You may know I have spent a lot of time with young people in my life.

My “youth” was a pretty chequered epoch, so I kind of wanted to help steer others through it more constructively.

I was up at Pleckgate High School the other week with Headteacher (and enthusiastic kilt wearer) Robin Campbell and Miss Stanton (I know her first name!).

Robin and I were nattering about the “energetic” Friday evening frame of mind the youngsters were in… But that energy’s right and tappable…they were actually there helping to raise money for better education for their counterparts in South Africa.

In my youth work time I recall the Hudsons, Seeds, Doyles, Byrnes, Burns, Uptons, Derbyshires, McGuirks, Khans, Mangeras, Surves and many more bring back great memories…not always easy young people, whoever was?

But deep down, good kids from hard working families, all of whom, in the end, would be fine.

We don’t give our youngsters, in my opinion, enough chances to experience and experiment with power and responsibility.

Then when they make a bit of a mess of being a citizen, a parent, a householder, a spouse, a worker…we, the so-called ADULTS, are surprised?

Smell the coffee you Olds!

Let’s give all younger people some chances to have “gos” at being in charge of some things.

OK so they may mess up a bit. But a mistakes only a mistake if you don’t learn from it.

Let’s give it a whirl?