of recreation?
It would be impossible for a full sports facility to be built on each and every road in the town (as well as being completely unnecessary) so why is Castlefield so special that it deserves its own facilities?
eveynow&then
says...
3:55pm Tue 16 Aug 11
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth leaves the world both blind AND toothless!
eveynow&then
says...
3:55pm Tue 16 Aug 11
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth leaves the world both blind AND toothless!
AmyQ
says...
8:27pm Wed 17 Aug 11
More News stories
- Van driver found guilty
- Conservative co-chairman faces party followers on HS2
- RGS boys flip their way to pancake race glory
- School could be set up at Epilepsy Society
- Chiltern District Council agrees tax freeze
- Council to host web chat over Wycombe Masterplan
- Eric Morecambe's son works with BNU student on short film
- Joint chief appointed in cost cutting plan
- System glitch freezes BFP web comments
- Van driver describes aftermath of fatal collision to court
Judge 2 says...
11:07am Mon 15 Aug 11
However, I agree with him in regards to positive activities for the young people in Castlefield. For example, there is currently a youth club running once a week which attracts over 30 young people per session but due to lack of funding the chances are it will stop. Local authorities, rather then supporting existing successful projects, start up something new which lasts a couple of months with no long tern planning just so they can tick “the boxes”.
Secondly, with the size of the community, the local park facilities cannot cope with the demand. In Castlefield there is one park which just is not enough!
But in this day and age, with all the cutbacks, I cannot see any real investment in these areas.