A Norwich Christian charity was involved in an event for local teenagers to be creative, learn new skills and meet others from their community with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour.

On 26 September, in partnership with Thorpe Town Council and Broadland District Council, East Norwich Youth Project (ENYP) supported a local event in the Thorpe area for young people. The day was designed with young people at heart, drawing together local providers, churches and residents, to deliver an event which included a skate park, fun fair, beauty therapy sessions (hair and nails), information stalls and DJ workshops.

ENYP led an afternoon of DJ workshops in a big purple dome - creating a night club feeling inside - enabling young people of various ages to have a ‘taste’ of Djing and Music Production; giving encouragement for them to develop their skills in the programme already on offer by the project. 

Danny Doran Smith, ENYP Project Director, said “It was a great to work together with different agencies and councils to engage with a wide range of young people from different groups and cultures. Plans are already afoot to run future DJ workshops and music events in the area”.

The event marks a journey of partnership working across the Thorpe area after a period of rising anti-social behaviour at the end of last year. Other initiatives that work alongside this event, for example the ENYP Street Pastors team and outreach sessions by the Matthew Project; have led to a significant decrease in local crime statistics between 2008 and 2009, and bodes well for continued engagement with young people and the community in the future.