Parents in Hamilton Parish no longer have to worry about what their kids are up to thanks to a pilot programme which is helping to combat risky behaviour in young people.

A community wide initiative known as PACT is building community spirit and setting up community programmes to aid youth development, according to Community Development Officer Romel Woolridge.

Ms Woolridge is working with parishes through the PACT initiative, and told that this year Sandys and Pembroke are the next two parishes which will be introduced to the programme.

A group of residents have formed the Hamilton Parish PACT group which works as an advisory to the parish council on issues in their neighbourhood. Ms Woolridge said they also work to reduce risky behaviour and devise strategies to buffer children and adolescents from exposure to vandalism, drugs, alcohol and anti-social behaviour.

Citizens in the parish have also been identifying existing programmes they can support through schools and churches. Currently PACT will be supporting a reading recovery programme at the Francis Patton school. The group has trained bartenders at different venues in a programme offered by CADA to reduce the use of alcohol in under-age drinkers

Ms Woolridge said the programme also hopes to set up a youth centre in each of the Island?s nine parishes to further support healthy youth development. Hamilton Parish also runs a Neighbourhood Watch and regular social events to keep people in the area in touch. A newsletter for youth and adults will also aim to increase communication and increase attendance at these events. ?This is a long-term programme, you won?t see the results immediately but it is designed to be preventative. I think what happens is that its difficult in certain areas such as Pembroke where violence may be right there, they want to get to the problem with intervention, this programme deals with the problem by taking preventative steps,? she said. Meetings are led by Cathy Gosling and Richard Winchell and they can be reached on 293-0608.