Semilong Northampton From A Young Person’s Perspective

Differing Viewpoints of Semilong Life

We all know that Semilong Northampton is a great area to live, yes? However, from who’s perspective is that coming from? Every member of our community here can have a different view point in regard to what it is like to live in Semilong Northampton today. It’s not a matter of one view is right or ones wrong, its that people are faced with different challenges and circumstances and sometimes those differing aspects to life here only present themselves to a different social demographic, younger generations or the elderly, property owning or those in social housing, and so on. People can see community life totally different solely because they are coming from a different angle.  

SEMILONG.ORG The Neighbourhood Website For Semilong Northampton

SEMILONG.ORG accepts that everyone is different and comes from differing perspectives. That is why we made clear at the start that we welcome articles from everyone in our community. This way we are as inclusive as possible and it’s because of this inclusivity, we continue to highlight issues which are truly relevant to everyone in our Semilong Northampton neighbourhood.  

A Child Of Their Time

In a lot of ways, this article has been the hardest one we have published. SEMILONG.ORG discussed it at length and everyone was agreed that it should be published, though edited to protect the original authors identity. The reason for this would become clear as you read it. The article sheds light on the problems that young people are faced with in Semilong Northampton, perhaps in a way no other article we have read..or written has. Every adult in Semilong Northampton should read this as well as those who decide on services for our neighbourhood. The author speaks about fear in the Semilong Northampton neighbourhood, of distrust of the Police, of a street code, of feeling wronged by inequality of services offered and of the desire to see our neighbourhood improved. The author comes across as very much a ‘child of their time’ and yet insightful and community minded. Other than the edits to protect the author’s identity, we present it below exactly as sent to us, so please make allowance for the grammatical errors etc. What the author has written is a lot more important than how it has been written.  

Semilong Northampton From A Young Person’s Perspective

Semilong Road (in Semilong Northampton)

 im just hearing of so much trouble around here, its frustrating you know! the kids are bored senseless round here because there is nothing for them too doo, seeing and knowing people m age robbing things and generally now hanging in big groups because its so unsafe round here for young people! and we have to find somethinmg to do something!! why dont the council stop wasting money on fountains and bring some life to this run down, drug infested and full of trouble which police claim has gone down! where are they? its all behind closed doors bring it too light instead of covering it up!!     

 Some people are respectful around here yes they are, but thats the older ones pal! If i am honest like marmite you either love it or hate in my context black and write writing people are very worried nowa days, at night ok tell me this how many do you see walking around on there OWN in semilong at night?  HARDLY 5-10 why? because people seem to now realise be street wise there street wise because they know the dangers of living with drugs, prostitution and rampant trouble not just young people but people in general in this area! i believe today in this part of the world the police are not willing to try and sort things out? because they know there is no way things can get sorted!    

As your say on people afraid too say hey why? there are worser places in this world that infact even withing our region that are worser off but still are polite? why? this area needs help, prostitution, drugs lead to bigger and serious crimes! we know for a fact that sooner or later the guns will be back its general street thinking! if theres drugs, there is prostitution if there is them two it will most probably lead up to gun crime! we all know for well things like this has happened, but if you dont mind me asking? how come other nationalties have clubs, special things going on for them than rather for the young ones growing up here? constantly wanting to do something? wanting to feel safe and happy in there community grow up and see and tell there children “that was such a nice place had its problems but the community helped us make you!”
 i know i want to say that but if i do i would be lying through my back teeth!!! this area is so diverse from  back grounds, crime, peoples interests, yes i understand you wont be able to satisfy every bodys needs but use the money we pay for to do things to make a CHANGE! 

The Alliston Gardens Youth & Community Centre, does that help with providing things for young people to do? Can that Centre be improved?
but we have too pay! my short banswer we live in a economic downturn at the moment we or there family cannot aford it money is scarce why pay for them to have fun! do things like community get togethers get people together young, old, and different races!     

What else do you think there should be in Semilong for young people to do?
TO do some thing they want too do, why dont yoiu get a few people from semilong and ask them, they are the people who live here! people from abington have it all!  

The Police say crime here is falling. The trouble and drugs you hear about, is it reported to the Police or publicised at all? (If not, why do you think that is?)
crime here ok falling! yes falling because noone will tell the police, last week i saw [EDITED] getting there head kicked in [EDITED] with his face punched in screaming and everything, not one of them i heard get the police! does that answer your question? we want this place cleaned and made a different place! ok another one from my experience!  

 recently was going for a jog ok, turned the corner [EDITED] , walked up there 3 lads and one dog tried to attack me, they asked for my phone, and wallet, i punched and kicked, but i did not give them it this happened before i even said yes!  i didnt call the police because i knew for a fact a word of mouth and ear to hear gets around like fire around here if someone is hit from this area the people who hit them is like a heat seeking missile that person will be sorted out one way or another, in all honesty only a few klnow what happened but all i know is that 2 of them is no longer coming down here.     

How long have you lived in Semilong? In the time that you have been here, has the area improved, stayed about the same or deteriorated? i used to live in [EDITED], a big place, full of different things but only time someone is involved in trouble up there is because there are underneath reasons, i am a english speaking lad now, but i tend to go down too london and even some people from there have heard of places like spencer,kingsheath, semilong, blackforn etc so you see people here of things what impression is that for this town? the area could do with in honesty  A MAJOR EFFORT    

 Are some areas of Semilong worse than others? If so where? (If some areas are worse than others, are these areas where the groups of young people hang out, or where there are more drugs?
are some areas worse then others? this world is competition, people from one area doesnt take over other parts of his area,  i think in all honesty the park, both, coop especially, st andrews road, mill lane, lower addelaide street, and in fact all along there, the asians groups are very racist and when we call them something there well against it? why? its not just young people let me shoot that out there right now, its people in general they fear, they will fight, sometimes with stupid effects, drugs are constantly being offered to me , you know justb the other week i was [EDITED] going home [EDITED] was selling coke down our area any drugs gone down? this lad was only 15? any answers?  

So, what are your thoughts on this? Are any of you shocked by how young people..or this young person feels? Do you agree or disagree with his views? Have Police lost the trust and respect from the young generation in our community? Could money be better spent on our communities instead of on fountains for the Town Centre? Let us know…