Representatives from the six secondary schools in Castle Point will rally local councillors, police and council officers at a special conference.

Students from Deanes School, in Thundersley, King John School, in Thundersley, Appleton School, in Benfleet, Cornelius Vermuyden School, in Canvey, Castle View School, in Canvey, Furtherwick Park School, also in Canvey, and Seevic College in Thundersley are set to meet community leaders on March 31.

The aim of the one-day conference is for young people in the community to tell the professionals the changes they would like to see in Castle Point.

The event has been arranged by the council's community safety officer, Ian Kennedy, who said: "The students will select their own topics of discussion and have half an hour to deliver a presentation and have time left for discussion.

"They may want to address drugs issues, bullying, unprovoked violence, or under-age drinking and tell us how it affects their lives.

"It will be useful to see things from their point of view."

The idea is also to forge a good link between adults and children in the community.

Published Friday March 19, 2004

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