Rubí Jove als barris, La nit jove — Rubí Neighbourhood Youth Service, The Young Night

Good Practice

Sustainability

Rubí Jove als barris, La nit jove — Rubí Neighbourhood Youth Service, The Young Night

Outdoor socio-educational project to provide local services and infrastructure and create spaces for positive leisure for youth of Rubí.

Rubí City Council

Spain

Local policy

POLICY OBJECTIVE

Promote equal participation by encouraging youth to be present in public spaces and to collaborate in planning and executing activities.
Generate healthy and positive leisure by transforming public drinking-spaces into places for sports and socializing among youth from different neighbourhoods.
Incorporate a community perspective into youth leisure programming.
Understand the concerns and potentials of Rubí youth, identify their needs, and explore possible alternatives and referrals.
Improve social cohesion by creating connections between youth and other social groups.
Enhance young people’s sense of belonging in their neighbourhoods and city.

CONTEXT

In May 2017, three of the city’s neighbourhoods –Les Torres, Vint-i-cinc de Setembre, and Ca n’Oriol– were the subject of a comprehensive action plan. According to a diagnosis, Les Torres had a characteristic urban model and complex dynamics of social relations and coexistence. The neighbourhood was well connected and equipped with a strong transport network, but Les Torres’s economy was losing dynamism and residents were increasingly socially vulnerable. More and more, people considered public spaces there unsafe and viewed the neighbourhood negatively.

Based on this diagnosis, the Community Action Service (CAS) began to work specifically in the three neighbourhoods, and a neighbourhood committee was established in each. The Les Torres neighbourhood committee included the neighbourhood association, mediation service, CAS, social services, educators from Rubí Neighbourhood Youth Service, the Montessori school (a public primary school), and Senegalese cultural associations with a strong presence in the neighbourhood.

In late 2017, groups of young people were at the centre of conflicts of coexistence in Les Torres. In particular, a group of 10 to 15 youth trespassed on the Montessori school playground, drank alcohol, played loud music and damaged school property.

POLICY DESCRIPTION

The Rubí Youth Service proposed opening the school during the hours the youth had “occupied” it, positing that sports could be an effective means to connect with youth and offer alternative leisure activities. “La Nit Jove” was born. Twice a week since 2017, an amateur football league has met on the Montessori school playground, with matches held Fridays from 10.00pm to midnight.

Educators do more than facilitate tournaments with help from the school, neighbourhood association, local businesses and various organizations, they also forge connections that make it possible to support the youth in their personal journeys, address other needs, refer them to various city services, and create spaces for positive leisure.

KEY ASPECTS

Collaborators include various neighbourhood stakeholders (i.e., school, neighbourhood association, and various associations).
Builds relationships with youth, creating spaces of trust and empowering young people as autonomous, full-fledged citizens.
Participants become familiar with all local services and stakeholders.

RESULTS

10 to 15 youth take part in each match. Participants are mostly boys, but efforts are made to incorporate girls, with participation by the latter between 5% and 7%. Young women’s presence in the neighbourhood is currently minimal.

Policy's Website

Núria

Sanz

Youth Service Officer

nst@ajrubi.cat

Good Practice