New plan to tackle Westhoughton anti-social behaviour

Westhoughton town councillors are looking to pilot a new scheme to empower and mentor young people in a bid to turn them away from anti-social behaviour.

Liberal Democrat run Westhoughton Town Council is set to consider a proposal from the Greater Manchester based charity Stride for a pilot scheme in Westhoughton.

Stride is focussed on empowering, developing, and mentoring the youth in Greater Manchester.

Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson said: “We were very impressed by the information supplied to us by Stride about the work they do in other parts of Greater Manchester, particularly in Tameside where they had worked with young people who were struggling and had ended up being involved in anti social behaviour.

“The town council is committed to providing more support for young people. We know that anti-social behaviour has become a problem in Westhoughton, so we’re hoping this new initiative will help to give young people more purpose and focus.”

Aaron Willis, CEO of Stride and a former Westhoughton resident, said: “Many of the children we work with are living in deprived areas or are involved in anti-social behaviour.

“Over the past year we have been working closely with Greater Manchester Police in Manchester and our We Move programme has seen us mentor youths in Moss Side and Tameside and have been an amazing intervention for these children to look at other alternatives to crime and general anti-social behaviour.

“Due to the huge success of this programme, Greater Manchester Police has requested Stride to work in Rochdale, Bury, and Bolton.

“As an ex resident of Westhoughton I have seen first hand the increase in anti social behaviour and the rise in vandalism and drug use in the town and I would love the opportunity to explore the option of Stride becoming a major intervention for the youths in Westhoughton.

“Our mentors are extremely passionate and highly trained in the most extreme safeguarding cases. Also, our mentors have also come from deprived areas, this is a huge benefit simply because they remain in touch with the community.”

The charity’s mentoring system gives one to one interaction with young people and gives them alternatives to crime. They also help to assist with any mental health issues or family issues these individuals may be going through.