My son is lucky enough to be part of the Stagecoach community. Lucky because of our family demographics, life could be so different.

Living in an area of York, where kids hanging around on street corners are an all too common sight. Where mobs of girls think nothing of assaulting a responsible citizen. Where reports of glue-sniffers causing mayhem are the norm. You only need to read back over back editions of York Evening Press to confirm these facts.

The hard reality is that Stagecoach gives my son the high that his peer group are getting from alcohol, drugs, substance abuse and vandalism of the local area. However, Stagecoach offers not only my son the opportunity to grow and develop into a fully rounded person, but gives me and others in my family a sense of pride too.

As a working, single mother, I am constantly aware of the stereotype of families like mine, yet I am as lucky too, because when I read stories of praise for Stagecoach, I feel proud that my son has an alternative to the kids we live around.

The discipline of John Cooper's directorship and the supportive community spirit of the whole group have given my son a new family, a family full of encouragement and one that has shown him an alternative way of life than that of hanging around street corners.

So I want to thank Stagecoach for what it has given my family. I want to thank Mr. King for his most generous donation and commitment of help.

Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition to save Stagecoach and a 'Rip Roaring Boo Hiss' to the narrow-minded City of York Council who cannot see the need for places like Stagecoach for all the young people who work hard week in and week out to produce very professional performances time and again, but especially for children like mine, for whom Stagecoach offers a real alternative!

Updated: 14:17 Thursday, January 19, 2006