NEW VENUE FOR LOCAL TEENAGERS
TEENAGERS in Stonehaven looking for a fun and safe place to go on a Saturday night need look no further.
Dunnottar Parish church have started a youth night that takes place every second Saturday at St Bridget's Hall and it has already proven to be a hit with local youngsters with 20 turning up to the night last Saturday.
Youth Convener and organiser of the youth night, Louisa Greenwell said: "The night proved to be quite a success, we had seven boys and 13 girls turn up and they had a great time. It's been well thought out, there's plenty to keep people occupied like karaoke and music. It will take a bit of time but hopefully it will end up being a brilliant night."
Members of the church group managed to secure donations of computers and a loan of three Xboxes for local teens to play on. They also have a selection of board games and other items to keep the group occupied.
Reverend Rosslyn Duncan, of Dunnottar Church, said the main goal was to show young people that there are other things to do on a Saturday night, and to get them off the streets into somewhere safe and fun. She said: "There aren't very many alternative things for young people of that age group to do on a Saturday night in the town. Last week was very good turnout, and hopefully it will spread by word of mouth.
"We provide a variety of things to do and a variety of people to speak with. They can talk to different adults, get to know them and build relationships with them. In society today young people and adults often suffer from a lack of communication, but when you sit down and chat to someone over a board game, or a computer game, and do things you enjoy together, it can result in a positive relationship."
The youth group also has a theme each night, to drive conversations and encourage thought. Rev Duncan said: "There are themes each week to give young people a chance to chat about what they would like to do. It's not a set programme, it's very much a flexible thing. There's no point in saying to young people 'this is what you have to do', you have to listen to them and work out what they are interested in and what they find enjoyable."
The group hopes that its success will continue and that others will be encouraged to join and meet new people they might not have met otherwise. Rev Duncan said: "We hope it's going to be a big success. If the people coming now are having a good time then that's a good enough reason to do it, but we would certainly like more to come."
The group are also trying to encourage more adults to become involved, and are hopeful they can encourage the other churches in Stonehaven to join. Rev Duncan said: "Hopefully the youth night will become a ecumenical thing. We want to try and work together, not as Dunnottar or Fetteresso, but have a unified approach to working with young people. We want to show people the church isn't just about coming to the building on a Sunday morning- we are involved in the community. Our ethos is going to where the people are and not expecting them to come to us."
The youth night is free to anyone who wishes to go, and they will also be provided with free hot chocolate. The night is for people aged 11 to 17, and the next one will take place on Saturday March 6 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm in St Bridget's Hall.
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Weather for Stonehaven
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
