Community
2010 Dart Music Festival Youth Project
Over the last 12 years the Dart Music Festival, held in May each year, has become an established event on the Dartmouth calendar and attended by visitors from as far a field as USA, Europe and New Zealand. It is accepted and well received by the local community as a time to celebrate a huge diversity of musical genres and local talent.
Unfortunately over recent years there has been a tendency for problems to arise mainly from under age drinkers attending the festival and violence between certain 'gangs' of youths from around the wider area.
Following 2009's very successful event the DMF committee decided to take action to try to prevent problems with the youth from escalating in the future. Working with Sgt Iain Simmons and Matt Pink, Area Youth Worker, we have firstly drawn up plans to provide a 'Youth Project' to be included in the 2010 Dart Music Festival. Secondly, the committee launched a new Music Foundation to benefit local young people.
The Festival Youth Project (FYP) will need funding and support from an outside body as we are a 'not for profit' organisation. An overview of the event is attached.
We feel that this will address the following issues:
1. Reduce the number of bored and misbehaving youngsters on the streets of Dartmouth by providing a safe, controlled area of interest and activity.
2. Enjoyment and achievement will be provided by booking local bands to entertain local youngsters
3. The event will be free (or nominal £1 entry) so access is open to all targeted audience
4. Using young volunteers in addition to Youth Service staff and volunteers adds a positive contribution to the event.
5. Local youngsters health will be protected against the dangers or alcohol and drugs by providing a safe controlled environment
This inclusive development by the Dart Music Festival will encourage the youth who currently feel somewhat alienated to become part of the whole event.
It is planned to measure feedback from all participating services and young attendees in order to assess the effectiveness of the project.
The DMF committee strongly feel that this project would not have been developed without the brilliant ideas and support of both Sgt Iain Simmons and Matt Pink
The DMF committee therefore hope that the Dartmouth Town Council will share our views and enthusiasm to ensure it happens by funding the FYP in 2010.
Festival Youth Project Aims
* Separate marquee on Coronation Park for 13 > 17 yr olds
* No Alcohol allowed
* Controlled and staffed by Matt Pink and the Area Youth Team
* Local police involvement
* The whole area fenced and manned throughout the event
* Proof of ID & age entry required
* Ticketed event only ? free or nominal fee entry TBA
* Area Youth service resources available throughout the event
* Bands and music booked through Matt Pink
* In addition Area Youth service staff and volunteers on duty on the streets
* Devon EMS in attendance for first aid.
* Close liaison with Torbay Youth service
* Advice, support and help available throughout
It is vital for the Dart Music Festival to stress that we want this new initiative to work so that young people from the area get to enjoy the music and atmosphere of the event within a safe, alcohol free environment. Somewhere you can visit and not get involved or caught up in any trouble.
This designated area within the Dart Music Festival will welcome all teenagers from 13 ? 17 years of age, provided they understand in advance that strict rules apply, namely: It will be a ticketed event ? NO TICKET, NO ENTRY, you will need to show proof of age and ID even with a ticket, there will be no alcohol allowed and you may be searched. If you are carrying alcohol it will be confiscated and your ticket will be taken from you, so be warned.
Youth Service staff and volunteers will be on duty at all times and so will the police. To make this a safe area where you can enjoy the music.