1. The Youth Charter “A Cry From the Streets”
“A 14 year old school boy was shot dead today on the streets of Moss Side. Police are appealing for witnesses to this brutal slaying. During the riots and disturbances in Salford last night two policemen came under gun fire, officers were lucky to escape injury. A man was executed gangman style in Cheetham Hill this morning, police suspect this was over a drugs related dispute.”
“Poverty, Social Deprivation, Unemployment, Concrete Jungle, Drugs, Violence, Police Harassment, Moss Side, Salford, Cheetham Hill, all Bad Boys, P E A C E”...
Prison is where society sends its failures in effect it shows a failure in society itself.”
These are lyrics from the Summit Album launched by the Project X group who were serving sentences at Strangeways prison. They released the record in an attempt to reach those young men caught up in the cycle of violence and gang culture that resulted in the loss of 14 year old school boy, Benji Stanley whilst he went to buy a Chinese takeaway in Moss Side, Manchester. Since Benji Stanley’s tragic loss of life, no-one has ever been charged or formally brought to justice. Since that time, many other young men have lost their lives to the ongoing culture that is now sadly a way of life for so many, not only in Moss Side and Manchester, but throughout the rest of the U.K.
Fig. 1.1 Project X Album Cover
The Youth Charter was born as a result of this tragedy and since its birth in 1993 has attempted to provide alternative cultural activity through sport, arts and lifestyle choices that would help provide an opportunity for young people to develop in life. As is
so sadly the case nowadays, whether it be Stephen Lawrence or Jamie Bulger who coincidentally lost their lives around the time of Benji’s murder, or the tragic loss of Victoria Climbié’s life that inspired ‘Every Child Matters’ it is only right and proper that Benji Stanley be remembered as the inspiration for what is now the Government’s much welcomed efforts in the recently launched ‘Youth Matters’ Green Paper.
Whilst sport, arts and other youthful attractions are not the solution to this ongoing and tragic loss of life, it has a vital role to play in engaging, motivating and inspiring responsibility and behaviours that reflect our civil and social heritage, whilst providing 21st Century Britain with a social and cultural bridge that can lead to a sense and identity of citizenship and rights and responsibilities under the rules of law. This report charts a twelve year journey born out of a Moss Side experience that has now seen the spirit and symbol of the Youth Charter extend to all four corners of the globe.
Young people have never been far from the political agenda during the last government term (2001-2005) and no more so that during the 2005 UK general election. All three main parties have included the well-being of young people such as: tougher school discipline and more school choice (Conservatives); better results at schools, safer communities, more family leave, childcare (Labour); and scrapping student tuition fees, and smaller class sizes (Liberal Democrats).
The publication of the Green Paper Every Child Matters (Cm5860)* heralded a significant commitment to supporting and nurturing what is arguably our greatest national asset - our youth. Since its publication in 2003 much of the subsequent policy and strategy has appeared reactive and aimed at repressing negative tendencies rather than reinforcing positive attitudes.
If the future generation of young people are to realise their potential they need to be supported in activities that reinforce positive attitudes of inclusion and cohesion rather than the current tendency towards exclusion.
This strategy is not based on what some may determine as ‘misplaced views of liberalism’, but rather on sound economics. Billions of pounds have been poured into the ‘young people’ agenda and whilst some success has been forthcoming in the education arena the problems of anti-social behaviour and exclusion appear to be increasing.
The famous mathematician Alfred North Whitehead once said that “The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy”. For many young people living in the UK, it would be safe to say that their youth has already ended.
The aim of this report is to outline how sport and arts can actively contribute to inclusion and cohesion. Drawing on twelve years of experience the report will:
Examine the causes and effects of social exclusion on young people
Review current government policy and other associated literature to identify best in relation to young people
Draw on the considerable experience of the Youth Charter working in the area of Moss Side and beyond
Propose a cultural framework and strategy incorporating our ‘real life’ experience of sport and arts inclusion and regeneration projects and programmes as we approach the 2012 Olympic Games.
This report is forward looking and intends to create a positive cohesive society for young people. There is no intention to implicate blame and where quotes from young people are included these are intended to convey a perception and experience of an individual. From these perceptions we can gain an insight into the thinking of young people.
1.1 Introduction
“The Story of Manchester is still a tale of two cities. Nowhere in the British Isles have wealth and poverty stood in such stark proximity, nowhere has civic confidence been greater nor crime levels higher” (Walsh 2005)*
Moss Side and Hulme are situated in South Manchester and are home to 15,400 people with an above average black and ethnic minority population of 41% (28% of which are of Afro-Caribbean descent). Unemployment is well above average at 20%, although this rises to 80% for young black men.
Young people are particularly affected with 2000 children in the area in receipt of free school meals, 54% leaving school with no qualifications and an increasing trend in fixed term and permanent exclusions from local schools. In 2000 Moss Side and Hulme was listed in the top 1% of urban deprivation.
Moss Side attained national infamy, at the end of the last millennium when it attributed to the Gunchester renaming of the city after a spate of killings that saw 9 dead in the space of a year as a result of gun crime centred around control of drugs and security services to clubs. Gangs had been an integral part of Manchester life as in any industrial/port community. However, after the Moss Side riot of the early eighties gang activity rose in intensity.
Judging Moss Side and Hulme purely from the news headlines would be to miss an enormous effort from the community and those who serve them. Whilst drugs, gangs and theft are common place this does not represent the common view. Even those involved in illegal and anti social activity do so out of desperation rather than as a considered career option.
Since the launching of the Youth Charter in 1993, there has been a sustained effort of engaging, motivating and inspiring young people for well over a decade as can be seen in the historical timeline. Phil Martin and the Moss Side Boxing and Physical Training Centre was operating in Moss Side just prior to the establishment of the Youth Charter and shared the ethos for developing young people; this has been included as it contains some important lessons in the role that sport and physical activity can play in channelling aggression and providing self discipline and collective responsibility through the noble art of boxing. This project is of specific relevance and value as it was developed as a result of the urban riots of the 80’s.
Fig. 1.2 The Youth Charter is launched at the RECMAN Conference at Wembley 1993. L to R: Paul Zetter CBE, Colin Jackson CBE and Sue Campbell CBE
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*Refer reference pages 45 - 46
*Refer reference pages 45 - 46
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