Gateshead’s youth have major concerns

National World - LocalTV

The issues of affordability and accessibility of public transport, violent crime, and mental health are all key challenges identified by the youth in the area.

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00:00A recent report from Connected Voice reveals the major concerns facing young people in

00:05Gateshead following focus groups conducted with 225 participants through local volunteer

00:11and charity organisations. The issues of affordability and accessibility of public transport, violent

00:17crime and mental health are all key challenges identified by the youth in the area. Knife

00:22crime in Gateshead, like many other parts of the UK, has been a growing concern, particularly

00:27in recent years. The impact of knife crime on the local community is significant, especially

00:31among young people. Northumbria Police have been actively working to tackle knife crime

00:37in Gateshead and the wider North East. In recent years, the force has implemented various

00:41initiatives to combat the issue with a focus on prevention and enforcement. One notable

00:46initiative involves the combination of intelligence gathering, targeted operations and community

00:51engagement to tackle violent crime. They also introduced knife bins and reported that

00:57over 400 knives have been handed in. Despite these efforts, challenges remain in fully

01:02addressing knife crime in Gateshead. Gateshead Council is making significant efforts to improve

01:06public transport across the borough, focusing on sustainability, accessibility, affordability

01:11and safety, with a combination of great initiatives like electric buses, infrastructure upgrades

01:16and efforts to improve coverage and service frequency. Gateshead mirrors national trends

01:22regarding the mental health of young people, with high levels of anxiety, depression and

01:26stress. However, socio-economic factors, particularly deprivation, may exacerbate these issues,

01:32making the Gateshead's young population more vulnerable than others in more affluent areas.

01:37Access to mental health services remains a critical concern, with many young people reporting

01:42difficulty accessing timely support.

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