v: Lets not allow the riots to overshadow the positive contribution of young people
Thursday, 11 August 2011 2:50 PM
Terry Ryall, chief executive of v: The criminal behaviour we have witnessed this week has been shocking and incredibly worrying. However, we must resist the temptation to make snap judgements about the whys and wherefores of the riots.
The first task is to restore public order. Once calm has returned, we must take time to think carefully about what may have caused these young people to take such extreme action and, crucially, what needs to be done to prevent it happening again.
Throughout this, we must remember that the vast majority of young people were not involved in the riots. Those who helped to clean up the mess far out-numbered those who caused it. We at v know thousands of young people who are working for the good of their communities every day. We cannot allow these events to overshadow the positive contribution that these and so many young people make to our society.”
This is the reaction of just a couple of young people who have been in touch with v:
“What people have been doing in the riots is making the public look down on us. We’re planning a social action project working with homeless people. By doing something good like that we hope we can change the way communities think of youth and build their good will.” –Richmond Amoah, who is on the NCS Summer of a Lifetime programme
“Perhaps if they felt a greater part of their community they would be less inclined to destroy it and the lives of others in that community because they’d realise the greater impact of their actions. If the destruction was directed towards their belongings and home, they’d feel upset too.” – Tasha Wharton, via v‘s Big Society’s Big Mouth forum
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