Limavady's answer to tackling anti social behaviour.

The Derry Journal calls them "Street louts" which I think is a bit unfair. I would use the word, "bored young adults" as Limavady offers very little for them to do. Limavady is to get two wardens to look out for anti social behaviour, littering and unauthorised street trading.

So £9000 well spent, that remains to be seen, though some councillors are skeptical about the idea.

I'm wondering how £9000 a year on youth projects would go instead, something to give that age bracket something to be proud of and involved in.

--

In York there was a summer scheme called the Megajam, not council run, it was done by a recording studio. Thirty kids created four or five rock bands. Within four days they had written and rehearsed a set of music to perform in a proper venue, in front of a proper crowd. It was a tall order but there was most of York's muso population on hand to mentor and offer advice. Some of them had never played an instrument, let alone performed in front of a true, proper York muso appreciating crowd.

To this day I still hail Rob Parker (the organiser of all that chaos) the king of community projects. He was sharp as a needle and saw the good side in every kid that came through the doors, showed me where the potential was in these good people. This had it's own benefit, those people came back during the years and then ended up as tutors themselves, giving back into the community what the community had given to them. Some of the kids gave the tutors a run for their money on the talent stakes but we didn't like to talk about that.

It was beyond music, it was about people. It's affects though were life changing and very long lasting.

Okay it was a summer scheme but the same idea could be transferred elsewhere. All you need is people to help. Danny Boy Rox is oh so near to that energy of the Megajam, which is probably why I like Danny Boy Rox so much, but that's a competition. Something is required to pull people together and show that they can make a difference. Music usually does that very well.