Army helps Burnley teens turn lives around
4:00pm Thursday 16th July 2009 in
-
- By Alex Willmott » Reporter
YOUNGSTERS in Burnley have praised the armed forces for helping to turn their lives around.
Unity College hosted a range of Army-led activities yesterday to celebrate a united effort to engage with young people across the town.
The Army has been working with Burnley’s Multi-Agency Problem Solving (MAPS) team to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in local communities.
More than 140 young people from Burnley, aged from 14 to 21, have since taken part in courses co-ordinated by the Army, to develop key life skills.
Izzi Wilkinson, 17, of Brunshaw, said: “After spending time with the Army on the five-day residential course, I have learnt to respect others and myself.
“Because the police are involved with the course as well, I have seen them in a different light.
“My application to join the Army has been received and I will be involved with different armed forces events until I can step up for selection.”
Jon Cavaney, 19, from Brownhills, said: “I had no direction in my life before I attended the Army week.
"Since being challenged and supported by those involved in the course, "I have found a goal and an ambition. I am now up for selection with the Army and, because I have had a taste, I will do anything to achieve it.”
Lieutenant General Sir Nick Parker, Commander Regional Forces, visited the college and believes the model in Burnley should inspire the rest of the North West.
He said: “What we are doing here in Burnley is not a recruitment drive.
"We are here to support and help the youngsters who need it.
“A lot of the children have experienced challenging backgrounds, and our input has been well received by them.
“We have seen some excellent individuals and what we want from them now is to get good exam results and find a good career.
“Obviously some of the youngsters will want to join the armed forces and, from what we have seen of the young people in Burnley, they would make excellent soldiers.”
Comments(10)
ExForces
says...
5:53pm Thu 16 Jul 09
Its great that these lads now have a direction in life.
Well done to the army and police for setting up this scheme.
ABBEY ROAD
says...
9:54pm Thu 16 Jul 09
FREDF2009
says...
1:55pm Fri 17 Jul 09
dellym
says...
1:56pm Fri 17 Jul 09
I know of a teenage girl who did this a few weeks back. She wasnt bad by any stretch of the imagination but was choosing the wrong sort to get involved with subsequently causing problems at home.
Since coming home she has for now changed back into the girl she was before the problems and is making better choices.
Inter-Rossiter
says...
7:42pm Fri 17 Jul 09
midas
says...
11:13am Sat 18 Jul 09
ABBEY ROAD wrote:Did you actually read the article? How can you say its failed? You have no evidence just your prejudice.
Yet another publicity stunt for Burnley’s Multi-Agency Problem Solving Team. They are trying to convince us that 5 days at an Army camp has turned their lives around!! Wake up - to yet another failed project.Lets face it - It was a free holiday.
midas
says...
11:17am Sat 18 Jul 09
FREDF2009 wrote:Do you work for LYPS? Who has told you there is no long term strategy? Whose told you there is just a phone call? Do you actually know or are you just relating tittle tattle? Who should be addressing these issues? How much did it cost? Whose paying for it, local taxpayers or is it from the Army budget? How do you manage to get behind closed doors meetings with LYPS? and who/what are LYPS are they part of Burnley MAPS?
What will be interesting to know is what will happen to these young people now that they have completed the course, alot of investment has gone in to this week long course paid by the taxpayer. Many a time in the past they are these courses being delivered at a huge cost to the taxpayer and the majority of young people are in the same predicament 3 to 6 months after they have completed the course, I know this because people frpm the Lancashire Young Peoples' Service have admitted to this fact behind closed doors. There is no long term strategy in the thinking behind these schemes, the follow up with the young person is maybe a phone call at the most if they are lucky, these issues need to be addressed.
spyderkat
says...
4:36pm Sat 18 Jul 09
FREDF2009
says...
10:02pm Sat 18 Jul 09
Midas, any money that the Army has does come from the British Tax Payer so it is irrelevant whether th MAPS team paid for it or the Army, so lets get that straight. LYPS is the new name that has been given to the Lancashire Youth Service, it is now Lancashire Young Peoples' Service. And all the young people do get in the main is a phone call, BOTTOM LINE!
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Old Timer says...
5:45pm Thu 16 Jul 09
To quote the old saying general "Tell it to the marines" its one of Brown's ways of getting our lads off his unemployed register and sending them to a war most people don't want anything to do with.