I grew up in Scotland but have lived in London 19 years. I remember when I was a kid we had a local community centre which was cheap to join and had an incredible range of activities (Fencing, Circuit Trainin, Judo, Wrestling, Dance, Disco, Pool, Cafe and more). Although from a poor working class background, I became a keen fencer and eventually coached a junior class. We also had a 'Programme Learning Centre' which used teaching machines to teach all sorts of subjects including languages. This was free to residents of the town and one only had to make an appointment as required. I remember, as a teenager, having a real sense of belonging to a community as a consequence. I remember actually feeling proud of my town.
Now, with yuppie gyms even we adults can't afford, with broken down youth centres and Tony's global capitalism kids struggle with false values, the elevation of selfishness to a virtue and economic exclusion of the least fortunate. Isn't it time we ditched the Thatcherite free-for-all and brought back the idea of Community?
Posted: 2005-08-19 11:46:12