Ann Nicholls heads-up the Anti-Social Behaviour Detached team which is already well on the way to becoming a mutually-respected and independent task force providing a rapid response to incidents involving young people in Worcester.

Viewed as a ground-breaking initiative in combating a growing number of disorder incidents on and around the estates, the team is funded by the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership - an association of individuals, organisations community groups including the City Council - and is seen as a high-success alternative to police action.

After a year's trial in Worcester, the team is now expanding to include trouble "hot-spots" in Wychavon and Malvern Hills and the search is on for more volunteers to provide specialist local knowledge and background on local communities - particularly in Pershore, Droitwich, Evesham and Malvern.

KIDS. Ask people on the city's estates what their chief concern is, and that's the answer you're likely to get.

The trouble is, it's all too easy to forget that what's 'anti-social' to some is merely being "social" to others and the key to tackling anti-social behaviour is not the 'boot camp' but an altogether simpler solution: communication.

Simply by talking to the kids in their language - 'chillin out' as they put it - a clearer picture emerges, and by putting yourself in their place, it hits you square between the eyes they have a valid viewpoint and that, yes, there is a shortage of things for them to do.

Accordingly, talking to the kids in a language they understand was our starting-point.

No, we didn't understand 'chillin'-out' or 'CUL8R' either, and as for rap and drum'n'bass music, they're never going to rank in our list of musical preferences.

But that's the very point, and by meeting them half way in making an effort to understand their world, the kids have responded to the degree that we're now fostering a new spirit of mutual co-operation that's created the necessary space for us to begin working together to reach our mutual goals.

No, we haven't stamped-out anti-social behaviour because that's a problem that nobody can solve alone.

But at least we're making massive inroads and with the specialist local knowledge of volunteers that came forward as the result of recent coverage in the Evening News and its sister papers in Malvern, Droitwich and Evesham, we're now on the point of expanding into those areas and hoping for similar successes such as the Celler Project, kicked-off a year ago by five Worcester 16-year olds, each representing one of the city high schools.

Almost entirely on their own initiative, and with minimal help from the Safer Worcester Partnership, the five, bored with little to do and tired of being branded troublemakers, formed a management committee, decided on a name, designed their own logo, arranged posters and tickets, organised the venue and even pulled-off a major coup by signing-up the world's six-deck mixing champion to launch a monthly dance event open to 13 to 17 year olds from all over the city.

Less than a year on, it now regularly attracts nearly 200 youngsters - all of whom are happy to be left alone to dance, chat and do their own thing. Youth workers are on hand to oversee and offer advice where it's asked for; alcohol, drugs and smoking is banned and trouble, both inside the arts workshop and way beyond, drops dramatically. It's a remarkable self-help event that's already had a serious impact on anti-social call-outs.

The next Celler Project dance, by the way, is next Friday.

We're hoping for similar successes with Fernhill Heath Youth Club where local kids have played more than the lion's share in setting-up themselves - assisted, only when asked, by local beat manager Richard Davies, Kathy Clements of the Council for Voluntary Youth Services and a handful of community volunteers.

We've also promoted other social events and dances where some of those that had been heading for big trouble under the old regime are now enthusiastically taking part - to the point of offering themselves as MCs and DJs.

Now, does this sound like the work of yobs and no-hopers?

Absolutely not. Yet the key movers in all of these projects are the very kids that had been branded troublemakers.

Our search isn't over yet.

We still need more task-force volunteers with specialist knowledge of the trouble hot-spots and the personalities involved, especially in rural areas.

You don't need to be a professional, there's no age limit or social exclusion to the task-force volunteers and the prime qualities are being available at short notice, an understanding and ability to talk to young people, and an attitude that doesn't view boot camp as the answer to the underlying problem.

The police are on our side, we're working together, and at last there is a sense of getting somewhere. But we still need more volunteers to help.

If you think you fit the bill as a volunteer, call me on 01905 722065.