By Keir Mudie

Last updated 08:19, Friday, 30 May 2008

Academy sponsor Brian Scowcroft is the driving force behind multi-million pound plans to tackle youth disorder in Carlisle.

Brian Scowcroft

Mr Scowcroft, chief sponsor of the Richard Rose Academy, lobbied the Government to bring one of five new ‘youth zones’ to the city.

He was impressed by a scheme he visited in Lancashire earlier this year and determined that a similar model could work in Carlisle.

If plans are given the go-ahead, £4m of funding would be used to set up a youth zone. The main base would be at the Richard Rose Central Academy on the former St Aidan’s site.

Mr Scowcroft said: “This has been a project that we have been thinking about for some time.

“We believe that it will be useful in dealing with some of the issues that we are currently seeing highlighted in the press – it is not in reaction to the recent press coverage.

“A shortage of youth facilities has been a national problem for some time and the successful set-up, development and operation of the Bolton Lads and Girls Club has long been my inspiration for potential spin-off activities for the academies and the communities they serve.

“However, we are about to go through a local consultation process on exactly what provision is required, which will involve input from all sectors, most importantly the young people who the facility is aimed at.”

The youth zone would also have satellite facilities at the Richard Rose Morton site in the west of Carlisle – a move welcomed by community groups and residents.

Councillor Joe Hendry, who represents Yewdale, said: “I think everyone who lives in the west of the city would welcome the news.

“Chasing children round the estate is not the solution.

“We know that there are large groups of youngsters who gather at places like Hutton Way shops and Orton Grange. We need to provide young people with alternatives – different things for them to do.

“There is a mobile service that is provided by the Living Well Trust that comes every Tuesday. It is a massive success.

“There can be 40 kids waiting to use that bus – they are crying out for something like that. They get to use the computers on the bus, chat to their mates and have somewhere safe and supervised to go.

“The youth zone would certainly give us something like this – and will help to co-ordinate all the other groups in the area.

“It is important that the young people are properly consulted and get to have their say – these projects work best from the roots upward.”

The Bolton model on which the Carlisle youth zone would be based includes:

•  Gym and sports hall

•  Performing arts studio

•  Boxing gym

•  All-weather football pitch

•  Cyber café

The Government has already agreed funding to create five youth zones, based on the Bolton Lads and Girls Club model that impressed Mr Scowcroft.

The Academy board has entered into a partnership with On Side North West, a new charity established specifically to develop world-class youth facilities (youth zones) in the North West.

On Side, which is funded through the North West Development Agency, will soon be bidding for upwards of £4m of funding from the Big Lottery Fund to develop the youth zone.

The Richard Rose Federation, with a combination of two academies and a youth zone, will be one of the first in the country.

An overview of the youth zone will be presented at a strategy day on Monday, June 9 at the Sands Centre, Carlisle, with guest speaker Hazel Blears MP.