Kid's abandoned (From Barry And District News)

Kid's abandoned

BARRY's young people feel 'abandoned, neglected and without a voice', a well-respected youth leader has claimed.

Mike Bendell, project co-ordinator for Castleland Youth Organisation and VIBE Experience, has hit out at the lack of communication between the town's local organisations who are supposed to help our youth.

He told the News: "During my time with the Vibe I have found in Barry there are limited resources for children and young people.

"But the various organisations that exist such as the police and youth service do not work together to tackle this problem."

Mike, who has 15 years' experience working with young people, also criticises the youth service's priorities.

He said: "I understand that funding should be targeted on older children and issues such as training, leisure and alcohol and drug misuse should be tackled.

"However, I am concerned these issues are also prevalent amongst younger children and should be dealt with when they surface at an early age rather than concentrating our efforts when the effects are felt in the community."

The Barry & District News Community Hero's latest attack comes just days before the library moves into the former home of the Castleland Youth Organisation.

The group, which ran clubs three-nights-a-week for six to 11-year-olds, was forced to leave the site earlier this year. Prior to its closure up to 150 children attended each session.

But despite securing premises for the older children, Mike still hasn't found a home for the other youngsters.

He has also been approached by numerous children and their parents concerned about the club's closure.

Mike said: "I am deeply concerned that this age group is being forgotten and will grow up without regular activities which are accessible, well-supervised and provide positive experiences that encourages them to develop as young people."

He added: "We must all start working together. We have all undertaken numerous surveys of young people's needs but to date have failed to act on the findings.

"Therefore young people feel neglected, abandoned and without a voice in the community. "We must listen to our children as they are the future of Barry and the Vale."

The Castleland Youth Organisation's 12 to 18-year-olds have a new project based at the Old Pear Tree Cafe in Holton Road, which will be renamed Area41.info.

This will be run by VIBE experience in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council.