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Film shot in Shak
Young people from Shakerley in Tyldesley
have made a warts and all film about their lives.
The documentary is one of two Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust projects
that have seen youths take positive action on the estate.
The film has been made to inform residents, community workers and
parents what it is like growing up in Shakerley and to allow young
people to voice their views on what they think needs to be done to
improve the area.
Many of the young people in ‘State of the Estate’ admit to negative
behaviour like underage drinking and confrontation with adults, but the
documentary also shows that the same young people want to do positive
things, they have ambition and when they apply themselves they are a
talented bunch of individuals.
The film begins with a group of local lads and a group of girls walking
around Shakerley, looking at the places they go and what they get up to.
The tour of popular hangouts includes outside local shops, a youth
shelter and a shed belonging to the family of one of the young people.
Music plays an important part in their lives, with many of the young men
MCing to the sounds of Happy Hardcore, Bouncy House and Scouse House.
Many of the young people express pride that "everybody sticks together"
on the estate but they complain that there is a lack of things to do.
The teenagers do recognise things are improving with organisations like
Wigan Athletic and Leigh Centurions putting on sports sessions on the
local playing fields, and with the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Arts
& Festivals team giving them the chance to take part in filming, drama
and dance through the ‘State of the Estate’ project.
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust has also been running MCing/DJing
workshops in the area. The six week ‘Costa del Shakerico’ music project
concluded last week when the young rappers and DJs performed tracks
featuring their own lyrics at a showcase event for friends, family and
project partners at Shakerley Community Centre.
The music project was funded by the Tyldesley & Astley Township
Community Safety Group, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and local
councillor's Brighter Borough funding for Atherton and Tyldesley. This
project was delivered by Spearfish, an arts organisation from
Manchester, with support from Children and Young People's Services and
Shakerley Community Centre.
Young resident Dean Rigby, 15, a leading figure in the film and MCing
projects, is now calling on the people of Shakerley to create something
lasting for local youth.
"Recently there has been lots going on and it has been really good,"
says Dean. "It was boring before. We want the activities to keep going
and we don't want them to stop. We need people from the estate to
organise things for the community rather relying on people coming in and
putting activities on."
Part of ‘State of the Estate’ was recorded inside the recently opened
Shakerley Community Centre, the young people acting out their very own
version of Family Fortunes where they reveal that "Costa del Shakerico"
is the top alternative name amongst local young people for the estate
and "baby sitting" is one of the top things for teenagers to do on a
Friday night.
Tenants and residents are now working with the Council and other
partners to look at how they can provide more activities for young
people.
Chair of the Shakerley Tenants and Residents Association Maureen Kershaw
says: "We are hoping to run some inter-generational projects in the
Community Centre soon to bring everyone closer together and to improve
the level of respect between young people and adults. We realise the
kids need things to keep them occupied but the activities need to be
structured and supervised."
Fair Play Productions worked with the young people in Shakerley to
produce ‘State of the Estate’. The project was funded by the Local
Network Fund and local councillor's Brighter Borough funding for
Atherton and Tyldesley.
The project was co-ordinated by Wigan and Leisure Culture Trust with
support from Wigan Pier Theatre Company, Wigan Borough Council,
Shakerley Tenants and Residents and the Shakerley Community Partnership.
The young people who made ‘State of the Estate’ are now creating a dance
and drama performance with Wigan Pier Theatre Company based around the
issues raised in the film.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
• For further information please contact Kennedy Stewart, Young People’s
Press Officer at Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on (01942) 486927.
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