Youth Awards at the Crew Club
Over 50 young people have been registered for the Brighton & Hove Youth Award Scheme with the Crew Club since its launch in January. Young people who regularly attend the Crew Club have an opportunity to gain awards at three levels, BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD by committing and agreeing to participate in various activities such as cooking, drama, football and workshops. The scheme has been successful with the many young people already achieving a BRONZE award.

Congratulations to Scott Wheatland and David Mitchell for achieving their SILVER award through the Crew Club’s Trainee Youth Worker Induction Programme. Lacie May who has been participating in the scheme says, "I really like getting a certificate for all my hard work."

Written by Helen Baxter, Youth & Community Worker.

CoMArt: The Last stand
The curtain is about to close on one of the most infamous schools in Brighton. The final decision to close CoMArt in 2005 came when independent group the Schools Organisational Committee (SOC) met earlier this year to hear evidence from the local education authority as to why it should close. Phoenix talked to some of the CoMArt students who went to support their school at Hove Town Hall as its fate was decided.

Vincent, 15, from Whitehawk: "At the end of the SOC meeting I was shouting as much as I could, really disappointed, all the time and effort trying to keep it open was all wasted. I felt my views didn’t make a difference to what they were gonna say. Everybody’s worst fears were confirmed."

Rachel, 15, from the Manor: "I cried at the SOC meeting and at the school assembly when they announced the school was going to close, absolutely gutted. The atmosphere for the following weeks was horrible." Rachel was surprised that no fights broke out, "I’m OK as long as I get my GCSE’s done and get good grades at Varndean." Rachel would like to become a PE teacher.

Daryl, 15, from the Manor, was disappointed at the whole process, and how they did not seem to be listened to. Leanne (Daryl’s Sister), 15, became depressed when she heard and could not stop thinking about it for ages, she even went off her food for a couple of days, "Atmosphere at home was tense. In my year (11), most people did not seem bothered."

Kelly, 14, from the Manor, also felt depressed and thought that anyone who didn’t attend the school could still understand how she was feeling. She was surprised how after the assembly announcement lessons were so normal and how the teachers were holding it together, "Nobody will forget the first lesson they had after assembly. We had Science and our teacher, Ms Foster, was brilliant; she supported us all the way." Kelly was glad the teachers were keeping it together but was disappointed that they were being so vague about it, how they wouldn’t focus on the real problem.

Paul, 14, from Whitehawk: "I knew what was coming but I still felt incredibly disappointed, I tried to believe that the school was going to stay open but deep down knew that the council wanted it closed. I put in as much effort as I could for the last 7 months." Paul commented that some students are unsure of the future, some are worried about bullying or saying they just want to give up, though everyone is pulling together, "I had visions when assembly ended of students rioting around the school, walking about smoking, fighting with teachers and the school having to close early."

The Phoenix wishes all CoMArt students the very best of luck for the future. This story was co written by Paul Jeffries who has been shortlisted by the Argus, when he was voted Star Student and received a High Achiever Award. Paul is happy with the school allocated to him and in the future would like to be a journalist.