New leadership for Durban North/uMhlanga CPF youth desk

THE Durban North/uMhlanga Community Policing Forum (CPF) Youth Desk recently elected a new chairperson and deputy chairperson.

Ashleigh Simkiss (chairperson) and Britney Bengtson (deputy chairperson) said the primary aim of the youth desk is getting the next generation actively involved in joining the fight against crime and violence as well as building a culture of learning, tolerance and respect for all.

The CPF youth desk, which was rekindled and relaunched in 2018, was established as a sub-forum for the youth within the Durban North/uMhlanga CPF.

Simkiss, a member of the North Durban Victim Support team, which offers a variety of psycho-social services to the community free of charge, said she was excited about taking on her new role.

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“It has been an invaluable experience being part of the victim support team, and I hope to bring that background and my involvement in psychology to the youth desk. I’ve only been a member for a year now, and Shannon (Ellis), the outgoing chairperson, has been extremely supportive and helpful in getting us ready for our new responsibilities. We hope to make a tangible difference in the community by serving them with the work we do.

“Besides creating awareness of social issues within the community, we also want to introduce the youth to the police and bridge that gap of understanding. Each member of the youth desk has their own role, and we work closely with the social crime-prevention unit of the Durban North SAPS station,” Simkiss said.

For fellow youth desk member, Bengtson, the hope is to grow the youth desk numbers.

“Currently we have 10 people, but we would like to see that number grow. The youth desk is a lovely space to involve the community at large, especially people from different backgrounds all coming together for a common purpose. We advocate for change through our social crime-prevention programmes, and we often visit schools with the police to speak about the challenges and dangers the youth of today face. Whether it be bullying, peer pressure, drugs or sexual assault, we feel it is important for us to speak to those issues affecting the youth,” Bengtson said.

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Anyone between the ages of 16 and 35 is eligible to join the CPF youth desk.

To find out more or to get involved, visit the Durban North Umhlanga CPF Youth Crime Prevention Desk Facebook page and send them a direct message.

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