A six-point battleplan costing $750,000 has been set up to fight youth violence.

The initiative, launched last night by Youth and Sport Minister Tim Smith, includes a new community centre at historic Springfield house in Somerset.

Special workshops will be set up all over the Island to teach parenting skills to absent fathers.

And new funding grants for sports clubs will be brought in to cover insurance costs and free up thousands of dollars for activities.

Extra money will also be sidelined by Government to pay for more sports officials to be trained after a recent shortage of football referees.

Under the plans, Mr. Smith said a Bermudian version of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards scheme would be started to honour youngsters dedicated to community service.

And there will be a youth activities month with special events and fairs every year.

Mr. Smith, who revealed the proposals at Sandys Rotary Club, said the aim was to encourage youngsters to steer clear of crime.

He told The Royal Gazette : "This is a plan to tackle youth violence and the country's perception of young people.

"The issues of youth violence and the challenges faced by young people have been at the forefront during the last few months.

"I believe youngsters do face some genuine challenges and our perception of them is sometimes quite negative.'' The Minister dismissed claims that American-style gangs were now terrorising Bermuda.

But he said: "What we have in Bermuda are a few young people who are thugs and who are prone to violence.

"Some of these young people are simply thugs who are clever enough to camouflage their criminal behaviour by coercing others to join them.'' Mr. Smith said his Ministry gave just over $1 million of its annual $10 million budget to youth and sports organisations.

And he said the new $750,000 initiative would show a "commitment to Bermuda's young people''.

He added: "We are budgeting hundreds of thousands of dollars for these proposals and we want people to realise we are taking the problems seriously.

"We will take over the Springfield National Trust property in Somerset and we are investing around $500,000 on converting the building into a community centre.

"Work will start soon and the centre should be open by the end of this year.'' He said facilities at the 1720s house would include a young person's day-care centre, basketball court, counselling rooms and a senior citizens' room.

And Mr. Smith said sports clubs would now be encouraged to apply for specialist grants for insurance costs and associations could lobby for funding to train referees and umpires.

The Minister added: "We believe tens of thousands of dollars are tied up in insurance costs and diverted away from activities.

"That's why we've arranged a series of meetings with the insurance industry to see if bills can be sent directly to us.

"All sports require skilled officials and competent officials raise the standard of the sport and quickly earn the respect of players, particularly young players.'' He said the National Youth Council would develop a new National Youth Community Service Award Scheme.

"This is based on an American model,'' added Mr. Smith. "It's similar to the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards in the UK but also quite different.

"Young Bermudians serve as role models by making significant contributions to improving their communities and their Country.

"We believe promoting this will encourage more youngsters to become adult volunteers and more connected with their community.'' Smith has plan to stop violence A fair and specialist events will be organised during an annual youth activities month, he added.

And Fathering for Fathers workshops will be organised through community centres to encourage absent dads to devote more time to their children.

"This may help more people become better fathers,'' said Mr. Smith. "This would give them greater respect from young people and make children feel less alienated.'' Nightclub owners have already launched a crackdown on youth violence by starting a series of meetings with Police.

And both Government and Opposition politicians have called for a major Island-wide conference for young people.

CRIME CRM YOUTH YTH