Meet the people wanting to change West Howe's reputation

The group regularly meet up in the Henry Brown Youth Centre in Cunningham Crescent for anything from a chat, a meal, a place to stay warm and also for a laugh. 

Over the years, West Howe has been plagued with a spate of crime, with rogue youths smashing bus windows, anti-social behaviour and high levels of poverty.

One worker at the centre, Jessie Budynkiewicz, is keen to change people’s opinions on West Howe. 

Read more: Another Morebus suffers smashed window in West Howe

Henry Brown Centre, Cunningham Crescent (Image: Daily Echo)

She said it’s the people in West Howe that really make the Bournemouth suburb shine. “There's a real true community in the sense that everybody knows each other,” Jessie said whilst at the Henry Brown Centre this month.

“That works really well, for example somebody asked on Facebook if anybody has any baby stuff and she was inundated. There were so many donations from so many people.

Read more: Armed police officers in pursuit of BMW in Bournemouth 

“Here at the Brown Centre we’ve got a full team of paid staff. We’re looking to take more stuff to engage the local community and to provide help for people.” 

Victoria, a regular at the centre, added: “I’ve got family who have lived in the area for years. My great grandparents were not the wealthiest of people, but they let people come into their home because he knew them.” 

West Howe (Image: Daily Echo)

Bobie, 70, has been coming to the youth club since the 1960s. She said: “I’ve met a lot of friends here. There was plenty here back in the day but there doesn’t seem to be anything here these days. 

Read more: Two people charged after West Howe crash and firearms incident

“In these times we should be saying to old people to come here and they can enjoy good company and have the heating on.” 

Of course, it’s West Howe has had its issues for some time now. More recently, youths have been hurling stones and objects at buses as they drive by, causing the routes to be suspended because of the smashed glass. 

West Howe (Image: Daily Echo)

But Jessie insists there are no bad children as such, rather they are bored. She said: “It’s how you perceive it, really. Every area has issues and it’s the fact that we are working proactively as a community to overcome this.  

“When kids are bored they get up to mischief. When there has been massive funding cuts across the board, kids will get up to mischief when they’re not occupied. They’re not bad kids, they’re just bored. 

“People in West Howe don’t have a lot of money and it’s what we can do as a community to care about the area. Fundamentally, we need to reengage people.” 

The youth centre is open to anybody and there will be Halloween half term events from October 25 to 28 every day between 6pm to 8pm.