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Pictured from left: Rema Kadir, Alomgir Miah, Sahil Miah and Ravi Chowdhury in the stairwell of the Peckwater estate
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Kids let down by the system
‘We want training’ as Book of Grievances grows
THE Book of Grievances – an opportunity for young people to answer two crucial questions: what is wrong with Camden and how can it be improved – is growing.
For many young people it is the first time they are voicing their wish-lists and daring to dream that the politicians at the Town Hall will listen to them.
The questionnaire – which is available to download or email at www.thecnj.co.uk – was handed out to students with their newsletter at Haverstock School in Chalk Farm on Monday.
Manager of Kentish Town Community Centre, Justina Forristal, has seen lots of youngsters without hope. “A lot of kids don’t have the dreams they should have,” she said. “There seems to be a lack of aspirations among young people.
“Good quality youth services is about showing them what is possible. It’s about not wasting their potential,” she added.
For Jakir Hussain, 20, life has been a series of disappointments since he left school at 17.
Currently without a job, he is looking for work and is sending off 20 applications a week but has had no responses.
Although he studied mechanics for two years, he was unable to pay the fees in the third year, and has been forced to take a year out to save up.
He said: “If I had been told at school to start my course straight away to avoid the fees, I would have done it. I knew what I wanted to do then. But I was never told about it – not even by my college, until it was too late.”
He only found out he would have to pay around £1,000 to complete his course – because he was over 19 – when he turned up at Westminster College to re-enroll.
“Not a single person had a placement (with a business) in my year. My course started with 24 kids but at level two half the class dropped out when they found out they had to pay,” says Jakir, who lives with his mother and siblings in the Peckwater estate in Kentish Town.
He thinks employers should give enthusiastic trainees a chance, and says he would jump at an apprenticeship. “In college you only learn theory,” he says. “With an apprenticeship I’d learn the practical side as well – both is better.”
Through the New Journal, he wants to challenge a garage to take him up. “The most important thing is I can learn quickly and I’ve got experience with tools. I know how to change tyres and exhausts and would like to learn about engines,” he said.
Meanwhile his sister Ruzina Khanom, 21, is also looking for work, but has come up against a brick wall because “employers expectations are too high” she says. Although she has managed to find work in a supermarket, she wants to become an accountant and is training for it, but claims employers always want experience.
She said: “There needs to be more training for people like me that we can do once we graduate. There are not a lot of opportunities in Camden.”
Her younger brother Alomgir Miah, 12, used to go on trips with his local youth club, the NW5 Project in the Peckwater estate, until funding was cut. “We went in one day and they just said we’re not going on anymore trips – we can’t afford it. I was cheesed off. I was annoyed,” he said. With nothing to do now, he sits in the library. “I’d go (on trips) every Saturday if they put them back on. I’d be happy.”
A youth academy at Highgate Newtown Community Centre is also under threat because there are too many youths and not enough facilities, according to Maggie Cosin, former Labour ward councillor for Highgate and Chairman of the centre.
Last Wednesday 200 youths were turned away, she said. “We’re over-subscribed. There’s too many people using this club. We could end up having nothing to give them and may have to close.”
She branded plans to cut funding to youth services “absolutely scandalous”.
Ms Forristal, whose community centre is based in Busby Place, is applying for funding to build another floor. “Currently there’s nothing in the area for 16-18 year-olds – they need a space that is theirs. An extra storey could be a great resource for them.”
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