From Slateford Green to the Big Screen with community DVD

Edinburgh’s young people will appear on the silver screen to share their views and experiences about a local Youth Café Scheme in a documentary style DVD.

The Youth Café at Dunedin Canmore’s Slateford Green Community Centre opened over a year ago as the result of a local ‘Problem Solving Partnership’ (PSP) made up of representatives from Dunedin Canmore Group, City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian & Borders Police, Salvation Army and the Slateford Green Residents Committee.

In response to a number of serious anti-social behavior issues caused by young people in the area a strategy was developed to try to engage the young people.

Over the past year it has become extremely popular, opening for two nights a week and attracting an average of up to 50 young people per night. Last month Dunedin Canmore group commissioned the production of the DVD to highlight how much of an impact the Youth Café has made to young people and to the local community.

Multimedia Company Hee Haw filmed the young people during a typical evening taking part in creative activities provided by local community arts organisation, Impact Arts. When interviewed about the Youth café one young male explained “I didn’t know that many people on the first night but it was great. There were plenty of play stations and I liked the break-dance guy who was there and all the other stuff like spray painting, graffiti and the computers.”

Youth Worker Beth Macrae said, “The Youth Café helps to give young people positive steps towards adulthood where they can build respect for each other and themselves. We always consult them on what activities they would like to do and so far we have had taster sessions in learning to DJ, tile art, badge making, jewellery making, hip hop dance, art canvassing, drumming and mosaic sculpting.”

The cast list for the DVD not only included the young people themselves but interviews from local policeman Paul Scott, Shelia Duncan from Edinburgh City Council, Youth Worker Beth Macrae, employees of DCG and MSP Sarah Boyack.

Ms Boyack’s interview took place at Holyrood Scottish Parliament where young people put forward a few questions. More importantly, ‘would Ms Boyack ever appear on Big Brother?’ Although her answer may have disappointed them, Ms Boyack had nothing but praise for the Youth Café project, hailing it a necessary and vital lifeline for the development of young people in the community.

Ewan Fraser, Chief Executive Dunedin Canmore Group said, “The Youth Café Scheme has been a great example of local community partnerships working together. The DVD has really given the young people an opportunity to express how much the Youth Café means to them.

“The positive impact it has had on the local community has been remarkable and the enthusiasm shown by the young people is a clear indication that they need to be more engaged in community activities where they can be occupied and use their minds creatively. Edinburgh would definitely benefit from more projects like this one.”

Grant support from the Scottish Government’s ‘Wider Role Fund’ has been key to the delivery of the Youth Café since its opening over a year ago, however more funding will need to be secured this year to allow the Youth Café to continue its current format/success and to allow it to expand and evolve in the future.

The DVD will be ready for release at the end of March in time for an ‘Open Evening’ the Youth Café is hosting on Thursday March 26th from 5pm to 7pm. The young people along with Impact arts are currently working on a community art wall that will be unveiled by MSP Sarah Boyack at the event.