A woman who runs a charity in north Bootle close to where a boy was stabbed has said more should be done to tackle the root causes of gang culture in the area.
Bootle charity Ykids is based at the bottom of Linacre Lane, just a few hundred yards from the scene of last week’s stabbing when a group of boys were chased into a busy shop. A 15-year-old boy was treated in hospital for a small knife wound to his side. He was later released to recover at home. CCTV footage from the scene suggested a local gang might have been behind the attack.
Claire Morgans, the charity’s boss, spoke to the ECHO about the challenges they faced working in an environment where dangerous gangs operated.
She argued the real issue in north Bootle was encouraging young people not to join street gangs in the first place, rather than in taking on gangs themselves.
She also pointed to a legacy of ‘broken promises’ over the last 14 years which had contributed to the area’s problems.
Claire said: “We believe in fighting the root cause of why young people join gangs in the first place rather than taking on the gangs.
Watch: CCTV shows toddler caught up in the middle of bloody knife attack
“Young people need status, value, a sense of belonging and hope they can be somebody and matter. Negative attention is better than no attention. We can’t just write off young people.
It’s easy to assume Bootle is a bad place when you hear reports such as the recent incident of a young man being stabbed in shop.
“Our hearts go out to him and his family.”
Claire told the ECHO that Ykids was now raising cash to develop a new community centre just yards from the scene of last week’s stabbing.
She said: “We are now raising money to open a new youth and children’s centre just yards from where this incident took place. We have been gifted a 25 year lease from Sefton Council on the former Orrell Libary. The building needs extensive work which will cost around £300,000. We are about half way there.”
She acknowledged the area was deprived, but said things had been made worse due to a number of ‘broken promises’ from politicians over the last 14 years.
Claire said: “This area is one of the most deprived in the country, according to the latest indices of multiple deprivation from 2015. It is characterised by high unemployment, poor health, low self esteem and lack of opportunities.
“Over the last 14 years we have seen many resources being taken out of the community. Due to a change in government many promises made about regeneration and new community centres have been broken. And government cuts mean councils can no longer provide resources that had been previously available.”
Ykids, which was founded 14 years ago, works with thousands of young people every year in the area. Claire said that 30% of their volunteers grew up in the area, and once took part in the projects which they now provide. She added: “Now our youth workers are giving back to the community they are part of.
“We have seen young people come off drugs, leave gangs and improve their mental and physical health. We give young people somewhere they can belong, and we do it all on a shoestring budget.”
Claire also said the current culture of ‘poverty tourism’ distorted the true picture of what was happening in areas such as Bootle.
She added: “We live in a culture of poverty tourism. People see things on television and then condemn people as ‘scroungers’. While that might be true of a few, I know of single mums working four jobs who rely on food banks to feed their kids.
“Sometimes its easy to see why young people get disillusioned and turn to crime and anti-social behaviour.”
Councillor Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for communities and housing, said: “We are committed to creating safe and stronger communities across the whole of the borough.
“Everyone has their part to play in this and by actively working with our many partners we are determined to make these areas safe for everyone.
“If anyone does have any information then I would encourage them to speak to the police and bring those responsible to justice for the benefit of everyone.”
Anyone with information about criminal or antisocial behaviour in their area can call Merseyside Police on 101 or the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.
