'New youth club is my safe space,' says teenager

A teenager who says she was previously arrested described a new youth club in Nottingham as a "safe space".

Jessica Berry, who grew up in care, started to come down to the centre in Bilborough in August.

Since accessing the service, the 18-year-old says her life has become "a lot quieter" after her arrest over an alleged assault, which resulted in no further action.

The club, in Birchover Road, opened after the area had been identified by police as a "hotspot for antisocial behaviour".

But the youth club - which runs every Wednesday - is different from the rest of the area, Ms Berry says.

"It's a lot quieter than people think," she said. "This is a safe place for people to go to.

"[It's not] like going into crime, then getting arrested, then ending up in prison for their whole life, basically. It's quiet. It's understandable why people come here - to get away.

"This keeps me away from everything that's going on, like the crime, getting arrested, doing whatever else I'm doing."

Ms Berry, who now lives in semi-independent accommodation in Chilwell, said she had moments when her mental health "had gone downhill".

"And now I'm actually all right," she told the BBC. "I'm sorting myself out."

She said the youth club was a place where she could socialise with volunteers and other young users.

Having launched in July at the Birch Park Community Hub, the service has attracted up to 50 children and teenagers.

The scheme - which runs until next year - is part of the activities taken by police to tackle crime across the city and county.

The club, as well as increased uniformed patrols, are among the actions, which received a £1.5m Home Office grant through the Hotspot Response Fund.

Kylie Beadsworth, 36, lives in Bilborough and says the children are "looked after" at the youth club.

"It's nice because they're all different ages," the mum of four added. "You meet mums and other parents."

Sarah Elliott, 44, has praised the youth club because it is a free service, which gives children "something to do".

"The staff are brilliant," she said. "They are brilliant with the children.

"It's very good for the children and community spirit."

She says her children look forward to coming to the youth club on Wednesday.

"It just takes people off the street. It gives them something to do."

Romel Davis, Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach coordinator, said: "We are finding that in this area specifically there's quite a lot of antisocial behaviour. That's partly due to the fact there's a lack of youth clubs and things for people to do.

"I grew up in the city myself, and I know what that's like when it's quite easy to be drawn into negative influences.

"So the fact that young people don't have a safe space to go to - or not many - and they don't have trusted adults to give them the right advice and support, is directly one of the causes why there's a lot of antisocial behaviour and, in worst case scenarios, a lot of serious youth violence, which is a massive problem."

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