Rory coyle
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Re-Write of [Urbis] text
edit- Hi Rory Please find the new text, hope the original poster thinks it is appropriate Mike33 18:58, 30 June 2006 (UTC)
At least as well known and used as the building itself is the park outside, known as 'Urbis' but in fact called Cathedral Gardens. This is the preferred social space for alternative young people from around [Greater Manchester]. A recent survey of 200+ by the young people themselves showed that most came there because they weren't safe in the streets where they live.
Safety in Numbers - 'Alternative Youth' V Scallys
The Alternative Youth feel they are the unwarrented targets for verbal abuse, from youths of a similar age who they describe as [scallies|scally]. The sense of safety in numbers has been considered a driving force behind the large numbers of Alternative Youth, who congregate in Cathedral Gardens. Ironically gangs, crime and bullying (which goes unchecked in their communities) have driven them into an area where they themselves are accused of anti-social behaviour.
Perceptions of Policing
The Alternative Youth feel they are targeted by uniformed and undercover police and 'Street Wardens' in a series of operations that have seen youths as young as twelve stopped and searched for drugs, fined for littering, prosecuted for skateboarding, frequently 'warned' for behaviour such as running and shouting, and having drink confiscated. Whether the perception is real in an acedemic article about the area it was noted that "...when a Police Motorcyclist rode past, they simply froze." Joanne Massey's Phd Synopsis discussing the users of the whole Millenium Quarter
Youth Workers
In addition to the heavy handed policing, 'alternative' young people are barred from the local shopping centre, the Triangle, nor are they allowed into Urbis itself unaccompanied by an adult. This is an issue simply because there are no public toilets nearby and nowhere for young people to go when it rains. Recently peer youth workers from amongst the young people have started to work in the Gardens in an attempt to change perception of the young people there and support their community. It should be noted that it has been observed that 32% of the spaces users we under 13 years of age and only 9% teenagers.
For a discussion of these issues see Joanne Massey's Phd Synopsis discussing the users of the whole Millenium Quarter Microsoft Word Document 4.3mb