YPIP - You've been ASBO'd Story from Chard

CHARD SKATERS GAIN 'REVERSE ASBOS'

November 2007

Three Chard skateboarders were presented with ASBOs this week.

But rather than being anti-social behaviour orders, these certificates were rewards for being all right, sensational, beautiful and original.

Young people from Chard have been working hard to raise £20,000 to buy floodlights for the town's skate park in Lower Henson Park.

The group has already raised £3,000 and has been awarded a £7,000 grant by the Somerset Community Foundation.

Two of the main fund raisers, Dan West and Jack Humphries, both aged 16, gave a presentation about the appeal to the town council recently to raise awareness of their cause.

Sam Wadham, 15, spoke to the community and researched and distributed questionnaires about the skate park.

On Tuesday at the Ghandi restaurant in Fore Street, Chard, all three were presented with their reverse ASBOs, designed to reward good behaviour, by the Frontier Youth Trust.

Chard mayor Martin Wale commended them for their efforts and hopes the council will be able to find some spare funds to give to the lights fund.

He said: "Chard Town Council will do what we can to help the skateboarders. It is important that the lads have something to do.

"I was very impressed with the boys who came to the meeting and presented us with their work, it was great, and we will do everything we can to support them."

Richard Passmore, national youth work development advisor for the FYT, said: "We're really pleased with the progress so far and glad to be awarding these three boys their alternative ASBOs.

"It means we can present them in a positive light as all too often children get negative press."

The alternative ASBOs are a pilot scheme for the FYT, a Christian group that hopes to launch it across the UK.

The Chard Detached Youth Project is supporting the skate park lighting appeal and has enabled the skaters to produce a DVD and conduct research.

It also contributes towards regular meals and meetings, which take place on the first Tuesday of every month.

There are no gallery images associated with this record