‘What’s Up With Neath…..’ A Youth Perspective Compiled as part of the CYNEFIN Neath Project By Kathryn Britton September 2014 Index 1. Foreword Mike Mainwaring, NPT CVS 2. Introduction 3. Executive Summary 4. Methodology 5. General Findings & Consultation Results 6. Conclusions 7. Recommendations 8. Local delivery agencies and youth provision partners in Neath Port Talbot 9. Appendices 1. Location Map 2. Quotes 3. Transcriptions 4. Leaflet 2 1. Foreword Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services were very pleased to be asked to assist in carrying out this important piece of research to establish the views of young people in a participatory manner. It was a very good experience for the young people, being listened to and taken seriously. The young people demonstrated maturity and realism in their concerns and aspirations for the area and it will be interesting to see progress develop and any changes implemented. It was interesting to talk to young people about their experiences and I look forward to being able to feedback to the young people of Neath as promised and inform them about what has happened to their views. Mike Mainwaring Children, Young People and Families Participation Officer Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service 2. Introduction Cynefin is a place based change programme funded by Welsh Government operating in nine local authorities across Wales. In order to shape the project in Neath a working group was set up. Cynefin Neath consists of partners and stakeholders who can offer advice and support for any potential projects. Due to adult attitudes being deeply entrenched in the area one of the approaches identified by Cynefin Neath, was to consider and consult with young people in the area about their current needs and aspirations for living here in the future. This would give them a voice, help the relevant agencies shape their future work and establish mechanisms to involve young people in the decision making process. Cynefin Neath approached Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services (NPT CVS) and it was determined that they would carry out a series of consultation events with young people to garner their opinions. The young people were predominantly from the Cynefin Neath areas of Fairyland, Neath and Melin and attend local comprehensive schools. One session was held in the YMCA youth club and four sessions within the schools (please see map, appendix 9:1 for location details). Neath North has 360 school aged children living within the ward, the survey interviewed 23% of them. 1 Neath North is the 5th most deprived area in Neath Port Talbot and includes Fairyland and the Melin within its boundaries; Neath North is also in the top 10% of deprived LSOA’s (Lower Super Output Areas) in Wales. Statistics and Census data are only available for Neath North as whole and not individual communities like Fairyland or Melin. This report summarises the findings and will be distributed to the relevant agencies whereby it is hoped that the findings will be considered and an action plan formulated, shaping youth provision, Place Planning and community regeneration in the Cynefin Neath areas. The data is in keeping with the UNICEF Childs Right project, of which Neath Port Talbot are the only Welsh authority across the UK to be participating and will also be fed into the National Conversation on the Wales We Want and the Well Being of Future Generations Bill. 1 2011 Census 3 We acknowledge that great work is being undertaken within the Borough on diminishing budgets and this document does not set out to criticize current provision or providers. The main aim of this document is to set out a mandate for change ensuring that funding and resources are utilized more effectively. Cynefin Neath’s next steps will be to liaise with Mike Mainwaring, NPTCVS, to decide how the information from this report can be used to formulate an action plan with the relevant partners; secondly, to organise a series of raising awareness events to encourage local youth provision delivery partners to consider the information when shaping future provision for young people in Neath Port Talbot. 3. Executive Summary In an attempt to look at Place Planning in Fairyland general consensus was that we approach regeneration in the area through the eyes of its younger residents. The evidence collated from all the sessions reflects the opinions of the young people in relation to the areas lived in, schools attended and some parental attitude. It is heartening that the young people of Neath acknowledge that there are many plus points to the area. With only three exceptions their ideas for transformation and change are all very achievable with some items on their ‘wish list’ already in the planning process. From the 84 children interviewed the consultation concluded that 46% of young people liked the environment, parks and green spaces around Neath whilst a third liked the proximity to Neath town centre 33% of young people cited anti social behavior as being high whilst 11% of young people felt unsafe, this equates to a total of 44% of the young people consulted having concerns regarding their safety or anti social behavior. Half of the young people wanted to see new and improved facilities including a skate park; better sports fields and affordable or free sports facilities. A quarter of young people wanted to see greater diversity in the shops of Neath town centre and cited mobile phone and charity shops as being excessive. Pertinent issues to areas also emerged, for example pupils of Cwrt Sart wanted to see the school remain open, residents of Fairyland wanted to see improvements to their play facilities whilst some wanted to see it knocked down. General Comments 47% of young people stated that the worst thing about living in their community was litter and dog fouling 45% citied drugs, its users and dealers as an issue 43 % of young people wanted to see the installation of a skate park 37% stated that they would like more children’s activities 31% of young people surveyed said that the Gnoll Park was the best thing about living in their community It could be concluded that closer joint working among multi agencies in the youth provision area is required, these may be specialist groups tackling particular issues for example, youth provision delivery, community safety and development of community facilities for young people. Agencies 4 need to be mindful that they include young people in their discussions and set up regular dialogue enabling young people to contribute and receive feedback from agencies such as PCOS’s, Head Teachers, community safety, youth provision providers and other existing groups. 4. Methodology In order to garner young people’s opinions on ‘What’s Up With Neath’ and to ascertain what kind of a Neath they wanted in the future NPT CVS were engaged to carry out a qualitative consultation with young people between April and May 2014. One session was held in the community and four sessions in local comprehensive schools, Cwrt Sart Community School, Cefn Saeson Comprehensive, Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive and Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. Pupils from the targeted Cynefin areas of Fairyland, Neath town centre and the Melin were invited to participate with the schools being very accommodating and segregating the relevant pupils. A range of methods were used including a focus group session, an art workshop, anecdotal conversations and group sessions; the young people were encouraged to debate, draw and record their comments in a non suggestive manner; comments were unlimited and are uncensored in the report. Sessions lasted between 0ne – two hours. 84 of the 360 school aged children from Neath North were surveyed, approximately 23%. The four secondary schools were chosen as the catchment schools for the targeted areas. Three questions were asked: 1. What do you like about living in your community 2. What don’t you like about living in your community 3. How would you improve your community In Cwrt Sart, due to the numbers, an assembly was conducted, which gave a wide range of views but meant that follow up questions with individuals to gain a greater understanding of their views was not possible. Pupils were keen to speak in more depth about their community and it was clear that they were not used to being asked their views or being taken seriously. In Cefn Saeson, Ystalyfera and Dwr-y-Felin the groups were smaller and therefore a more focused conversation was possible, once the questions were completed dialogue ensued. Despite variations in school classes there was a fairly even divide of males and females 84 Young People Participated Pupils Residence Comprehensive Age Range Female Male Total School Melin Cwrt Sart 11-16 19 20 39 Cimla, Neath Abbey, YG Ystalyfera 13-15 10 7 17 Neath, Melin, Briton Ferry, Fairyland Fairyland Cefn Saeson 11-14 3 12 15 Melin, Neath, Dwr-Y-Felin 11-14 9 4 13 Fairyland, Cimla Total 41 Total 43 84 5 5. General Findings Many of the responses given by young people to the set questions were grouped and the most popular groupings appear as follows What Young People Liked About Neath 46% liked the parks, green spaces and local environment 29% liked the proximity to Neath Town Centre Young people also liked the people, friends, neighbours and the proximity to local services What Young People Didn’t Like About Living in Neath 47% thought local environmental issues were poor, for example litter and dog fouling. 44% in total of the young people cited anti social behavior and feeling unsafe as a concern. Young