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Kids 'banned' from Social Centre

R | 25.03.2004 12:40 | Free Spaces | Repression | Social Struggles | London

The wombles occupied social centre in Tufnel Park was forced to close it's doors to under 16s today....

The daily struggles of the occupied social centre in what used to be the Grand Banks wine bar continued today with a visit from the local school policeman, PC Burns. He insisted that if under 16s continue to be allowed to enter the building, he would have the place shut down with some kind of fast track order by the local authority. This appears to be a boggus threat as the issues raised about insurance would apply to a sixteen year old or an adult just as much as to somebody under 16. However those on shift at the social centre today choose to await legal advice and relunctantly close the doors to under sixteens.

Until now, kids from the local school have come to the centre at lunch time and sometimes after school, to eat lunch, watch videos and hang out. The six formers also use the social centre in increasing numbers; chating, reading, studying and enjoying the freetrade organic zapatista coffee.

Hopefully a bit of research will prove that the threats are not based on law and the social centre will be able to continued to be enjoyed by those under 16 who certainly need such as space as much if not more than others.

If anyone has any legal knowledge about this area of things, please contact the social centre or the wombles.

R

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

what a great place for kids!

25.03.2004 14:17

Keep up the great work!

It is a wonderful place you have there.

un


Keep Tom's Memory Alive

25.03.2004 14:32

Rename The Grand Banks, The Thomas Hurndall Centre, and embarrass the government.

Mrs.Tufnell Park


how "protection " legislation is used

26.03.2004 12:19

a clear example of how "protection " legislation will be used in the future to stop young people excpanding their experience and political development. i think the wombles should be a bit firmer in contesting this, not going along with the ''ban''

the dark one


Social Centres subtle resistance

27.03.2004 13:21

The social centre is not simply giving in to the school and police in the mater of the children, it is taking stock of the situation and while implimenting work around solutions.

Soup and fruit juice was served to in the street outside on friday and the result is that the kids still got access to food and many more people are aware of the centre and whats going on.

The social centre has not yet had definitive legal advice regarding possible children protection orders but expect to get help on monday. there is reason to believe that the threats are basically a toothless bluff and if the advice confirms this then you can be sure that the social centre will resist the unreasonable and prejudiced demands of the school.

However, there are issues to be addressed regarding the kids as the social centre is not a youth club and there is a danger that the other fuctions of the space are harmed by the regular attendance of 50 plus children.

R


in reply to R

27.03.2004 14:27

i certainly appreciate that any political venture will have its complciations. i recall back in the 1980s that one of the projects of the time, one of the "peace centres" was inundated with people who were suffering from extreme mental disorders, and none of the organisers were trained psychotherapists. still, if the black pathers could cater for the impoverished of new york in the 1960s, helping a few teenagers develop an independent political perspective cant be so very difficult, can it ? what was that article about the cancelled mayday saying about apathy ?
all my comment was trying to ppoint out is that the future of state control will not be like the crude totalitarianism of the recent past; itll be steeped in "caring" and "protection" of the "vulnerable" and the "victims". what you face is an advance example of it.

the dark one


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