Behave or else, as club re-opens (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Behave or else, as club re-opens

YOUNGSTERS attending Bourton's youth club must now to sign a strict code of conduct after a spate of unruly behaviour and vandalism.

Around 12 to 25 children meet at the club every week but there was such a concern about the growing number of incidents that youth workers decided to close the club at the end of June.

After lengthy discussions and meetings, youth workers reopened the youth club last week but youngsters wishing to attend must now sign an acceptable behaviour code.

The move came following reports of rubbish being set alight last month. Youths were also accused of climbing on the roof and damaging a staff member's car.

Head of Gloucestershire youth service Mike Counsell said: "With the re-opening of the Bourton Youth Centre last week comes an acceptable behaviour code that all youngsters wishing to attend have to sign. The code is designed to make the young people think about their behaviour and behave in a socially acceptable way both in and out of the club.

"We would like to reassure local residents that our youth workers work hard to maintain positive relationships with young people in the Bourton area and the work carried out by them is of enormous benefit to the local community."

Parish council chairman Peter Morris said: "I think it's a very good idea. We as a community need to do something about it. There are people at the youth club willing to give their time and their energy to these children and while many enjoy it, there are some children that ruin it for others."