Community
10 August, 2024
Haven for at-risk youth
AN unusual pair are on a mission to change the outcomes for young people at risk in Cairns while also reducing crime with the creation of a youth hub where teenagers can find refuge during the night.
Businesswoman Perri Conti and lawyer and former youth offender Shane Cuthbert have united forces to change the lives of young criminals while also contributing to the reduction of youth crime in Cairns through a more compassionate approach – a late-night youth hub set to be launched in four to six weeks.
After walking the CBD together three nights a week for three months building a rapport with teenagers and children at risk, the launch of a safe haven for the kids was a natural progression.
“I started off as a victim, I had my car stolen and house broken into while sleeping and I was so angry, so what I’d say was – ‘Lock them up’– but when I started to talk to people and educate myself, I actually thought I could help these kids,” Ms Conti said.
“We had been hearing shopkeepers complaining about kids stealing all the time, so we talked to them and then we started approaching kids in the CBD, the naughty ones and just about any kid that was roaming at night.
“Most of the time these kids – they’re 11 to 17-years-old – go into shops in the CBD and they steal food, or things like socks, and I’ve been there, I’ve been in their situation cold and hungry, so I knew there was a better way than the police picking them up,” Mr Cuthbert said.
“We knew we needed a hub,” they said.
Works are currently underway at a Manunda property bought by Ms Conti with the sole purpose of providing a safe haven at night-time for the kids which they believe will also reduce youth crime.
The opening is expected in four to six weeks.
“In the hub we’ll have it all. We’ve got four computers, we’ve got an arts and crafts room, sport, a commercial kitchen, so they can see what they’re good at,” Ms Conti said.
“In the beginning we’ll probably close at 11pm but eventually we’ll have the hub open all night.
“We will create boundaries with them, it’s not about giving them things for free but we also want them to know someone stands up for them. We have received donations, and we have some businesses on board, so they’re giving us food credits and we’ve got loads of people who want to volunteer.
“We also have a van, so we’ll start the night going to the CBD picking up some of the kids and taking them to this safe haven where they can do something productive before they go home or resi,” Mr Cuthbert said.
“We talk to them, we listen to them and, by gaining their trust, we can prevent them from stealing. They have that respect for us now, so these relationships are key,” he said.
“Funding will come later, it’s not about money, it’s about them knowing that someone cares,” Ms Conti said.
In last week’s paper some quotes attributed to Ms Conti on ways to fix the Cairns CBD should have been attributed to Mr Cuthbert. Go online at www.cairnslocalnews.com.au to see the clarifications.
