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VIEWPOINT
FOR 19 NOVEMBER 2009
FROM DR RICHARD TAYLOR
I shall never forget
my first meeting as an MP in 2001 with our local police chief at that
time, Superintendent Suzette Davenport.
I asked what she was
doing about punishment for anti-social behaviour among the young
and she gave me a rocket for not approaching the problem from the
correct direction.
"Why
do young people offend ?" she asked; and then gave me the
answer which we should be addressing - boredom with few opportunities
and few ambitions if they have failed at school and have little prospect
for employment.
Some solutions are
appearing and I had the privilege of opening another in
Kidderminster
last Friday. Motov8 is a charity run by Rev Mark Badger
which, with
Kidderminster
College
, runs a motor vehicle training facility for young people outside
mainstream education.
This is an inspired choice considering the interest of young people in
motor vehicles and is already very successful in
Worcester
and
Hereford
. They deliver motor vehicle training to Entry to Employment learners
with the aims of advancing education, reducing crime and anti-social
behaviour, promoting citizenship and increasing life chances, enhancing
self-awareness and improving opportunities for employment.
These are excellent
aims and the unit in
Worcester
has about 180 students and now our own unit is taking off. Motov8
has already won prestigious awards from the Institute of the Motor
Industry.
Many congratulations to Mark, the staff and students for their
achievements, to Kidderminster College for seeing the potential of
Motov8 and to the OFP Road Safety Project, the Community Safety
Partnership and NHS Worcestershire for contributing to the funding.
________
The 15th
RoadPeace European Service of Remembrance for Road Victims was
held at St. Ambrose Church,
Kidderminster
last Sunday.
I felt there were
more people at the service this year presenting dedications on oak
leaves and lighting candles in memory of their lost family members.
Sadly there will have been further fatalities but also more people are
prepared to take this opportunity to support RoadPeace and its
aims.
To find out more
about RoadPeace write to
PO Box 2579
,
London
NW10 3PW
.
A local group meets at Holy Innocents Church Hall in
Sutton Park Road
and the next meeting will be on 10th December at 8.00pm.
________
I have visited two
more of our Primary Schools.
At
Sutton
Park
Primary School
I was delighted to see their new school nearing completion. All are
thrilled with the stunning building, with many design features from the
staff and children, due for occupation on 14th December.
However one of the head teacher’s concerns is that the Nursery
Language Unit for children between 3 and 5 has only 16 places. Children
come from as far away as Tenbury as this is the only unit in a wide area
that provides this desperately needed service.
At
St John’s
Primary School
they are battling to come out of special measures. They are receiving
good support from the Local Authority and walking around the school I
did not get the feeling of a failing school with bright, happy,
well-behaved children. I am facing their sixth form soon and was
threatened with taxing questions at my planned visit.
RT
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