I was pleased to read the front page article of Bill Shier's suggestion of the factory fun club for the youth of Portishead, and agree, this town is certainly in need of more activity opportunities and a place for the young to feel safe, particularly from

I was pleased to read the front page article of Bill Shier's suggestion of the factory fun club for the youth of Portishead, and agree, this town is certainly in need of more activity opportunities and a place for the young to feel safe, particularly from the local teenage critics society.Having read a recent paper regarding the increasing reports of depression and alcohol related illness in young people in this country, middle class included, I wonder if this proposal could be yet another attempt to clean up our streets and sweep the difficulties the youth seem to be experiencing under the proverbial carpet - out of sight, out of mind.There appears to be a lot of pressure placed on teenagers, both at school and in our society, with their passage of rights seemingly forgotten.I believe inclusion and celebration of youth is needed and certainly no labelling. What is commonly regarded a yob could very well be an abused child with little understanding of love, not very surprising when we consider the lack of acceptance toward differences in this culture - including our own.Could this possibly be a good time, with the annual Children in Need fund-raising in our midst, to give thought to, that we, as adults, have a much greater responsibility and consistent obligation towards our developing young men and women, whether they be our family, friends or strangers walking the street at night, than opening youth centres of sanctimoniously contributing Pudsey money. I hope so.Julia BlakeSomerset Road, Portishead