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Amy - 610 youth centre

Terrorism...

What are your views on the terrorist bombers? Do the terrorist threats make you fear travelling on public transport?

Jenny:– The bombers just want attention. They just want to kill the whole world. It is worrying because your family could be on the bus or train they plant the bombs on.

Steven:– They're just people from a poor country that want to get notice.

Carl:– The bombers just want to get their religion notice. They're doing extreme things to bring their religion into the public eye. You don’t want it to happen but it’s always at the back of your mind.

Stephen - 610 youth centre

Amy:- I just keep thinking that a bomb could go off on the bus that I’m on.

Callum:– They don’t agree with the western way of life and think that we should all live the way they live their lives. The bombers are vulnerable people who are brainwashed by other people that don’t want to blow themselves up.

Dell:– What a weird religion blowing yourself up. How can you believe in killing yourself? It can’t be their religion to kill themselves.

Dell - 610 youth centre

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Gangs in Kingstanding...

Many people living in Kingstanding say there is an issue with gangs in the area. Do you think gangs are a problem where you live?

Amy:– There’s gangs all round Kingstanding, there’s not just one main gang, they’re everywhere. If they see you’ve got jewellery on they try to rob you. It’s intimidating when you have to walk past them. They shout out things at you and call you names. If you say anything back to them they just the get the girls in the gang to batter you. It really affects you’re self confidence.

Callum - 610 youth centre

Dell:– I’ve been chased by a gang in our area and they tried to mug me. I live in the area and know most of them but they still try to rob me. If people have to go round stealing stuff that just proves you’re a tramp what’s that point of robbing. If you ain’t got it don’t rob it!!!

Jenny:- Some of the gangs don’t get on with other gangs in the area. They all meet up and fight.

Steven:– There’s no guns, it’s just little beatings and fights. I could be on the streets with my mates and were told by the police we’ll be arrested if we don’t split up. But then the police are splitting people up and sending them home and those people are getting battered or robbed because they’re own their own.

Jenny - 610 youth centre

Amy:– There’s already a curfew in Kingstanding. No-one is allowed to hang around in group with more than two people and if you’re under 16 you have to be off the streets by 9.30pm.

Chantelle:– In ways theÌýcurfew is a good thing because some people may be up to no good and they need to be separated, but other people aren’t doing anything wrong.

Dell:– You’re safer being in a gang because you have more of a chance of winning a fight. A lot people in the area are walking around scared because the gangs are carrying knifes now and someone’s gonna get stabbed. You can look at a gang on the street and know whether you’re gonna get battered or not.

Carl:– It’s all about respect! If one gang beats up another gang, the gang that wins thinks they’re gonna get more respect from other gangs. But then another gangs go after the gang that wins all the fights. It’s never ending.

Amy:– I think all people that have been in trouble with the police for being in a gang should be on tag. The police know who the gangs are.

Chanel - 610 youth centre

Steven:– I don’t think there will ever be an end to gangs in Kingstanding.

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Teenage pregnancies...

Recent media reports say there has been a rise in teenage pregnancies in the UK? What are your views on teenagers having babies?

Dell:– The mothers of these teenage girls say that there isn’t enough sex education for young women. A teenage girl should now that if she has sex without protection she might get pregnant. Even if you're not taught it at school you still find out and know about it.

Steph - 610 youth centre

Steven:– If a girl gets pregnant at 16 then they can’t go out clubbing or anything to enjoy themselves because they’ve got a baby to look after and they’ve just wrecked their life.

Amy:– If you have a baby while you’re a teenager you can’t go out or do what you want because the baby is your responsible.

Chantelle:– There should be more places where young people can get free protection anytime. Condoms and contraception should be available from corner shops and off licences etc... not just from the chemist. Yeah there would be more people having sex but it would be safe sex and less pregnancies. And also places where you can to talk to someone in confidence about sex issues.

Carl - 610 youth centre

Dell:– But if there were more places giving out condoms and contraception then there would be more teenagers having under age sex.

Amy:– It’s not just about contraception, it’s also about when people are getting to hear about sex at school. They don’t start teaching sex education until year nine (14yrs) and people are already having sex by then. I think young people should be taught about it as soon as possible.

Jenny:– I think there should be a law that says if you get pregnant at 10 or 13yrs then your baby will be taken off you. Then teenagers will know not to get themselves pregnant.

Carl:– I had to look after a robot baby doll at school it resembled a real baby. Maybe they should do that more often. By 16 young people should have a a lot of information about sex and should now what could happen.

Steven:– If more people had safe sex there would be less people having babies.

Steph: – I think 13 is a good age for young people to start getting sex educating because that’s when people start to think about having girlfriends and boyfriends.

Amy:– Some young people really do want to be teenage parents, but with some people it’s about peer pressure and they want to look good in front of their mates.

Dell:– Those girls are stupid if they wanna have sex and get pregnant just to look good in front of their mates. If a girl gets pregnant at 13 she can't provide a proper life for that baby.

Steven:– The last time I looked the law is no sex under the age of 16.

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