EDGES MAGAZINE Issue

July 2000

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Father McCartney
Anorexia is a modern day illness that affects the lives of many young people. In this edition of Edges we listen to the desperation of a helpless mother watching her daughter face this nightmare of self inflicted starvation.We also have a sixteen-year-old girl share her struggle with this disease. In recent weeks I have had the privilege of spending some time with both these people. I would like to thank them for their willingness to share their plight with Edges readers.



Edges stands in solidarity with people who feel excluded.In this edition we listen to young people who feel vulnerable on release from prison.I am pleased to say that our organisation has set up a new mentoring project for ex-offenders. Our first fifteen Mentors have completed their training course and will be available to work with young people coming out of the criminal justice system.I visit prisons on a regular basis and I’m sorry to say that I constantly see young people re-offending time and time again.The system is failing.Edges Magazine looks with eager interest at the new Youth Offending Teams,which hopefully, will provide a greater deterrent to youth offending. Young people can receive a great deal of motivation inside the prison system but on release the support crumples.I firmly believe that there are so many young people caught up in crime who need intensive support which might involve several people working with them as part of a daily routine. Drugs are a major factor of criminal activity. I applaud those prisons which run rehabilitation programmes.However, the therapy must not stop at the prison door. A structured environment is needed for a growing number of young people in the community. I am pleased to say that our drug rehabilitation programme is helping young people turn away from crime and drugs.

Edges Magazine is not only the mouthpiece of our projects, we also give a voice to people throughout the U.K.who feel marginalised.I pay tribute to the many people who communicate with us each day. We continue to spend some time with the homeless of London.In this edition we listen to several people who search for a way out. Alcohol and drugs still hold many of them captives.As we go to print we have just heard that the Millennium Dome is to receive another £29 Million from the Lotteries Board.This money would be better invested in the lives of many that struggle with the complexities of day to day life.

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