Didcot and Berinsfield teenagers testify to benefits of boot camp life (From The Oxford Times)

Didcot and Berinsfield teenagers testify to benefits of boot camp life

3:11pm Friday 5th March 2010 in

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A DIDCOT teenager said that going on a US Army-style boot camp helped her turn her life around.

She was one of six teenagers from south Oxfordshire who battled chest-deep through muddy water and tackled an assault course during a day aimed at learning about discipline and teamwork.

The young people, who were referred by police and youth workers, also spent three days at the Northmoor Trust, Little Wittenham, where they helped with conservation work.

Sallyanne Hobbs, 14, of Great Western Drive, Didcot, said: “Before I went on the boot camp, I was running away from home, harassing teachers, bunking off school and making my mother sick with worry. Now everything has changed and I enjoy going to school.

“It taught us what it’s like in the Army, and also, there were two police officers with us and now I feel like I have a better relationship with the police. When I leave school, I want to work with children.”

Michael Dewsbury, 15, of Station Road, Didcot, said: “I used to have problems with my anger and would always lose my temper. That got me into a lot of trouble at school. Now I can control my anger better and I’ve learnt how to work as a team. I’ve also stopped hanging around with my old friends.”

Simon Absolom, 14, of Loddon Avenue, Berins-field, said: “I would beat people up or throw stones at their houses and now that has all changed.”

Sgt Fraser Weller, of Didcot police, attended the boot camp in Surrey and said: “This was all about showing them the police are not just there to disrupt their lives. They’ve learnt a lot by being given goals and the idea is they can be role models for their friends and spread the positivity.”

The teenagers received certificates acknowledging their achievements at a presentation last Thursday.

The idea was the brainchild of Jackie Silver and Jane Cox, of Soha housing.

Ms Silver said: “We wanted to demonstrate to young people who had trouble accepting authority that being mainstream and working together opened up opportunities to them.”