This really should not be happening and I am disappointed to hear your comments. Youth Centres run on very small budgets, and perhaps some of the activities in your youth club should emphasise respect for property and facilities. Do you have any thoughts on how that could be done? I would suggest that the young people who cause the damage should be asked to raise the funds to repair it. It is up to each Management Committee to decide how the money should be spent, and the more that has to be spent on replacing damaged equipment, the less there is to provide new facilities.

I have been involved with my local Youth Centre ever since I have been a Councillor, that’s since 1999. It’s one of the meetings that I really enjoy, and encourage the other members of the management committee to involve and listen to the views of the young people who use the Centre. We used to be much better at that, but recently the young people have not come along to our meetings. Your question has prompted me to pick up on that again – thank you.