News Town to learn about respect
Goole is to learn all about respect in a 'week of action' in early July.
The aim of the week, which will begin on June 30 and run through to July 6, is to tackle anti-social behaviour in 'hotspot' areas and 'empower the community'. It is the first week of action to be held in the region.
Safe Communities East Riding are piloting the week in Goole to promote the Government's 'Respect' agenda.
Central Government funded a number of the respect schemes across the country but East Riding was not chosen. The Council therefore decided to fund the event out of its own budget.
The week of action is based on three main strands - education, enforcement and community development - all focussed on the theme of respect.
Some of the events that will be taking place in the town include an anti-litter campaign, truancy sweeps, five-a-side football competitions, graffiti cleaning, a migrant party and a fly-tipping removal service.
A number of events will also be going on behind the scenes in primary and secondary schools.
Helen Wheeler Osman, project manager of the event, told Goole Town Council on Monday: "There will be a lot of things going on in schools including targeted lessons on an anti-social behaviour theme and we will be upping truancy checks. We are also trying to pick out specifically some of the young people who have done the graffiti in Goole and get them out to clean it up."
There will be a multi-sports event at West Park on Thursday, July 3 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Positive Futures will be leading the event, which is aimed at young people aged 10 to 19 years. A number of sports will be showcased including ultimate frisbee and rounders.
A community support bus will be on the pedestrian area during the week, distributing advice and offering free installation of smoke detectors.
There will also be a Positive Choices career event in the precinct on Saturday, July 5 to raise awareness of different employment opportunities within the agencies and promote positive activities that are happening in Goole.
The week will be topped off with a five-a-side football competition on Sunday, July 6, which will involve local football teams battling it out for a knock-out trophy. There will also be a number of local businesses there as well as food stalls, children's entertainment and a bouncy castle.
Commenting at Monday's meeting, Cllr Mike Harrison said: "I'm glad East Riding have chosen Goole. However, certain things need to stick - you will never get respect if you just do it once a year, it needs to continue.
"I'd like to applaud you for your efforts: it is an excellent idea. I just hope some good will come out of it and it doesn't just get forgotten until next year."
Cllr Keith Moore added: "I applaud the objectives behind this exercise - social inclusion is extremely positive."
But Cllr Shirley Marshall expressed disappointment that some of the events were specifically for migrants, these being a European tea dance, a migrant worker keep-fit session, a migrant party with Helping Hands and migrant parenting classes. She said: "The European tea dance should just be a tea dance. It is an English tradition and it should be for everybody. Migrant workers should be included in the community - I don't see why they should have their own three events."
Claire Taylor, of Safe Communities East Riding, said: "There is a lot of positive feeling about the project already and we are keen to make this week a huge success in order to showcase it throughout the rest of the East Riding."
Published on 5th June 2008 in News.
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