Angus youngsters are taking matters into their own hands to rid their town of anti-social behaviour.
Teenagers in Brechin have trained to become youth leaders and have secured premises to host activities and provide support to young people in the town to keep them out of trouble.
Organisers started with meetings in Maisondieu Primary School last year and this week will get the keys to their own High Street premises.
They have six months to make things work, and are urging youngsters from primary seven to 18 years old to get on board.
Mother of three Jo Keith, supported by fellow parent Laura Duffy, came up with the idea of providing a meeting point for school pupils and those who have moved on to employment and college.
Street Games was initially set up to allow those involved to play sports a couple of times a week.
Eight of those attending have now trained to be team leaders.
It is hoped the new group, which recently secured £3,000 in funding from The Power of Youth, a partnership between Angus Council and Angus Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, will send a more positive message to the community often blighted by anti-social behaviour.
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Some of the town’s youngsters were criticised earlier this year when Brechin Cathedral was vandalised in two separate attacks in 48 hours.
Vandals scratched a hate-filled, anti-religious message on the walls of the historic building in the wake of a previous day’s swastika attack.
Jo, a professional photographer, said: “As a mum I thought this is an age group that is missed and has been given quite a hard time.
“We were all young once, sometimes we all did stupid things.
“I felt Brechin in particular has not been supported and the young people have not been made to feel they are part of the community.
“There are a lot of good kids here, some make a bad choice but adults also make bad choices.
“Some of these kids have a lot of other things going on. The adults stand back and let the team leaders run the evenings and events.
“We are on hand if they need our support and to steer them on the right track, but they set their own agenda.”
The leaders hope to organise a variety of events, including talks about careers, exams, social media and health issues
They are decorating ‘The Lounge’ in time for an open evening on Saturday from 6.30pm until 8.30pm.
Parents, carers and young people are invited to see what is on offer.
