XN000022-1982-05-08 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1982

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*SUPPORT FRONT-LINE PEOPLE IN YOUTH WORK+ CALL

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, TODAY (SATURDAY) CALLED FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR +FRONT-LINE WORKERS+ IN THE FIELD OF WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION'S KAI TAK OUTREACHING TEAM BASE AND FU SHAN CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRE AT FU SHAN ESTATE IN WONG TAI SIN.

+WE CAN DO THIS BY SHOWING THAT WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THE PROBLEMS THEY FACE, PARTICULARLY THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY SHORTAGES OF TRAINED STAFF AND THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND TO THE WAY IN WHICH SERVICES ARE DELIVERED, HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR SAW CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRES AS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MEET, DEVELOP MUTUAL INTERESTS AND WORK IN GROUPS IN AN ATMOSPHERE FREE FROM THE PRESSURE

AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE SCHOOL SETTING.

+THE COMMITMENT OF STAFF IN THESE CENTRES, HE

SAID, IS CRITICAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMMES AND IN MAKING USE OF THESE OF PROGRAMMES TO DEVELOP IN YOUNG PEOPLE A SENSE OF INVOLVEMENT AND IDENTITY WITH THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE.+

REFERRING TO OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK, MR ALLEYNE SAID THE AIM OF THIS APPROACH WAS TO TRY AND REACH THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ATTRACTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MORE FORMAL AND ORGANISED TYPES OF ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRES.

+OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORKERS ARE EXPECTED TO GO INTO THE PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, GAMES HALLS AND FAST-FOOD SHOPS WHICH ARE THE MODERN DAY HAUNTS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.

MANY OF THEM ARE AT RISK IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE BORED, AIMLESS, PERHAPS DISILLUSIONED WITH THEIR PRESENT LIFE STYLE AND FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES AND ARE THEREFORE IN DANGER OF FALLING INTO BAD COMPANY AND POSSIBLY DEL INQUENT BEHAVIOUR.

MR ALLEYNE SAID OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORKERS MUST HAVE SPECIAL QUALITIES TO WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO, IN MANY CASES, WERE SUSPICIOUS, UNCO-OPERATIVE AND NEGATIVE IN THE IR ATTITUDES TO THE WORKERS.

A+FOR THIS