PAKT house features revamped teens’ room

Glenfield PAKT (Parents and Kids Together) were able to refurbish the space thanks to the support of Carrickfergus Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

The room was officially opened by PCSP chairman, Councillor Noel Williams, last Thursday evening.

The project has been funded through the PCSP’s Priority Youth Interventions (PYI), which also provided financial support for a number of diversionary activities to Crumlin Road Gaol.

Carrickfergus PCSP receives a small amount of funding from the Department of Justice for PYI work in the borough, which it has been rolling out since 2012.

This has involved the establishment of the Youth Providers Working Group, the result of conversations between Police and PCSP to determine what agencies and youth providers could deliver to tackle anti-social behaviour at hotspots.

Cllr Williams said: “I am delighted PAKT has been involved in our Priority Youth Interventions work this year and I commend the positive work in updating the ‘teenager room’ which has given the young people a focus over the school holidays and has developed new skills.

“As PCSP Chair I fully support the ethos of PAKT which is a grassroots, family initiative. What distinguishes PAKT from any other programme is its concentration on relationships between parents and children within the family unit. From a PCSP perspective, this enhances our on-going work to make our community safer.”

Maurice Shearer, PAKT co-ordinator for Glenfield, Castlemara, Sunnylands and Woodburn, added: “PAKT’s core belief is that stronger families build stronger communities and that by working with families across the borough we can help build bridges and prevent problems arising. This project has shown young people that everyone has a voice and if we can work together we can make the place we live feel safer. ”