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Video: The boot camp in
action

by Adam Williams

awilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

Eight problem youngsters have been put through their paces on a
half term boot camp.

The group of 11 to 14-year-olds, identified by police as causing
anti-social problems and nuisance to neighbours, were sent on the
camp to try and improve their discipline and teamwork skills.

They all come from housing estates in Canterbury and Herne
Bay.

Military-based activities including survival classes and drill
were delivered by instructors from youth inclusion charity
Challenger Troop in and around Chartham and Folkestone.

Founder Simon Dean believes boredom causes a lot of
the problems.

He said: “What we do is give them tasks they can engage with,
learn how to challenge themselves and improve their
teamwork.

“It’s a real leveller, it gives them an identity. There’s no
'haves’ and 'have nots’ and it instills some discipline.

"They’re going to go away at the end of the week with life
skills they may never have had the opportunity to learn
otherwise.

“One of the parents told us how shocked they were when their son
came home after the first day and immediately started polishing
their boots, something they’d never thought they see happen.”

PCSO Jodie Bryan helped identify which children would benefit
from the Challenger Troop programme.

She said: “I’ve dealt with a lot of these youngsters before in
terms of anti-social behaviour issues.

"It’s a great opportunity for them to see me in a different
environment, out of my PCSO uniform and away from their
estates.

“We can talk to each other on a more personal basis and after
just two days here I’ve seen noticeable differences in people’s
behaviour.

There’s no gang hierarchy here or a need to show off and be the
big personality in the group.”

To learn more about Challenger Troop visitwww.challengertroop.org.uk