Feature: Youth culture: My endz

SOPHIA DENNY, 17, WEMBLEY

My brother had a bit of trouble with some people in my area so there was a time when I couldn't go into the local park, which is right next to where I live. I thought that was a bit stupid because I go to church right in that park and there's a community centre there. It was petty really. I know that my brother and a lot of my cousins and friends have had trouble going into other areas too. My brother just tends to stay in his own area but my friends still go to other places. They just have to be aware of the fact that you've got to be careful when you go to other places. If you're a girl it's very rare that you'll get approached and beaten up just because you live in another area. If you're a boy and out of your area and someone says "what endz are you from?" then it's automatic that you're in trouble. It's definitely a problem all over London. Everywhere has cliques. It's not all the time it happens but you have to be aware of it. Competition between north, south, east and west makes it worse. We need something to integrate the areas.