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Lights, camera, Ashton… film puts
spotlight on local young people
Are the young people of Ashton
uncontrollable louts or just normal everyday teenagers?
That’s the question a youth group has tackled through a short film
titled ‘YOBs? or Youth of Britain?’
The DVD has been made by the Ashton Youth Action group to highlight some
of the many good things local teenagers do for their community.
The group sourced funding for the project and worked with local
filmmaker Peter Goodwin and drama teacher Michael Rees to create the
docudrama.
The film includes profiles on local young people, role play of scenarios
involving teenagers and interviews with Don Hodgkinson (Bryn ward
Councillor), Sylvia Wilkinson (Ashton tenants’ representative for Wigan
and Leigh Housing) and Ken and Jean Barston (Stubshaw Cross Residents
Group).
The DVD reports on the work undertaken by the youth action group in
2007, including the organisation of a fun day in July to raise money for
the community and a successful application for a Youth Capital Fund
grant and National Lottery funding to renovate the Jubilee Park
pavilion. The film also covers the Ashton Community Cup, which saw a
group of local lads take on Greater Manchester Police in a football
match in September and footage from a music video that was made by local
young people at Harmony Studios in Bolton.
The DVD was shown for a month at Ashton Library and will be sent to the
local township and community groups.
Katie Lea, 15, from Ashton Youth Action says: “We are planning to do
more things to help the local community in 2008, beginning with the
improvements at Jubilee Park. We are determined to continue to show a
positive image of young people in Ashton.”
Ashton Youth Action is supported by the Wigan Council Children and Young
People’s Services youth service.
Youth worker Deborah Hall says: “We want the film to be shown anywhere
where local residents can see it. It is a great advert for the good
things our young people do. I’d like to congratulate everyone in the
youth action group for their efforts throughout the project.”
The work of the youth action group was recognised when it was nominated
for a Philip Lawrence Award by Ashton & Bryn Township manager Malcolm
Coe.
Residents’ group member Ken Barston says: “There is a tendency to
stigmatise children with the same brush because a few of them do bad
things, some people think they’re all the same, and that’s not the case.
“Let’s give young people a chance. The way the Ashton Youth Action group
have formed themselves is great. Let them be an example to other young
people and let them show how youth achievement is benefiting the whole
community.”
Ashton Youth Action currently meets on Tuesdays between 6.30pm and
9.15pm at Nupro on Liverpool Road in Ashton. The group is open to all
local young people aged 13 to 19. For further information contact Deb
Hall on 07956 465729.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Photo opportunity / Further information
• To arrange a photo opportunity with the Ashton Youth Action group, or
for further information, please contact Kennedy Stewart, Youth Press
Officer at Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on (01942) 486927.
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