Nacro annual review

tasted strawberries or mangoes. I introduce them tofruit kebabs and new potatoes, and encourage themto eat vegetables with every meal.’Meanwhile, at Philips Park, not far from the City ofManchester stadium, project worker Mark Royle haslined up half a dozen young people on mountainbikes at the top of a very steep hill. He doesn’t needto say much to them because they are alreadyfocused on their swift descent. In fact, it’s fair to saythat some of them look quite daunted by theprospect. ‘Yeah, it’s a test of nerve,’ he grins.Mark helps to run the Nacro Discus Duke ofEdinburgh Award, which is attended by youngpeople aged 14 to 25, including many from theyouth inclusion programmes. ‘Half the people I workwith have never even been to the Peak District, eventhough it’s only an hour away. Once they’re there,you see the difference in them: they’re out of theirusual surroundings and they relax. We like to getthem out into the open air, educate them, and buildtheir confidence.’ This year, he is planning a kayaktrip along the River Spey and a summer camp atRoss-on-Wye.‘I like it here at Discus,’ says Sammy, as she bitesinto an apple and tries to ignore her younger cousinwho is pulling faces at her through the window. ‘It’sbetter than staying out on the street because outthere, I just get stoned all the time. When I was achild, people were always getting at me and Iwouldn’t say anything, but as I’ve got older I’vebecome more violent. It makes me angry if peopletry to make me look like a fool.‘Yeah, I’ve been kicked of school. At the first school Iwas always fighting with the pupils. Then one of theteachers tried to take the piss out of my littlebrother so I hit her, and she started crying andlocked herself in a room. I got kicked out. Then Iwas kicked out of an education scheme a few times.Now I come here for maths and English lessons, soI’m still getting a bit of education. I know how toread and write and add up.‘Discus workers are not just workers, they’re morelike friends. You can have a laugh with them. Theymake time for you. It’s a place that brings a smileto your face, yeah. They’re always telling jokes, likeRoy, the guy I do football with. I also do boxing afew nights a week, but I get tired, especially mylegs, with the skipping and squats.’Sammy finishes her apple. ‘Do you know what?’ shesays. ‘I’ve not had a fight for months. That’s reallygood for me.’ 7