Mach Teen Zone
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Mach Teen Zone |
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Become a member of ecodyfi We want everybody in the Valley to join, so it only costs £1. Drop into Ty Bro Dyfi or send some stamps. The information centre is open Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 3.00. You might even like to get involved in staffing it or in helping to run a project. Please come and see us!
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TZM is a project which aims to provide the young people of Machynlleth with a wheeled sports facility for skate-boarding, roller-blading, bikes etc. It also has a 3-sided shelter adjoining the facility. The shelter was built of sustainable materials by local young people with support from trained carpenters and self-builders. A third element is an adjacent wildlife area, lightly managed for all age groups by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. The whole thing has been built in the Plas behind the playground for older children, in land at the bottom of the football and rugby pitches. TZM is a partnership organisation consisting of local young people and their parents, Celtica staff, Powys Youth Service, Centre for Alternative Technology, Dyfed Powys Police, Machynlleth Town Council, Machynlleth Chamber of Trade and ecodyfi. Young people have been very much involved with planning, designing and fund-raising. A personal history of the project by the voluntary coordinator (Clive Thomas)In the early spring of 2000 whilst working at Celtica in my capacity, as an Operations Manager, Celtica was experiencing a great deal of vandalism. Over the intervening months I tried all ways to stop this mindless vandalism, all to no avail. It became apparent that my clumsy attempts at dealing with this situation, was not working and a new approach was needed. To this end I decided to try and talk to the young people concerned and try and find out why they perpetrated these acts of vandalism. From that initial talk I asked them if they would be prepared to put down in writing what they had spoke of. I was encouraged talking to the young people and quickly realised that most of the vandalism Celtica was experiencing was not malevolent but born of boredom or as they put it: "Nothing to do and nowhere to go." Having received and read the report I decided to contact other people within Machynlleth area who where either experiencing vandalism of their own or who would have a vested interest in the young people of Machynlleth. I also tried to contact people who would cover all aspects of young peoples lives on a day-to-day basis. These people where invited to meeting along with the youths who wrote the report to discuss its content and implications. In that first meeting the youngsters said that all they wanted was somewhere to go where they could "be themselves". Somewhere where adults did not always tell them what to do. From this early beginning Mach Teenzone evolved. From the outset the committee that formed always intended to be driven by the young people themselves. The project, whilst providing a wheeled sports facility and shelter was always intended to be community project promoting self-help, self worth and a vehicle for the youth to feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Initially the feeling from some of the group was that this was something for the boys. This was quickly dispelled stressing the fact that this was a project for all. Letting the group discuss this openly brought their fears into the open and through mutual agreement a plan of action was drawn up. Through each stage of the project the young people have been consulted and had a major involvement in its design and purpose. I asked the Planning Department of Powys County Council to come and speak to the group and explain how the planning procedure works. Fortunately Mr David Ladd was able respond. This covered all aspects of planning including Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities. From this meeting the project Architect and my self sat down with the group and took their newfound knowledge and incorporated it into the proposed plans. The equipment had to be ROSPA approved, lighting was to be introduced, Risk Assessments where made on both the equipment and the activities. Ramps have been installed to allow wheelchair access. The group was encouraged to use their knowledge in a practical application but also to think of their implications, the necessity for these safeguards and the importance of Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities in a social and working environment. The parents of the town where then asked for their response to the sheltered area proposals. Concerns had been expressed as to its position and the fact that it was of a four-sided construction. They where concerned about such things as bullying, underage drinking, drugs and peer pressure. These fears where discussed with the group and a joint decision was made to make the shelter a three sided construction initially, with the facility to add a further side later subject to proper use. It was felt that all round visibility would allow users to feel safer. The shelter itself is to be a self build project with suitable qualified tutors guiding the group. The group was encouraged to come up with its own set of guidelines. These guidelines would be used in the building process but would also dictate the future development of the area. Bullying, underage drinking, drugs, group conflict and many other areas where discussed in general terms and naturally the discussion became more detailed on the areas of special interest to the group. The dangers of substance abuse were discussed as was all areas of anti-social behaviour and its implications in the context of the project. In conclusion, hopefully on completion of the project not only will Machynlleth have a skate park and shelter but also a place to go and meet that is non-confrontational. The experience will facilitate young people's development in learning about independence and socialising, give them a sense of ownership and pride in their neighbourhood and see it as constructive rather than a destructive experience. |
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