Mischief Night is the 30th October and is an informal night where young people engage in pranks and minor vandalism. However last night’s mischief night seen 81 young people from across Thornaby, hand in their eggs and partake in a night of MC and grime music.
Five Lamps, Youth Club ‘The Youthy’ hosted the evening with support from Stockton on Tees Borough Council and had special guests attend to deliver the music such as, Chris Sayer, David Hammond, Marlo, Dylan Berry, African Willz, Asky, plus many more.
The night was free of charge for 10-19 year olds and it gave the young people the opportunity to come together, enjoy music and socialise with friends in a safe environment. As well as enjoy the music the young people also had the opportunity to MC with the acts.
The event was organised by Five Lamps and their Youth workers in light of the recent Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) which had been taking place in the local area. At a recent residents group held in Thornaby, 96 residents attended to share their concerns that the Anti-Social Behaviour would increase rapidly in light of ‘mischief night.’
To discourage any ASB activity and to make the streets safer in Thornaby, the Youth Workers engaged with the young people who attend their Youth United Stockton Thursday evening youth session and asked them what they would like to do on mischief night. The majority of young people shared their idea of an MC/Grime music event.
Stockton on Tees Borough council also supported the evening with funding towards the event and also CCTV monitoring, outreach patrol and Intel. They also referred any young people on the streets into the Youthy.
Darren Iveson, Five Lamps Youth Services Manager said;
“It was a great evening and it offered the young people a safe place to go, it also helped to make the streets of Thornaby a safer place as it reduced ASB activity in the local community. Our Youth Workers worked hard to support and engage with the young people leading up to and on the evening of the event and a lot of planning and ideas was from the young people who attend our youth club on a regular basis.”
In response to a need identified by the local community, Five Lamps’ established its own youth service. Our purpose built youth facility ‘The Youthy’ was opened in 2002 and we provide a range of services and activities for young people aged 7 to 19 years.
The Youthy currently delivers three youth clubs- All Stars Youth Club (for young people aged 7 to 10 years), Youth United Stockton (YUS) (for young people aged 11 to 19 years), VIBE (young people with physical and learning disabilities aged 7 to 21 years).