Caister youth club bid after anti-social behaviour reports

Following reports of underage drinking, loud music close to people's homes and abusive language, CCTV cameras and police patrols have been stepped up around the King George V Playing Field on Allendale Road.

PC Chris Martin, beat manager for Caister and Coastal Villages, has been making regular rounds of the area to help deter anti-social behaviour.

Russell Ray with PC Chris Martin by the dugout on Caister's King Goerge V Playing Field. Picture - Norfolk Constabulary (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

The chairman of the Caister Playing Field Management Committee Russell Ray said PC Martin "has been a brilliant help".

"He's been down here most nights," Mr Ray said.

"And we've started this campaign to make anyone acting anti-socially aware that we are watching them and we're not standing for this sort of behaviour."

READ MORE: Thumbs up from members of Gorleston's "mucky" youth club

The former ATC hut on Edinburgh Close has been converted into a community hub. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

However, Mr Ray said the bigger picture was that "kids have nothing to do". 

"We don't want to lambast teenagers for the sake of it," he said.

"I've spoken to some of the kids in the past, and it seems clear they just want somewhere to meet their mates and play music."

Mr Ray plans to have youth club members paint a mural for the village on the wall inside the ATC hut. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Mr Ray and volunteers have recently converted the former Air Training Corps (ATC) hut on Edinburgh Close into a new hub called the Caister Community Spoon.

Walls have been knocked down, new lights have been installed, and the former ATC hut is already hosting sports groups, social gatherings and the Men's Shed.

This is the hut's best feature. Easy access to the playing field, Mr Ray said. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Mr Ray hopes a designated space for young people will be open at the Caister Community Spoon later this year.

"Since the old youth club closed in 2011, kids have had nothing to do and nowhere to go," Mr Ray said.

"The Spoon is a solution to help everyone in the village. But most importantly, the youth."

The pool table inside the ATC hut is the same table once used by the former Caister Youth Club, which closed in 2011. The pool table has been resurfaced. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

The ATC hut is also home to the village's Food Larder scheme, as well as indoor sports sessions, a cinema club and children's parties.

For more information, visit Caister Community Spoon on Facebook.