Youth Council team takeover at Chronicle (...for a day!)

FOUR members of Oldham Youth Council helped report the news as well as make it as part of the national 11 Million Youth Takeover Day.

Youth Council chairman Mohammed Adil and council members Chantel Birtwistle, Becca Dale and Charlotte Kilroy saw at firsthand how the newspaper comes together.

The Youth Council had been given two pages in Friday’s Chronicle in which they chose to report on issues such as E-safety, the image of youth in the borough and the Kerrching youth opportunity fund.

They were also able to gain an exclusive interview with Oldham Council’s new chief executive, Charlie Parker.

Chantel worked with the page designers to ensure that the pages made the tight morning deadline while Moham-med was at the Trinity Hollinwood print centre to see the first papers come off the press and into the vans for distribution.

Meanwhile Becca and Charlotte became Chron-icle reporters and joined Deputy News Editor Janice Barker and photographer Tony Miller on covering a new spate of vandalism at Hollinwood rugby league club.

Then it was back to the office to write up their version of events before working with the design team to put together a report on their day in the spotlight.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity for us all to see just what goes into a newspaper. It was full of highs and very memorable,” said Charlotte.

Becca added: “We’ll be giving feedback to the Youth Council and also putting something on our OYC website www.oyweb.info.”

Chairman Mohammed, known to all the Youth Council as Eddy, thanked the Chronicle for giving the youth of Oldham a voice.

“We hope more young people will be inspired to to do positive things for the town and themselves,” he added.

Chronicle Editor Jim Williams praised the Youth Council for all their efforts in producing some excellent stories on real issues that effect young Oldhamers.

“The standard of the writing was high and we look forward to doing more work with the Youth Council in the future.”


... and here is how they reported it

by Becca Dale and Charlotte Kilroy

SECRETARY Fred Halliwell has revealed his frustration at the latest vandalism attack on Hollinwood Rugby Club.

Mr Halliwell spoke of the damage that had occurred late last week.

He has had to put up with various types of vandalism for two years, and now it has taken its toll. When it comes to affording new equipment for the team, it’s a no-go situation. Money has to be spent elsewhere, refurbishing and repairing damages to the club.

The most recent damage included graffiti on almost every wall of the club.

Alongside the graffiti, the roof’s tiles have been smashed and loosened, the lead stripped away and the club’s pitch now unusable as the grass has been scorched by a makeshift bonfire.

Mr Halliwell is a hard-working, friendly committee member, who only wants the best for his club and team.

How is it fair that the club should suffer through the actions of someone else?

It seems such a shame that the committee’s hard work is going to waste, and is undone by the few people who seek thrills in such a damaging way.