Film confronts fear of youths (From Witney Gazette)

Film confronts fear of youths

7:08am Tuesday 29th January 2008 in Witney By David Horne

A GROUP of young people went out on to the streets to confront myths about hoodies and Asbos.

The six teenagers from Witney Youth Centre made a short film to air their views and the opinions of other young and older people in the town. It was their first attempt at making a film and it has gained an Oxfordshire Young Persons Award for their filmmaking skills.

The group - Dean McGinn, Niki Kinghorn, Becky Taylor, Jodee Day, Hana Greenway and Lindi Travers - all aged between 13 and 16, devised their own storyboards, carried out the interviews and edited the film.

Dean McGinn, 14, a pupil at the town's Henry Box School, said: "We wanted to find out what everyone makes us out to be.

"We didn't just talk to young people, we spoke to older people as well, how they see us.

"I remember there was one older man who said he was fed up with youths at the back of his house on Friday and Saturday nights, making so much noise they can't sleep at night. The main thing that comes through is what is there to do. For us, the highlight of the week is coming here, to the youth club. It's different."

Mike How, youth worker for Witney, said: "A lot of people think 'hoodies and Asbos' when you mention young people. The group wanted to dispel those myths.

"They went out and interviewed the general public. It was a challenging thing to do, but they were all up for it and showed what young people can do when given the chance.

"In rural areas, there are real issues of feeling isolated, with not much to access and having to pay a lot of money to get transport."

The film was made with the backing of a charity which supports youth clubs in Oxfordshire, Active TEN20, and the Oxford Film and Video Makers which trains mainly young people in digital film production. There was also some funding from the National Farmers' Union, Leader+ and the Chillout Fund.

Mr How said that, apart from the youth centre and Base 33, another organised meeting place for teenagers, there was little on offer in the town that did not cost money.

The youth service is funded by the county council. Louise Chapman, council cabinet member for children, young people and families, who lives in the town, said: "It is good to see a group of young people speaking up for their peers while gaining a wide range of skills that will benefit them in the future."

The film was shown on two evenings last week at the youth centre's Platform venue.