Front cover design by Emily Gratton

Meet us at Job Centre Plus in Wisbech on Mondays

Or at WWW. VolunteerCentreFenland.org.uk

Email : [email protected]

Registered charity no. 803237 Registered address: 148 Elm High Road. Wisbech. PE14 0DW

Tel : 01945 582 192

Homeless in Wisbech

Seen here is Connor Yorke being offered a volunteering opportunity with Keith Smith, the director of the Ferry Project and two other volunteers, who have been helped and supported by the project.

Last year Connor wrote, “I was brought up in the East End of London. When I was fifteen I left to move to Huntingdon with my previous partner, and her mother. Sian had our baby four months after I moved up. After a row with Sian’s mum I moved out and for a while I was homeless in Huntington, living in sheds, tents, wherever I could really ……... After five months I decided I needed to sort myself out, as it was unfair to my daughter……………”

“……………. To begin with I was wandering around doing nothing in Huntingdon. Then I met a friend on a bus and came with him to Wisbech. I couldn’t find anywhere to stay so I stayed in a tent for three months on the rugby field, and got into a real mess. I was offered the night shelter in Wisbech ……….. ”

“…………… With the Ferry Project Project I’ve gained a lot of voluntary experience and am beginning to get my life together, and I am free of drugs and have been for five months.”

Well done to the Ferry Project, staff and volunteers who make it all possible. The Phantom of Wisbech Gaming: Games Anyone? The electronic systems used to play Notice: I’m not a big gamer, but i’m video games are known as into historical factoids and I platforms; examples of these are understand what makes them so personal computers and video game enduring. Most of my play time Consoles. These platforms range comes from the Nintendo Wii and I from large main frame computers to had a DS, but I couldn’t complete small handheld computing devices. the levels on some games without Consoles (Playstation, Xbox) and some supervision. But I’m kind of games on laptops and smartphones into technology, so sure, why not? I like Candy Crush. My mother plays grew up playing Wii games, when it all the time at home in the living my mum and dad were away, I and room. It’s as highly addictive as the my sister would play Tennis on Wii sweets on screen. Sports, we would have the whole family around sometimes and my favourite game to play was boxing, Setup: there were various selective sports modes but the freedom of punching The input for various games varies your opponent KO was feasibly fun from console to console. Like for to me. example, the Nintendo Switch. You can either play it like a PSP, or if you At the end of the day, they’re still want slide the controller and very fun. cartridges into the joystick and play Games like Disney Infinity or the it like a classic games system on Lego games or Sandbox games like your TV. Or use the cartridges like a Minecraft might be up there for me Wii remote by freely and Infinity and Lego have moving them while holding them in introduced me to hardcore your hands. concepts about the films and characters you can play with. I hope one day Travellers Tales (the people responsible) make Terminator and Rambo titles. I prefer games with a considerable amount of freedom. I plan on making new friends over playing games on my Nintendo Switch when I buy more.

History: puzzles and game mechanics. In Pac-man’s case, finding your way through a maze while avoiding The history of video games dates villainous (otherwise called bosses) back to as far as the early 1950’s, spirits while eating dots and a which academic computer scientists couple of power-ups. Back in the began designing simple games day, they would loop the same level and simulations as part of their over and over again while increasing research. Video gaming did not the difficulty on each. In Space reach mainstream popularity until Invaders, the idea is shooting aliens the late 1970’s and early 80’s. who have come to take over earth Around this time, computer games while avoiding their attacks, it’s started appearing in warehouses pretty simple by today’s standards, known as arcades. They were but without Space Invaders, we almost the precursor to hardware might’ve not have the way paved computers like Macintosh or for Call of Duty or other FPS (first- Microsoft. They involved inserting person shooters) 20 years later. coins into a machine, a bit like a self-checkout at a supermarket. In They were described as 8-bit, which the US, the main price was 25 cents. means the graphics were animated On screen, you would get the title as art like the Mona Lisa rather than of the game followed by the factory CGI like a film with computer maker copyrighted out of sight at generated like Toy Story. the bottom. Like for instance, a The animation would evolve circled c followed by a company like throughout the years. Atari or Nintendo. The titles would always have fancy stylized fonts. One of the earliest games put on the market was Space War, created by Steve Russell, a computer scientist, the D-list Bill Gates if you like. He attended Dartmouth College, a privately furbished college in New Hampshire, America from 1954 to 1958. Space War was expanded and given new modes by the college community and was eventually made public to the education community. Famous games like Pac-man and Space Invaders involved simple

The game featured two spaceships, called ‘the needle’ and ‘the wedge’, basically the avatar and the boss Revenues peaked at around $3.2 with a big fight. billion in the US around 1983, a drop of almost 90%. The crash Infamous Circumstances: shook the then really successful industry, and led to the bankruptcy During the 1970’s, home gaming of several companies, including a emerged, including the iconic Pong. company called When people think of computer which created the game Dragon’s games, this might be one of the first Lair made by animator , ones coming to mind. Others tried the man behind childhood cashing in on Pong’s popularity at like the time. and The Land Before Time.

Consoles like the Atari kick-started the golden era of gaming in general. Later that year, chartered remains and burials of E.T, among other During the early 1980’s, an games that weren’t financially hot, unfortunate event called the video were found within a scrapheap. game crash of 83 happened. This incident primarily happened because of market saturation of copies of a poorly made tie-in game based on ’s film, E.T: The Extra Terrestrial, considered one of the worst games ever made.

Legacy and (darker) enough to receive films released in cinemas. Impact: They’re not always successful, the Mario movie starring Bob Hoskins Today, as of 2016, an average age of messed up the material in the eyes a person who plays a video game is of fans and turned the tables by 35. A number slowly increasing as making the villain of the series, people who were children playing Bowser into a human with a craving the first arcade, console and home for weird pizza toppings over computer systems have passed such kidnapping princesses. experience on to their own children. Games will always have a Some juveniles (8-12 year olds), reputation for being something teenagers (13 – 19) and adolescents exceptional to the eyes of the (20-25) of today have then gone on people that grew up playing them. to make gaming a way of life. From the 1970’s through to even the early 1990’s, video game playing The gender ratio of gamers is also was seen as a sub-culture hobby changing. According to research activity and even as a substitute to from 2011, 71% of people aged six physical sports like football or to forty-nine played games. Some tennis. If this had continued, video game characters have gone Wimbledon would’ve ended its run on to become icons in their own at the time. right, even becoming the face of the company like Mario for Nintendo As games became more realistic, and Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega. issues of questionable content arose. According to 200 academic Both characters and worlds come studies from the American together every three or four years Psychological Association, video to produce games for various games have caused more harm than Nintendo owned consoles good and could be causing children promoting the Olympics like the to become more aggressive to Winter or London 2012. figures in Authority.

Games like Mario and Luigi have gone on to become mainstream James Crowson

In the last decade diagnosed adulthood causing long term physical and mental health problems.. Households are busier problems to young people caused making it harder for people to calm by lack of sleep has gone up from down. According to experts in sleep 1500 to 8000, according to the NHS deprivation, children in particular figures. These issues are known to are not having sufficient time to have a disastrous effect on social wind down from all the activities skills and education. In my opinion they are doing during the day such this needs further investigation. as school How many people do you know that do not get enough sleep, if so did Technology now seems to be the this problem start in their youth? biggest culprit. How many people do you know who do not take their At different ages people need mobile phones with them different amounts of sleep in order everywhere including the bedroom? to perform at their best. In my case Yes, smart phones, computers, barely function with tablets and televisions are common even 12 hours of sleep. During in the bedroom and they emit blue adolescence we perform at our best light, which behaves in the same if we have eight or nine hours of way as daylight, fooling the brain sleep a night. Do you really get into staying awake. enough sleep? Lack of sleep often starts when we are children due to When it gets dark the brain not having a consistent bedtime produces a hormone named routine, and because as children we Melatonin, which makes people feel quite often take our technology to tired. However, if you are on your bed with us. These habits then phone messaging the girls about continue into adolescence and then when you are next going to catch up, your brain does not produce the Leptin, therefore, you are always sleep inducing Melatonin. Ideally hungry – equals snacking – equals people need to stop looking at weight gain. It is recognised that in anything that produces a blue light the UK nearly a third of children at least an hour before bed, between the ages of 2 to 15 are preferably two. either overweight which leads to major social, emotional, physical Another effect of lack of sleep can and psychological health problems lead to obesity. This is because the in adolescence – compounding the body produces two hormones problems of lack of sleep. Now I (sorry, more hormones). Ghrelin, can’t answer for everyone else but which tells you that you are hungry, when I am tired I turn to cake. and Leptin, which tells you when you are full. If you are sleep deprived your body produces less Danielle Melton

The Phantom says to Wisbech Council

“You don’t need a crystal ball to see the problems in Wisbech Market Place, but what has the Town Council done with the £25,000 that Fenland gave to them to do the Market Place up.

Unlike the Castle the Market Place only cost them one pound so what have they done with the money?

The marvellous, Moroccan (Wisbech?) Market

By Day At nine am, the breakfast bars begin to open and the aroma of a It’s six am and the market stalls traditional Moroccan breakfast come alive with the sun as the shop engulfs the market, mixing with the keepers start to open their stalls; it tantalising smell of the spices, and is the beginning of a new day. An creating a symphony of smells. intoxicating fragrance of spices fills the nose with a tingling sensation. Rows of exotic fruit are stacked up Shop keepers scurry around like like pyramids, with their enticing insects on the hot desert sand, as array of reds, yellows and oranges, they prepare for a long day ahead. A illuminating the stalls. Beyond them soothing sound interacts with the are bowls of spices; a tower of smells making it a calm blissful place turmeric; alongside a fortress of to be. The music, whereabouts deep-red chillies. I was mesmerised unknown, slows the rushing shop by the emerald and sapphire tones keepers down. of the carpets. By mid-afternoon, the marketplace light source begins to fill the streets has exploded, creating a sea of with an illuminating glow; the individuals who flood the market in market transforms in an instant, One tall, slender man, his face half with food stalls popping up like veiled in his white headdress, bamboo shoots sprouting out of the meanders up to one stall and buys a ground - a whole new world. selection tray of assorted curries and rice. Balancing his heavy Shops are starting to close for the purchase in one hand, he strolls night but people are still trying to across to an empty table under the get one last souvenir, haggling to covering of a canopy. Now that he make it the last deal of the day. is out of the glaring sun, he removes his head piece to reveal a young, handsome face and shows off his Finally, all haggling has stopped and short, silvering hair. After gorging all the day time stalls have shut himself with the mountains of food, their doors. Freestanding lights he proceeds to drink two cartons of irradiate the silent scene. milk to soothe the dancing spices on his tongue. From an evening café, the tempting and welcoming scent of mint tea Scorching a path through the entices late night wanderers, its clouds, the sun hails the end of aroma almost possessing people school. Groups of children all and persuading them to buy mugs dressed in long, flowing clothes, of steaming hot herbal drink. swarm into the market in a giant wave of white silk. A night in the Moroccan market under the stars is magical to be a part of; the atmosphere full of And by night excitement enveloping everyone in its warm embrace. Nothing in the

world could bring down the spirits What a day it’s been! The fading of these people. sun shoots pink and red rays of light across the sky; time has frozen and only the sun can move. Stunning as Hours pass by under the moonlight it is, the bewitching sunset brings before a new dawn arrives; the end tears to everyone’s eyes; the day of the night time world under the comes to an end welcoming moon and everything returns to the something different. At night the way it was. atmosphere of the market is a Ebony Morris completely different story: a new Scarlett

My daughter was watching “Take me out”. She loves two episodes and watches these daily on repeat. She likes to pick out who the man should marry.

Being the outspoken five year old that she is she has no problem expressing if she thinks he is charming or not. One man in particular she decided wasn’t charming, well maybe his body was charming but not his face.

Scarlett is a bit of a tomboy at heart however she has very clear idea about how I (her mother) should go out and find a boyfriend. She tells me, “mommy you should go on take me out because you can’t get a boyfriend”.

Not only does she want me to get a boyfriend but she has told me I need to marry him and then on the wedding day I need to tell him I Scarlett has grown into a bright want a baby. happy child. She is the apple of her grandparent’s eye and she keeps She has moved on from last year everyone entertained with her when she just liked to tell anyone unique and amusing way of looking who would listen that I was having at life. I would also like to clarify twins, a boy and a girl. At least now there are no twins on their way as she realises that this isn’t something of yet, much to her disappointment. I can do on my own and I actually need a boyfriend. This is a little bit more difficult than Scarlett realises. Relationships are never that easy. Melissa Grinham alcohol is normally not Give young permitted at the park. musicians & There were activities for the different younger kids to do as well such as fair rides and trampolines. cultures a Before you even entered the chance again park to see the bands you could central park feel the atmosphere, caused by the bass and drums. When you walked into the park for the Wisbech Park has lots of events first time it was an over- such as: Wisbech Rock Festival; whelming experience. You saw Wisbech Bring and Share; a great deal of people sitting in Running Club; and Cricket Club, groups or standing at the front that young people can enjoy. of the stage (in a mosh pit) rocking out, having a great The first Rock Festival in my life time. However, there was no time took place, in the park, need to worry because staff when I was 15, on 5 June 2011. were at hand to help and My favourite bands were The monitor the situation and there Brink, and Blackhawk Down, as was an A&E tent for well as seven other young emergencies. It was a great bands that wrote and played event to go to. You met lots of their own music. different people, even some in costumes of their favourite For the event a large number of characters. The first four Rock people from all over Fenland Festivals were organised by came to watch. There was not Wisbech Youth Council. The just music to be enjoyed. Food Rock Festival takes place every and drink were available, for year. the day the alcohol ban in the park was lifted, so those over The Youth Council also 18 could have a can. Drinking organised The Bring & Share Festival in the park that year on Ecuadorian pan pipes; Chatteris Sunday 7 August, which was silver band; Bhangra & other great. The Rosmini Centre had different dancers; and a 35 volunteers cook up food Taekwon-do exhibition. from all over Europe, using £700.00 given to them by Bring back, the Youth Council Wisbech Town Council & set up and let them run these events. a huge marquee in the park, where they gave away free food all day. There were some great activities for all the family like workshops, great rides and Louise woods a huge bungee swing.

There was great music from:

Meadowgate

school writes

really good way for people to gain new skills and experience and to develop their CV’s to get job ready.

Erbie is able to offer everyone who visits him several volunteering opportunities that match their personalised profile on the national Do-It website for which the Volunteer Centre Fenland is the official administrator.

Mr Murat, former Town Clerk of Wisbech, administers the volunteering opportunities for 181 different organisations across Fenland, and has referrals from other organisations such as the Recovery Team at Agenora House, doctors in the district and other Members of staff from Meadowgate health and social care professionals School in Wisbech took several to find opportunities to enable young people to meet with Erbie people, to gain self-confidence and Murat, the Manager of the skills and experience that will then Volunteer Centre Fenland to learn enable them to become job ready. about volunteering.

Erbie is now providing these From left to right - back row are services on an entirely voluntary Erbie Murat; Amanda Beautyman; basis together with a very active Harley Brightman; Glenn McHenry; and competent team of volunteers, and front row - Tamzin Matless and is also part of a county-wide Blower; Sharlyn Beckett; Nicholas consortium of volunteer centres Sadd; Shannon Bowers; and the that cover Huntingdonshire, Ely and young Miss Phantom of Wisbech Peterborough as well as much of took the photo. the rural areas of Cambridgeshire.

Every Monday morning between The young people from 10am and 12 noon, Erbie is at the Meadowgate had a great time, and Job Centre Plus offices in Wisbech were supported by Miss Phantom, and has direct referrals from them who took the photos, and who has on the basis that volunteering is a

promised to write a piece for the essential for a better society. It just magazine, 'It Can't Be Happening' in seems to be Cambridgeshire where Wisbech, which is a magazine for there is a massive mismatch. young people, entirely produced and written by young people. Back The Volunteer Centre Fenland, issues can be found on however has been fortunate to obtain funding from other sources so that they can continue being the www.volu local administrator for the national Do-It website, and also recruiting to 181 organisations across Fenland who continue to be supported by nteercent Volunteer Centre Fenland.

Volunteer Centre Fenland is also refenland. proud to be part of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Community Interest Company which org.uk is made up of Volunteer centres in Ely & District; Fenland & District; across Huntingdonshire and in It is unfortunate for the County that Peterborough. the volunteer centres lost their funding to an organisation a couple of years ago who do no active See us at the Job recruitment, despite the fact that Centre Plus offices in the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) champions Wisbech on Mondays the voluntary sector and volunteering because they’re

The core team for our new project -

Fenland Writers Co-operative are

the editorial team and the publisher

of ‘It Can’t Be’ Happening in

Wisbech – a magazine enirely

written by young people for young

people between the ages of 18 and

25, who are living, earning or

learning in the Wisbech District of Fenland Writers Co-operative Fenland.

[email protected] ‘It Can’t Be’ is printed &

Published by Volunteer

Centre Fenland Fenland Writers Co-operative, aims to provide unestablished writers Charity No. 803237 with an outlet at local level.

Our award to continue producing this magazine is funded from the ARM Cambridge Community Fund (£2,500) and the D&J Lloyd Community First Fund (£2,500).

Volunteer Centre Managers Erbie Murat; Granville Hawkes; Louise Porter; and Anne Bunting