Making a difference to the people of Medway

David Brake: Show commitment to our young children

Letter posted on Friday, 4 June 2010

Dear Sir, how refreshing to see your “COMMENT” in the Medway Messenger on Friday 21 May 2010 (The Good News about youngsters).

Through the columns of your newspaper you are quite right to identify the negative contribution of some young people to our society. All too often these are the very issues that people will talk about. Fortunately for us, these stories reflect the attitude and behaviour of a very small minority. These are of course issues that need to be addressed and in the main can be dealt with by encouraging greater involvement within the community in the many activities, clubs and facilities that exist for young people.

Equally, experience has shown me that so many people do enjoy hearing, seeing and reading about the good of our young people and their very positive contribution to society. The examples quoted by you; the scout fundraising to attend the next world jamboree, the litter cleaning in school grounds the winner of the creative writing competition are fine examples of “our” young people across Medway.

Like so many others, I also attended the event hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Alan Willett and Mayor of Medway, David Royle to celebrate the achievements of the young people. Shining like a beacon was our very own Medway Youth Parliament displaying their work and with great pride and enthusiasm their achievements. Well done, you did Medway proud.

With the Medway Messenger clearly committed to highlighting the positive side of our young people, I would encourage all those working with young people in Medway to keep sending the stories and where possible, the photographs. Tell the world about our young people. After all, you clearly have the attention of our local paper.

Cllr David Brake Conservative councillor for Walderslade