A new youth group on an inner city estate in Camden, London, has been praised for ‘making things happen’.

Actor John Hurt made the comments at the launch on Tuesday night of a new drop-in centre being run by the group.

Gordon Mansions Youth (GMY), whose members live on Gordon Mansions estate, was set up three months ago by members of Camden’s older Fitzrovia Youth in Action charity.

It aims to represent young people in the area and improve inter-generational relations, as well as organise activities for the estate’s young residents.

Mr Hurt, star of films such as Alien, Midnight Express and the Elephant Man, said at the launch: "There are some guys who talk about things, some who say things should be done and there are those who make things happen.

"That’s what these guys are doing. I am 100 per cent behind them," he added.

GMY received a grant from the Youth Opportunity Fund for equipment for its new initiative.

It is set to apply for further funding later this month in order to make the drop-in a weekly service.

A new alliance of drugs charities is urging the government to rethink its drugs policy.

The Drugs and Health Alliance (DHA) is calling for a new emphasis on health, harm reduction and tackling poverty and social exclusion when dealing with drugs.

It argues that the criminal justice-led policies of the last decade have not worked. (more…)

Neighbourhood Watch volunteers work three million days a year in total, a new survey found.

Coordinators for the community safety group spend, on average, two days a month dealing with neighbourhood issues, with tackling anti-social behaviour the most time-consuming task.

Improving the local environment has become a job for 63 per cent of volunteers while 37 per cent have dealt with parking and traffic problems and 34 per cent with burglaries.

The poll was carried out by neighbourhoodwatch.net to mark the 25th anniversary since the first UK Neighbourhood Watch group was formed.

Roy Rudham, chair of the UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust, said: "The role of Neighbourhood Watch in the community has changed significantly since it began 25 years ago.

"The old image of Neighbourhood Watch as a curtain-twitchers’ charter is a long way wide of the mark.

"In today’s Britain groups of neighbours are making their voices heard on a range of issues that affect their local communities," he added.

The first Watch group was set up in 1982 in the village of Mollington, Cheshire, in response to a spate of burglaries in the area.

Now six million households are members, according to Home Office figures.

Age Concern has launched a new scheme to enhance IT opportunities for older people.

The Digital Inclusion Network aims to give more older people the chance to learn how to use information and communication technology. (more…)

The Hansard Society has appointed a new chief executive.

The non-partisan political research and educational charity has announced that Fiona Booth will take its top position. (more…)