Brighton & Hove
Youth Service
Grants Programme
AREA NARRATIVE REPORTS
1st October 2021- 31st September 2022
Contents
Page number
Central Area - Brighton Youth Centre & partners 3
West Area - Hangleton and Knoll Project 8
North Area - Trust for Developing Communities 15
East Area - Trust for Developing Communities 21
Equalities (LGBTQ) – Allsorts 27
Equalities (Disabilities) - Extratime 31
Equalities (BME) – BMEYPP 36
Central Area
Lead Organisation - Brighton Youth Centre
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
The Central Area has continued to deliver a wide range of services. The area is led by Brighton Youth Centre which subcontracts funding to Young Peoples Centre (YPC), Tarner Community Project (TCP) and Youth Advice Centre YAC).
Brighton Youth Centre (BYC) attracts over 1,500 young people from all parts of the City. BYC a wide reaches a wide age range from 11 – 19 years old and is particularly effective at retaining contact with older teenagers.
BYC currently offers over 20 sessions across a 7 day week of varied activities and including open Youth Work, Skate lessons, Music workshops, Open Skate, Gig nights, Gaming sessions, football, arts workshops, basketball, cooking, festival planning board, joint sessions with Pupil referral Unit, Mascot (Youth Club for Young People with Autism), Third space theatre workshops, Project Female Dance workshops. Other Youth groups using the building include BMEYPP Crown project, Nudge mentoring, Woodcraft Folk and NCS.
The Young People’s Centre (YPC) has continued to provide a safe, welcoming space in the center of Brighton where young people can gain support, advice and information and access to positive activities. We have offered groups and activities to support vulnerable young people and we have continued to support other key organisations who support young people across the city and base activities at the Young People’s Centre. These include Allsorts Youth Project, CAMHS (CAOT), Brighton and Hove Young Carers, Pathways to Independence, Refugee Council, Young People’s Support Network, BHCC Leaving Care team.
Tarner Community Project (TCP) currently offer 10 open access sessions 5 nights a week. Half of these sessions are delivered at Tarner base which can include sports sessions, some are held at the RMF building, others held at the huts in the Level which is where we offer music making activities and some are a detached services delivered in the Level and around central Brighton.
The Youth Advice Centre (YAC) has an open access drop in space where clients are able to attend as set drop-in times to receive a wide range of advice Including housing, family mediation, tenancy support whilst in emergency accommodation, and generalised support and advice (e.g. mental health, emotional well-being, sexual health, budgeting and benefit support).
|
|
2. |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people |
|
|
At BYC participation in decision making is an integral part of all our youth work delivery from what food we eat to city wide multi agency meetings looking at what is important to young people in Brighton.
We have both informal and structured opportunities for young people to be involved in decision making and social action. These include the B.fest board which organises and runs Brighton’s Youth Arts festival, workshops to explore what young people want from PSHE in schools, murals both inside and on the outside of the building representing views on issues such as inclusion, inequality and the environment, regular meetings to organise gigs, shows and fundraising efforts. Informally, youth workers are listening to young people and responding to ideas and needs and evaluate all sessions and hold regular meetings to plan programme development.
At YPC Our main participation group is our Youth Champions Group and this contains to run and be involved in decision making at the YPC. Young people (as part of our Youth Champions Group) have been involved in shaping or curriculum and also in leading on funding bids to BHCC Youth Led Grants and Enjoolata Foundation to refurbish our Courtyard area.
TCP have been fortunate enough to continue working with Priority 1-54 to set up a youth advisory board, which will give young people a voice at trustee board level. This board will be a key part in steering the project to be youth led. We have facilitated our annual Tarner festival, which was youth led in both planning and volunteering on the day including having a showcase of young people performing throughout the day. Part of the funding for our festival came from the youth led grants. All of our open access session activities are decided by young people.
YAC developed a youth led food market service / project over this past year. It has been hugely successful and has involved young people at all stages of development and provides opportunities for young people to provide feedback around need and ongoing delivery of service to meet their needs - down to the food we buy week by week. YAC Food Market is always keen to engage young people throughout this process having been able to share young people’s stories, we have been offered opportunities for young people to engage and participate in providing evidence for local campaigns to government about cost of living and food crisis and have also had local news / newspaper / radio opportunities for young people to speak on behalf of YAC and speak on their own experiences. This has been both an empowering opportunity for young people, but also allows them to comment on ongoing social issues and raise awareness nationally and throughout local community. |
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
BYC is highly effective at engaging young people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups, this is reflected in the high numbers of young people attending from areas of deprivation, council housing and Young People with SEND. Our open youth work is complimented by specific delivery for young people including mental health support through art and skateboarding, specific sessions for fostered young people and young people excluded from school.
At YPC we have worked with our partners in Brighton and Hove CAMHS (CAOT) to offer specific activities targeting young people who are working with CAMHS, on a CAMHS waiting list or transitioning from CAMHS support. We have worked with our partners in the Brighton and Hove School Nursing Service (Healthy Child Programme) to support young people working with the BHCC School Nursing team as part of the Healthy Child Programme)
TCP currently offers a weekly dedicated young women’s group, and it is largely made up of LGBTQ+ participants. Due to the location of TCP, a vast majority of our cohort are from the surrounding area which has high levels of deprivation. We have many non-neuro typical young people, ranging from minor to more severe whom are all able to attending and participate in all of our open access youth sessions.
YAC having an open access drop in space, we support young people from multiple backgrounds and identities. We continue to provide specialist young person support for all young people who are Brighton and Hove residents until age 26. Many of our young people come from the most deprived wards in BHCC and many are from marginalised groups. YAC has seen an increase in Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, we are able to provide ongoing support, using a multi-agency approach to ensure positive outcomes. YAC has also developed multiple mental health and well-being support. |
|
4. |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
BYC works with a range of partners including the Pupil Referral Unit, Social Services, Sports Development team, Albion in the Community, Project Female, Southeast Dance, Windmill Theatre, Art in Mind, Mascot, BMEYPP. Allsorts as well as been the lead agency for Central area supporting the Work of the Young Peoples Centre, Youth Advice Centre and Tarner Community Project. The imminent rebuild of BYC will allow much greater opportunities for partnership work.
TCP’s annual Tarner festival was in partnership with Audio Active. TCP work very closely with social workers and other organisations who are working with the same young people, having recently gone to a STRAT and having made plans to collaborate with Audio Active to support these specific young people. TCP work closely with RMF, delivering sexual health and general youth work with them. TCP working with Hangleton and Knoll project and TDC to deliver the Brighton Streets programme. TCP working with Audio Active to deliver the music-based sessions at the Level. TCP are very active in signposting to specialist services and working with other services, such as the well-being service, to support young people best we can.
YAC has been in partnership with BHCC since the end of last year, to deliver Household Support Fund to young people. We have been able to support roughly 400 young people and families with emergency housing supplies, energy bills, essential items, food and clothing. We are regularly asked to deliver this fund on behalf of young people and families under 26. YAC and the emergency food partnership / local food partnership programmes to provide feedback on the need of local community and to access support, funding and food for young people and families.
YAC is in an Advice Matters partnership, connecting with all support agencies in the community to address community need, provide feedback about ongoing concerns in the community and different sectors of work in Brighton and Hove.
The Youth Advice Centre (YAC) Brighton in partnership with Brighton and Hove Council have continued to provide advice around housing, family mediation, tenancy support whilst in emergency accommodation, and generalised support and advice (e.g., mental health, emotional well-being, sexual health, budgeting and benefit support).
YAC has an ongoing partnership with Hyde Housing to support residents in Hyde Housing Projects to provide advice to their clients to maintain housing, support with generalised advice. This has been a huge success and we have supported around 300 people over the past year. |
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around ant-social behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
BYC attracts high numbers of Young People who live in Council house tenancies. Our work promotes positive social behaviour through strength based, relational work with large informal groups. Our activity programme offers a range of opportunities for Young People to learn and practice transferable skills through active participation.
At YPC many of the young people that access our centralised services will also be resident in council house tenancies. This is the case for all of the organisations that support young people through activities, groups and targeted support at the Young People’s Centre
TCP is in an area with a high volume of social housing, we therefore work closely with the housing providers and local stakeholders. We have been involved in community safety meetings and networking events to help support in tackling youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. Within all of our sessions we offer employability skills, alcohol and substance misuse, well-being and self-care.
YAC has partnered with Hyde Housing to support their tenants with a range of differing presenting concerns. Hyde now refers clients under 26 directly to YAC for Brighton and Hove based support and advice, including housing support. YAC has successfully been able to support multiple clients throughout the last 2 years of funding. Example: a client was being evicted due to anti-social behaviour and was having issues with social inclusion. In liaising with Hyde, we were able to maintain tenancy and provide ongoing support for clients, in YAC and finding them community groups which can support them. |
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. |
|
|
I have been in contact with the Brighton Youth Centre since 2013. I first started attending 'BYC' through the youth cente sessions on weeknights. But over the last 9 nine years, the 'BYC' has been critical for my development as an adult. Growing up I didn't have a supporting family, and in result to this, I've dealt with substance abuse and a few years of homelessness. However, I was lucky enough to have people like Hannah and Mike. Throughout the years they have provide me with patience, education, advice, a safe environment and most of all understanding. All in and out of youth center hours. I myself growing up was faced with impossible situations which could have easily led me on the path to jail. But the Brighton Youth Centre gave me the tools and knowledge needed to find better ways. For example, with the help of the Brighton Youth Centre I got my GCSE's, worked on the B.FEST events, completed my NCS, Obtained degrees in Music Business and Putting on Music Events and also mentored and provided music lessons to students. Alongside this they have provided me with over 4 years of live music performance experience. The Brighton Youth Centre is a needed resource for the young people situated in the Brighton Community. This is because it is a safe haven for young minds, that has always provided a safe environment for young people to express themselves.
|
West Area
Lead Organisation - Hangleton and Knoll Project (HKP)
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
Each term we have coproduce a youth programme with young people and partners to provide safe physical and outreach spaces in the community offering a range of free open access youth clubs and activities. The programme changes from time to time according to the needs of our members and since the pandemic we have placed a strong focus on meeting safety, mental health, wellbeing and physical needs of young people through all our clubs, trips. activities, detached offer and groups.
These links provide evidenced examples of HKP youth work highlighting good practice in the form of impact reports, case studies and photos for the reporting period. They showcase just some of the fantastic achievements of young people who benefit from the Youth Service Grants Programme.
October to December 2021 https://bit.ly/38qYT9o January to March 2022 https://bit.ly/3LOVLmb April to July 2022 https://bit.ly/3MyCwir Summer 2022 https://bit.ly/3EYYnhp NEW September to December 2022 https://bit.ly/3MvvcUA
In addition to the above programmes, we have provided free activities and trips in Easter and Half term holidays targeting and prioritising young people council tenants and those receiving free school meals in the Hangleton and Knoll, Mile Oak and Portslade estates.
Term time clubs and sessions have provided enrichment opportunities for young people to grow, learn, get involved, volunteer and have fun in their own community.
The youth team have supported over 130 regular members with 3057 visits in their personal and social development through the mediums of dance, comedy, fitness, boxing, football, table tennis, volunteering, cooking, gardening, focused group work and our open access, after school club sessions on community venues: Knoll Pavilion, Knoll Park, Hangleton Community Centre, St Richards Church and Community Centre and Hove Squash and Fitness Club and overall supported a further 422 young people through detached, one to one and other activity.
Our targeted and specialist youth work sessions have participants where half or more are council tenants; Young men’s group 70%, Hangleton Youth Club 55.6%, SEND Youth Club 50%, Participation work 50% and table tennis 52%. |
|
2 |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people. |
|
|
Participation is at the heart of all our work at HKP and youth workers actively encourage young people to take part, have their say and have their thoughts listened to and recognised across all we do. It is important and empowering for young people to see their ideas put into action and this happens at every level of decision making from choice about planned activity, co-production of holiday programmes (with YP choosing priorities), bidding and managing funds (youth bank) and informal volunteering in sessions e.g. volunteer cook at Food partnership sessions (this role has led to paid catering work).
HKP currently has 3 Youth trustees under 24 who together form the link between governance and youth participation putting young people in control of their own services from HKP at Board level
There are also key opportunities for young people to take part in events and activities to empower them in areas such as decision making and social action:
Youth Wise a city wide collective of young people who meet to discuss key topics with Brighton & Hove Councillors. At the most recent event (12 October 2022) young people learned that their ideas from the previous event – to include a sensory area in the Churchill shopping centre – were being put in to action through work by Mascot and the Council.
Youth Bank – A group of HKP young volunteers who meet regularly to create a steering group for funding bids and activities for young people who access HKP services. Youth Led Grants – Youth led funding bid process
Food Partnership – We have been working with Brighton & Hove Food Partnership on their Climate Action campaign, to increase knowledge and awareness of food waste, healthy eating, sustainability, carbon reduction and recycling and increase youth volunteering and peer to peer awareness eg Young volunteers have been helping with the garden in the Bowls club. Young people have also been able to try new recipes on a weekly basis, thanks to the ‘Food in a Bag’ initiative; we receive weekly recipe kits with all the ingredients and instructions. The young people can cook one at youth club to practice and demonstrate the recipe and then take one home for their families and cook for them.
Volunteering opportunities are integrated into all of our youth sessions and some specific examples below are:
Friends of Knoll Park – Young people have been involved a social action project with the Friends of Knoll Park Group. Including litter picking, community surveys to improve the park and attending FOKP meetings to be a representative for HKP Youth Club.
DofE volunteering – We provide opportunities at both youth clubs, which include cooking, gardening, DIY and helping with the general running of youth sessions.
Young volunteers – For 18+ young people we have developed Young Volunteer roles and recruited 3 young people in the following roles: Youth table tennis coach on Wednesday night youth club sessions at Hangleton Community Centre. Young chef – preparing, cooking food and keep track of stock at Hangleton Community Centre Youth club assistant – helping to run sessions and manage the kitchen at youth club sessions at Knoll Pavilion All young people have had a full induction and have signed volunteer agreements, ID badges and HKP Volunteer hoodies and T shirts.
|
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
Our targeted youth sessions have proven to be a great success and we are developing each of the projects over the next year to ensure we are continually meeting the changing needs of young people.
All our work is targeted in an area of multiple deprivation and c 40-45% of YP accessing all our programmes have some SEND needs.
SEND Youth Club This is in partnership with Amaze and Extratime and targets older young people with moderate SEND and Health needs giving a much-needed social space for young people and a bit more capacity with fewer numbers to help them form friendships.
Young Men’s Group This is targeted at young men who struggle to access main sessions due to emotional and behavioural issues and because of the complexity of their lives. This session creates a safe space and a chance to succeed and participate positively.
Young Women’s Group This is a young women’s space to support their mental health and wellbeing (see Wellbeans)
We have also developed several new opportunities to further our work within the community and ensure we are reaching out to more young people. These are:
Hangleton Community Centre Youth club – a new session on a Wednesday evening that combines our previous table tennis session, to provide an open access, safe space for young people in Year 9 +. Young people can take part in pool, arts & craft activities, table tennis and chats with youth workers. These sessions have got off to a very positive start and are clearly a need in the area.
Kicks – we have teamed up with Albion in the Community to deliver a football programme alongside our Tuesday after school club, which is something young people have wanted for a while. The club is particularly supportive of young female players. Disadvantaged Young people are also accessing the Kicks Top Bins Leadership Award where they are supported by our team to achieve 24 challenges to demonstrate new skills.
WellBeans – a new health and wellbeing group that has stemmed from the Young Women’s work. This is an inclusive and safe space for young people to access to focus on their wellbeing and pick up advice and coping strategies to promote positive mental health.
Hove Park Brighton Streets – a new detached session outside Hove Park Lower school on Thursday afternoons gives young people access to youth workers, snacks and drinks and a place to chill on the Youth Bus after school. We are able to reach out to new young people and inform them of the youth sessions they can access and signpost them to other services. We also deliver our Safe in Summer and Wise in Winter educational interventions through Brighton Streets.
Underground Gym - we have teamed up with Underground Gym in Portslade to give our Young Men’s group free access to the gym twice a week to help them to improve their physical fitness and mental health. All the young men benefiting from this opportunity are Council tenants.
|
|
4. |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
Active Sussex – Attending pan Sussex Networking meetings and Funding our Youth Active Sessions
Albion in the Community – Kicks Programme providing free access to football sessions for 8 – 19-year-olds every Tuesday after School in Knoll Park
Amaze – staffing together to provide specialist youth work at our Tuesday SEND Youth Club for 14–19-year-olds
Allsorts – joint work to ensure we best meet the needs of all the LGBTQIA+ young people that access our services and to create easier pathways for them to get support
Brighton and Hove Boxing Team and WBC Cares – working together to bring free Boxing opportunities to the community and signposting to join the team at the club located at King Alfred
Brighton and Hove City Council Health Lifestyles Team – teaming up to provide free access to community sports and games through our BIG MUNCH holiday lunch club for families in need and holiday programmes
Brighton and Hove Food Partnership – ‘Food in the bag’ project Brighton Streets with The Trust for Developing Communities and Tarner Project – codesigning with joined up working delivering street-based youth sessions covering the City and Citywide events such as PRIDE and Services Community Days
Brighton Table Tennis Club – supporting coaching development
Community Action – community forum addressing local issues with Community, Housing and Police.
Extratime - staffing together to provide specialist youth work
FMG project – fitness coaching programme
Friends of Knoll Park –supporting the development of the park
Hangleton Bowls Club –volunteering opportunities helping keep the grounds
Hangleton Community Centre – Local Venue
Hove Fitness and Squash Club – Local Venue
Hove Park School - Secondary school where Brighton Streets sessions take place
Kicks – Brighton & Hove FC Albion in the Community
Komedia Productions – Comedy workshops
National Trust – Changing Chalk Programme
PACA – Secondary school where Brighton Streets sessions take place
Priority 1-5-4 – Youth Voice workshop
Rotary – Young Leadership Award (RYLA)
SID Youth CIC – young men’s work and VR workshop
St Richard’s Church and Community Centre / Knoll Community Association
Streetfunk Dance Academy – Street dance classes
Sussex Police Youth Team – local visits and liaising
Square Lemon Training – First Aid and Food Safety Courses
Underground Gym – free membership for young mens group
Youth Wise – BHCC Youth Council, Councillors, and Officers and other youth providers, TDC, Allsorts, Tarner, BYC, Amaze, Extratime |
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around promoting prosocial behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
HKP are based in the heart of the community, with Community Development and Youth Teams easily accessible during the week and a wide variety of services, groups, activities and community action projects for local residents to take part in.
Our Big Munch Holiday food programme has been running successfully since 2019 providing free holiday activities for families with a healthy lunch
We provided support to residents with cost-of-living, through distributing Household Support Fund for BHCC, enabling reach to families who might not otherwise have accessed support, by making referrals to food banks, to money advice services and organisations that help with the rising cost of energy bills. We can provide wrap around support for young people with families in need through Community Learning and Moneyworks offers delivered by HKP eg BHESCO energy workshops and Amaze benefits workshops for parent carers including a special session for Bengali families.
Following the success of a First Aid and Level 2 Food Safety course that we ran in the Easter term this year, we have secured funding to organise another round of each course, that will enable 10 young people to gain these essential qualifications for employment.
Youth workers provide regular Information, Advice and Guidance conversations on an ad-hoc basis and young people will often access the service for help with CV’s, interview preparation, job applications etc. For example, we keep a rail of clothes to borrow, an idea that has spread through the City as it really is a barrier to job interviews
We ran a community safety campaign over the summer targeting Council tenants supporting them with how to report ASB. A community safety leaflet was co-produced with a targeted distribution across the local area. Link to leaflet and our summer report.
|
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. |
|
|
The Tuesday club is for those young people aged 14 -25 with SEND. The members have a range of mild to moderate learning and some more complex health needs and we provide a higher staff ratio working in partnership with Amaze and Extratime, to ensure they are fully supported.
The overall aim of the club is to provide specialist youth work for those young people 14-25 years to enable them to live life to the full as happily and independently as they can. SEND Youth Club has enabled members to have a go at lots of enriching activities designed to improve social behaviours, attitudes, capabilities and increase life skills such as yoga, zumba, arts and crafts, games, singing and cooking, as well as regular trips. The group members are empowered to always choose their own activities to create their timetable.
They are also encouraged to join the wider HKP holiday programmes, which they often do, such as swimming, footgolf and walks on the South Downs.
We took young people from SEND Club to experience the Love Supreme Festival 3rd July 2022 as a special trip and a first time live music experience for the whole group. It was a beautiful day See here for photos ...and here for full case study report https://bit.ly/3CV0zoy
|
North Area
Lead Organisation – Trust for Developing Communities
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
· Moulsecoomb Monday Night Youth Club at the 67 centre for 11-18s · Tuesday Moulsecoomb Young Women’s session at the 67 centre for 11-18s. In this session we have been delivering EmpowHer which is a UK Youth empowerment and social action project for young women · Thursdays My-G Young Men’s Group at the 67 centre for 11-18s. Included in this was a young men’s voice project with Platform B · Detached Youth Sessions in Preston Park, Moulsecoomb and Saunders Park (as part of the Brighton Streets project).
We have also offered: · Support for community safety events at The Level · Detached sessions focussing on potential hotspots for Anti-Social Behaviour (Hollingdean and end-of-school-term days) · Youth Welfare Support at Pride
In addition we have delivered the following during school holidays: · Moulsecoomb HAF sessions during the Summer Holidays for 11-18s · Detached Youth Sessions in Preston Park, Moulsecoomb and Saunders Park (as part of the Brighton Streets project)
TDC has also partnered with Albion In The Community to support their Kicks football sessions with youth work input.
|
|
2. |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people |
|
|
One of our regular youth members who lives in East Brighton volunteered during the summer with the HAF scheme at the 67 centre. Lauran was on last year’s ‘Be The Change’ programme and has been keen to get more involved in helping out now that she is older than most of the young people that come to sessions. She has had some 1-1 time with a youth worker and they have been looking at a Youth Leader agreement.
Young people in North and East Brighton also took part in a BHCC Public Health project that set out to explore what young people feel about vaccinations and included their suggestions about what would help get information about vaccines to young people. See attached summary
|
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
All of our sessions aim to be open to all young people and we are particularly aware of young people attending who are vulnerable, have experienced bullying, are identifying as LGBTU, have mental health issues or who have SEN (or waiting for a diagnosis). Through creating a safe space with ground rules, a range of activities and individual support we enable everyone to be included in sessions. 4 young people in need of additional help with their issues have also received support from our new TDC Mentoring project.
|
|
4. |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
Brighton Streets is currently up for a Howard League Award. We won the national ‘Children and Young People Now Award’ for Partnership working in December 2021.
In Moulsecoomb, a youth worker regularly supports the young men’s football AITC Kicks session. This has been hugely beneficial to both partners as it creates a positive team around the young men that come along to Kicks and then go on to the MY G young men’s sessions straight after. It also enables communication about issues that may be going on with the young men or in the community.
We also link in regularly with BACA to both let them know about our sessions and to communicate about any safeguarding issues. There have been several safeguarding issues affecting the young people that come to the 67 centre and Christine Brady at BACA is usually well informed about the young people’s lives.
|
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around promoting prosocial behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
Moulsecoomb is a community with high council house tenancies and this is reflected in the percentage of young people attending sessions. On average, 60% of the young people who attend our Monday night open access sessions are from council house tenancies. We feel that through our consistent, weekly youth sessions we have created a stable presence in the community for young people. The youth workers build up a lot of knowledge about the issues that affect the young people who attend sessions the partnership working noted above in question 5 is a great asset to this knowledge. However, the young people share a lot of this themselves with the youth workers that they build up relationships with. They see the youth centre as being a safe space to be. Our UpShot data shows us that approximately 50% of the young people who are regular attendees come to 70-80% of sessions offered with more coming to multiple sessions, including Monday nights, HAF and the single gender sessions.
|
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. ( |
|
|
In the Summer, the Traveler Young Women’s group went on a trip to Go Ape at Tilgate Park. This was the second outing with the young women since we restarted the sessions after Covid. The young women had been given options for their trip and chose Go Ape as it sounded ‘well good’.
Seven young women and three members of staff travelled together on a minibus to Go Ape to experience the high ropes course. It was really positive that parents had released their daughters for the day for the trip as sometimes they are unable to come to the group because they have to look after siblings or do household chores. This trip gave them the chance to relax, play and be young women for a day.
The group had to listen to instructions as the activity involved healthy risk taking, courage and determination through learning how to use a harness, climbing high ladders and jumping off zip wires. The young women showed strong abilities to work as a team, supporting and encouraging each other throughout the day. Sometime there is quite a lot of in-fighting in the group so this was really positive to see.
The day was finished with a group meal where the young women and youth workers spent time reflecting on the day, making deeper connections and socialising as a community.
“I loved the Go Ape trip and want to go again” (‘A’ age 14)
|
East Area
Lead Organisation – Trust for Developing Communities
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
· Whitehawk Young Women’s session at Whitehawk Library for 11-18s · Whitehawk Youth Café at Whitehawk Library for 11-18s · Curiosity Club (science, tech and participation) at Whitehawk Library and Whitehawk Inn for 11-18s · Junior Youth session at Woodingdean Youth Centre for 11-13s · Senior Youth Session at Woodingdean Youth Centre for 13-16s · Saltdean Youth Club at Saltdean Football Club (in partnership with SRYC) for 11-16s
· Detached youth work sessions in Whitehawk and Woodingdean (as part of Brighton Streets project) · Friday night session at Woodingdean Youth Centre focussing on projects on photography and music · Youth Welfare Support at Pride (as part of Brighton Streets)
· Easter HAF provision, at Manor Road Gym and Whitehawk Library (for ages 6-13s). Four days over the Easter holidays · Summer HAF Provision at Manor Road Gym (for ages 6-13s). 10 days over the Summer Holidays · Detached youth work sessions in Whitehawk and Woodingdean (as part of Brighton Streets)
TDC has also supported the Albion in the Community Kicks football sessions at Manor Gym
|
|
2. |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people |
|
|
The young women decided on what else they wanted to include in the sessions and opted for cream teas, juices, chair yoga and a game called Truth Bomb.
|
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
In September, a young person from Ukraine started to attend the senior youth sessions in Woodingdean and we have started to reach out to this community more to help them integrate into local youth opportunities.
During the Easter and Summer Holidays we offered ‘East Summer Fun’ programmes which was part-funded by the HAF scheme, ensuring that children and young people on free school meals had somewhere safe to go and had access to healthy lunches. TDC funded places for young people who didn’t meet the HAF eligibility criteria, many of which are still living in households of low income and who would not have anything to do during the school holidays. 51 children and young people attended over both schemes with the majority attending more than 4 sessions. We have also had Household Support Funding, helping 10 families with grants of up to £200 each and promoted a project offering free vouchers for school uniforms.
Our youth team has also maintained detached youth work in Whitehawk and Woodingdean to reach out to young people who don’t access youth provision currently. A particular focus in Whitehawk for these sessions has been delivering in the North area of the estate where there are high-rise flats. The community has reported feeling excluded from the rest of Whitehawk and often feel that provision is too far for their young people to travel to.
|
|
4. |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
TDC have a team of workers in the East area, which includes youth workers, an older person’s worker and community development workers. This enables the youth workers to make connections in the community with others working with young people as well as other community activists. We have bi-monthly strategy meetings aiming to ensure that we have a holistic offer for the communities we work in that meet the needs of all ages. We see that it is vital that young people are seen to be part of the community
In Whitehawk in particular, it is essential that those working in the community are integrated into the community and working with its member and not ‘doing to’ local people. Our links with Hawks Café (our partner on the HAF schemes) in particular has meant leveraging their great links with parents in the area. Their reach and influence greatly impacts promotion and provision of HAF and supports the general development of our local youth provision.
In Woodingdean we work in the Youth Centre run by Deans Youth Project. We have regular meetings and other communications with the Trustees who are invested in the provision we offer and also in what the wider needs of the community are. This resulted in a more regular detached offer in Woodingdean throughout the summer, which has shaped plans in the near future as we hope to establish a youth café and also develop a homework club.
Caroline Vitta (TDC Youth Work Manager) attends regular East Housing Team meetings which gives the youth team insights into hotspots in the east for youth ASB or other issues. We also have strong connections with the BHCC Community Engagement Officers. Both of these connections mean that we can adapt to local community / young people’s needs. Increasingly we are also developing our communication with social workers and the Integrated Team for Families who signpost young people to TDC youth provision, enabling us to reach more young people who need our offer and make connections with their families.
|
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around promoting prosocial behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
Over a third of young people who attend TDC’s youth services are Council tenants and 46% live in the top 10% most deprived areas in the city.
We also have weekly detached youth
sessions which reach out to young people who are not engaged in
youth provision. As mentioned already in question 3, our detached
work has focussed on the North area where it has been fed back that
the residents there feel cut off from other provision in Whitehawk.
Talking to
For young people we started developing opportunities for volunteering in their youth clubs, building on the ‘Be the Change’ Youth leadership project that we ran last year. One young person has taken on the role of a young leader and has helped out on other youth sessions. This is enabling us to develop a young volunteer agreement and to think about how we deliver the Be the Change project in the near future
|
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. |
|
|
(*name has been changed) To set some context, in March this year the youth team became aware of some allegations from a group of young women that a friend had touched them on their breasts. Both the young women and the young person accused attend several groups that TDC offer. Whilst our safeguarding process was immediately started, we were particularly aware too that we needed to offer support both to the young women but also to the young person who had been accused.
The young person accused is a transgender female called Fran*. Fran admitted some touching but had felt that it was in the context of friends mucking around and was shocked that her friends had spoken about it. We talked about consent at the time and Fran said she understood how she might have acted inappropriately but didn’t feel that she had acted without consent
Since the allegations were made, Fran largely excluded herself from groups and became isolated. The young women have continued to access the groups.
We were conscious as a team about not taking sides and needing to be sensitive to both. We are also aware that Fran has some mental health issues and is waiting for a diagnosis of autism, so we were particularly concerned for her wellbeing. Amy reached out to Fran several times over the past 6 months to ensure that Fran still knew we could give support. Fran was due to start college in September but as one of the young women was on the second year of the same course had not been told whether she could start. Amy made great efforts to meet with the college and advocate for Fran, helping to ensure the college staff were communicating and ensuring that they communicated with Fran to let her know if she could start. Amy also helped Fran apply for a bursary. Fran did eventually start the course and college had a safety plan for both students. Amy also ensured that Fran had bus tickets to get to work when she found a part time job, referred Fran to our mentoring project and helped her complete the questionnaires required and supported Fran to link in with Survivors Network.
We have also reached out to the police for updates after the allegations were reported and advocated for all the young people to be kept informed as to any action that maybe taken. |
Equalities - LGBTQ
Lead Organisation – Allsorts
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
● 13 online youth groups for LGBT+ 11 – 15 year olds ● 15 online youth groups for LGBT+ 16 – 25 year olds ● 13 in person youth groups for LGBT+ 11 – 15 year olds ● 14 in person youth groups for LGBT+ 16 – 25 year olds ● 181 one-to-one support sessions for LGBT+ under 19s
Groups sessions have included:
● IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homo, Bi & Transphobia) ● Pride Safety session ● Black History Month ● Overnight residential trip at a local outdoor centre ● Cinema trips ● Health and wellbeing care for the school holidays ● 5 Ways to Wellbeing creative sessions ● Wellbeing boxes and gratefulness ● PrEP info session ● Visit to Brighton Theatre ballet show ● Beach clean & clothes swap ● Visit from Upside Comics ● Youth Wise ● Digital art club
Allsorts continues to focus on reducing isolation for LGBT+ children and young people, particularly those who are not in education. By continuing to
embed a hybrid approach of working and adapting all services to
online delivery Allsorts have been able to offer safer spaces for
LGBT+ children and young people to meet others and build a
community.
|
|
2. |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people |
|
|
Young people are given opportunities to support Allsorts in the recruitment of staff. During recent recruitment, young people have participated in interview panels for prospective staff and have been a key factor in the recruitment process on both the main panel and youth panel.
One young person has been involved in helping to redesign the artwork for our joint work with BHCC on the Trans Inclusion for Schools Toolkit as well as provide artwork using in resources created by and for young people at Allsorts and other LGBT+ young people.
26 young people participated in our most recent six-monthly snapshot survey (September 2022) where they were able to share their opinions, thoughts and experiences of Allsorts during the time they have been attending and give their feedback to help staff develop Allsorts.
Allsorts have launched their new strategy in 2022 with a focus and Youth voice and participation opportunities. A new role within the organisation has been developed to look at redesigning ‘youth voice and participation’ which will have a focus on ensuring that our services are enabling young people to reach their full potential whilst taking part in informal education and opportunities. Initiatives such as being part of local forums such as YOUTHWISE will be part of the relaunch. Allsorts prides itself on offering services in where young people bring their ideas and suggestions.
In 2021 Allsorts were awarded an Investing in Children and Young People award which audits a charity on youth participation, voice and inclusion.
|
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
We have been developing our offer to young people by meeting them more in their communities and using outdoor spaces. For some young people, meeting at a youth centre or online is not accessible or appropriate for a variety of reasons. We continue to see a number of school age young people refusing to attend school or are on a reduced timetable and so for these young people we are working on building up confidence and resilience in the hope that this will contribute to their return to education. We also have a high number of neurodiverse young people so we ensure to assess the individuals and make adjustments in groups and one-to-ones to improve accessibility. We know that for some of those young people, groups in a building with clear boundaries give them a better sense of security. Through the Allsorts strategy we continue to focus on anti-racism work and are developing our YPoC group with promotion of the group increasing the ensure that there is broad awareness. Allsorts is also working on an inclusion plan in order to reach out to ‘all’ young people. Our activity plan is set 6 months ahead giving us the time to scope activities which are inclusive and accessible. |
|
4. |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
All youth support workers at Allsorts work alongside other youth providers and specialist agencies where appropriate. Recently this has included CIN, Child Protection and Early Help meetings as well as ensuring we are referring into non statutory services such as ESTEEM, The Clare Project and Global Social Club. We work closely with the CAMHS Assertive Outreach Team based in the Young People’s Centre where we make referrals between the service to best support the young people. One of the team members attends our 16+ LGBT+ group to ensure ease of access and understanding of the CAOT service.
We are connected to regional and national LGBT+ youth organisations to ensure we are keeping on top of trends noticed for this group of young people and any developments that we need to be aware of in this sector.
Allsorts and Brighton & Hove City Council continue to work in partnership around the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit to ensure that version 4 reflects any changes locally or national.
Allsorts has been involved in supporting young people to the Youthwise Events in order for LGBT+ young people's thoughts and views to be heard. Allsorts are supporting the redevelopment of Brighton Youth Centre and continue to attend meetings and support as and when required.
Allsorts are also involved in the youth grants programme and this year we will be collaborating with the Ledward Centre to design the youth workspace. |
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around ant-social behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
Allsorts has a low number of children and young people in council house tenancies however we support all young people to manage anti-social behaviour, social inclusion and readiness for employment regardless of their housing status. We have recently offered broader options for young people to engage with us to begin building confidence in accessing education and their social inclusion. This has included giving young people opportunities to access sport and creative activities in Brighton with an LGBT+ adult supporting them to be in their community. In addition to this, we are developing opportunities for young people to input their ideas and creativity into what they want to see delivered at Allsorts and what would benefit them. For some young people, it has been appropriate to put specific plans in place to support them with behaviour management and develop their skills in boundaries. We continue to share local opportunities for young people to attend career information sessions, volunteering opportunities and information sessions on specific skill building (such as our digital art club) |
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. |
|
|
13 year old young person started coming to youth groups in June He found groups very difficult for a while because of the busy atmosphere and was reluctant to speak with other young people. Youth workers had contact with Mum who shared that he "doesn’t feel he is making any headway with getting to know people and making friends at Allsorts” Youth workers increased communication with the young person about activities coming up and how he could get involved. Youth workers built his confidence by connecting him with other young people in youth groups to help him establish some friendships. He came on the bus at Brighton Pride and enjoyed himself. This was the first significant trip he came on with Allsorts and was a big step in getting to know more young people. At the last youth group he sat with two other young people and gradually got speaking to them. At the end of the group he told youth workers he had a really good time and that "it's nice when I speak to other people" He is continuing to develop his confidence in talking to other people and contribution to group discussion and activities. He was isolated before coming to groups but has made significant progress in reducing this and pushing himself to maintain contact with groups and other young people.
|
Equalities – Disabilities
Lead Organisation – Extratime
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
Extratime has supported 81 young people with high SEND needs at term time clubs and holiday schemes across the year. This includes supporting positive outcomes for young people with a range of learning disabilities including; PMLD, complex medical needs and behaviour challenges due to sensory processing conditions.
Activities include sporting, dance and gaming workshops, karaoke, cookery, and hair and beauty sessions. Whilst we focus on activities that are fun and enjoyable, they also offer opportunities for young people to learn new things and develop new skills. The club is designed to emulate the experience of mainstream peers; recognising teenagers use of social media, technology and gaming. Extratime services also supports development of social and emotional skills by creating safe spaces for discussion around important topics chosen by the young people; internet safety, relationships and societal issues as examples.
This year a former service user of the club joined the holiday scheme staff team as a Play Worker. This was a proud moment for us to see this young person returning with confidence and personal insight, positively impacting on a new generation of young people.
|
|
2. |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people |
|
|
Young people have participated in Youthwise, their voices helping to shape their local community. Specifically, to discuss their experience of education, and the challenges for young people with sensory needs / invisible disabilities in the town centre. Emphasising the need for quiet spaces for young people to regulate when feeling overwhelmed. They are looking forward to taking this forward.
Young people have also contributed to the recruitment process, shaping the JD and interviews with their views about the qualities of their ideal youth worker. This ensures new staff have the values young people felt important to them.
This lovely video was created as part of our participation work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2glpGDpaDQ
|
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
Providing an inclusive space for all young people regardless of disability, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity or religion underpins Extratime’s approach. Our broad range of inclusive activities include pool, table tennis, arts and crafts and karaoke. Workshops include Zumba, Retro computer games, cookery, cricket, multi-sports, and hair and beauty – things young people have previously felt excluded from. All activities are adapted to ensure all young people could take part regardless of ability.
All Extratime youth services are targeted towards young people with a range of learning disabilities, including complex medical needs, PMLD and behaviour that challenges due to sensory processing conditions. Offering high staff ratios to access activities in a safe space has supported many to make friends, build confidence and develop interests outside of our youth settings. We maximise inclusion to enable as much participation as possible. E.g. providing ear defenders for those sensitive to loud noise so they can participate in a Zumba class, or adaptations for a wheelchair user to participate in group games and sports.
We use a range of communication techniques to support young people with communication needs. E.g A Youth Club, 15 year old E is non- verbal and can become frustrated and physically hurt himself and others when he feels he is not understood. Picture Exchange communication systems (PECs) enable him to make choices around his favourite sports.
At Woody’s Youth Scheme, 17-year-old F with PMLD uses ‘Eye Gaze’ to express her decisions around her favourite activities and her personal care. This means she can share her love for cooking and dancing. Recording preferences enable us to build on inclusivity and help the young people get the most out of the club. It is vitally important to all our Youth workers that they give agency to young people, regardless of needs and abilities.
We work in partnership with local specialist schools to develop shared communication methods that are used consistently across young people’s education, home and at Extratime.
Extratime actively works with staff members and partners with additional needs so that our young people have access to positive role models of people with disabilities.
We continue to have strong links with a range of other SEND organisations, LGBTQ+ and BAME young people’s groups in Brighton & Hove and across Sussex at strategic level, ensuring best practice with regards to supporting these groups and their individual needs.
|
|
4 |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
Extratime is committed to partnership working at both strategic and operational levels. Our CEO is an active member of several strategic partnership forums to share resources, ideas and work together to meet the broad needs of our communities.
We are an active member of BHCC's multi-agency resource panel, working with the council to provide additional support for those young people/families identified as being in highest need. Recently, this included a decision to support a young person with a particularly complex needs profile to access the youth club. Where possible we have acted with flexibility to create short notice club spaces and support respite for parent carers. One of our young people recently joined ‘Gig Buddies’ as part of his transition form Youth to Adult services. We have been able to work closely with Gig Buddies to allow a smooth transition for the young person, ensuring that that both the Young person and the supporting service felt comfortable in the support offer and support needs respectively.
Another young person transitioned from Youth Club to the Stay Up Late project. They were matched with a ‘Sport Buddy’, playing tennis together as well as doing other activities. The resilience and confidence built at the youth club gave this particular young person the drive to look for more opportunities. Our relationship with the Stay Up late project created a smoother transition for the Young person who is reported to be really enjoying the opportunities with Stay Up Late.
|
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around promoting prosocial behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
The correlation between families of children with SEND and low income and health inequalities is high. The Fairness Commission (2016): includes reference to vital role of CVS in tackling child poverty (which is 3-times more likely in families with SEND) The BHCC Disability register shows 27% of households with a child with SEND live in council tenancies and over one third of households with SEND young people live in social housing. This means Extratime and the project are well placed to support social inclusion for young people in communities with council house tenancies.
The majority of Extratime’s youth provision is based at Portslade Village Centre in Portslade Old Village, which has been identified as a low IMD (20%) area of deprivation. Alongside these the dedicated SEND club we run in partnership with HKP and Amaze is specifically for young people with SEND who live in Hangleton & Knoll (IMD 10%). This was a response to their request for something local and free to help reduce their isolation and vulnerability at mainstream youth provision. This project reaches some of the most disadvantaged young people facing multiple deprivation, who, without specific, targeted outreach in their area, are very unlikely to know about or how to access Extratime’s youth club.
We promote inclusion of young people with SEND in communities with council tenancies through the SEND Community Outreach Programme (SENDCOP). This includes the monthly parent carer coffee morning we run at Portslade Village Centre in partnership with Amaze, PaCC and Hill Park School PACC. All SEND Youth services will be promoted through the ‘Homing In’ newsletter which is circulated to all council housing tenants across the city, ensuring local council tenancy households with YPs with SEND have information about Extratime, including referral pathways.
|
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. |
|
|
A is 20 years old. A has autism, ADHD, Global developmental delay and a hearing impairment. A has been attending youth club for 4 years. She arrived to Extratime with very low self esteem, unable to talk in a group, often withdrawing from sessions.
A met another young person at youth club and very quickly found herself getting caught up in disruptive behaviour. There were a number of unsafe incidents that had a negative impact on the rest of the group. She, along with her friend, refused to join in with activities and workshops and staff were concerned that A was not getting any positive outcomes from the club. To improve the experience for her, the other young person and the group, the two individuals were separated to attend alternate sessions.
A began to integrate with other young people at the club. After being separated for a while, A began to understand that her previous behaviour was having a negative impact on others and herself. Her confidence has increased, she has shown a great deal of support and empathy to other young people at the club and has become a role model for other members. A is much more engaged in activities and workshops and has developed friendships through activities with group members that have found it hard to engage with the group.
Recently A attended and actively engaged in a Youthwise event on behalf of Extratime. A felt confident to speak at an event which discussed Young people’s experiences of education. A said ‘I was proud to attend the event as a voice for Extratime. Extratime has given me the confidence to speak when before I would be scared to’
Although she is still in contact with the other young person, A felt that being away from her friend at the club was a positive thing. Although encouraged by her friend to request being put back together, A declined as she believed she was achieving more at club the way things were and was happier as a result.
A has shown increased self-awareness while she has attended our youth club. She has become an active member of our youth club that has developed positive relationships and developed skills to support her as an adult.
|
Equalities – BME
Lead Organisation – BMEYPP
|
1. |
Please tell us what safe physical, digital and outreach spaces you have provided in the community that delivers open access, non-formal education to young people that will support their personal and social development |
|
|
Crown Project The BMEYPP have delivered a weekly session for young womxn of colour. This has provided a safe space where young women have had opportunities to explore issues relating to Black hair. This has included Black hair discrimination in schools, colleges and workplaces, micro aggressions experienced by young womxn, black hair care and have made their own natural hair products. The sessions have also used creative arts activities to enable young womxn wider issues that have affected them such as stereotyping as angry Black womxn, ideals of beauty and how these impacts on how they see themselves. These have included, painting, drawing, collage, decorating tote bags with slogans, spoken word and photography sessions. We have also through affirmation activities, provided opportunities for young people to increase their self esteem and fostered an environment of non-judgement and self-acceptance.
Young womxn have fed back that they have appreciated the space and have felt able to share experiences that they have not previously spoken to anyone about. They have gained mutual support and enjoyed the opportunities to receive and give support to each other and share strategies of how to deal with situations. They have also stated that they have made new friends and expanded their networks of support.
|
|
2. |
Please explain how you have delivered activities and opportunities for young people to participate in decision making forums, social action and volunteering, and give examples of how this has empowered young people |
|
|
Champions/Management Committee During the past six months we have been re-establishing the BME Youth Champions Project, and the BMEYPP Management Committee Project. The BMEYPP Management Committee is made up of young people and is responsible for the strategic development of the BMEYPP. We have recruited 6 young people and have held regular meetings with them. We have introduced them to
This has consisted of 6 young people aged 12 to 16 joining the committee, being inducted into what the committee is and does, and how they will participate in decision making processes. The young people are also planning a residential training weekend where they will be trained in their roles and will make strategic decisions about the future development of the organisation. The young people have also been involved in recruiting more young people to join the committee and setting up a process of to include them as members.
The BMEYPP is set up to be a youth led organisation which we take seriously and set up the Management Committee to ensure that young people can take part in decision making processes which impact the very being of the organisation, what we do and how we do it. At the residential young people will be trained in: · Roles and responsibilities of the Management Committee · The officers and their duties · They will explore and review the aims, objectives, mission and vision statements. · They will undertake a SWOT analysis of the organisation · And consider the priority issues/needs they and their peers experience and what support they want to BMEYPP to provide. · Visioning for the BMEYPP for the next 5 years.
The BMEYPP will use this information to prioritise the projects and activities, we will develop and deliver.
Young people will feel empowered because their views and opinions will be considered and acted upon. They will be able to see how they have made a difference and contributed to the organisational development. |
|
3. |
Please tell us what targeted, and specialist youth work you have provided to engage young people with specialist needs, disadvantaged young people or marginalised population groups, giving us examples of where you have improved inclusion. |
|
|
The BMEYPP works with Black and Racially Minoritised young people aged 11 to 25. We define these as young people who are Black, Asian, Arab and of multiple heritage
We provide safe spaces by ensuring that all staff, volunteers as well as members represent the communities of the young people that we target. Over the past 2ix months, we have been able to recruit a volunteer who is an Arabic speaker who has helped Arabic speaking young people to feel included and to access some of the project activities. As well as this we have a part time staff member who is a Spanish speaker and has been able to integrate our Spanish speaking young migrants into our activities. We have increased our staff team and have been able to include a range of ages, and sexual identities within our team. Over the summer we were able to employ a part time worker who specialises in working with young people with SEND needs. They were able to work with individuals and groups of young people with SEND, by encouraging them to take part in BMEYPP activities and trips, and to take things at their own pace and provided a safe space when young people needed quiet time out, and to deal with issues of group dynamics between the various young people with SEND and those without.
|
|
4. |
Please provide examples of where you have worked in partnership with the Council, other youth providers and specialist agencies, acting as a bridge and supporting young people to access other services and being part of a multi-agency group where appropriate. |
|
|
N/A |
|
5. |
How have the services in your area over this period supported communities with council house tenancies, particularly around promoting prosocial behaviour, social inclusion and improving readiness for employment. |
|
|
N/A |
|
6. |
Please provide a case study that provides an example of how the outcomes from the Youth Service Grant Programme Prospectus have been met. |
|
|
C is a young man of Multiple Heritage, aged 16, and on the spectrum. He is part of a large blended family with 6 siblings, and has issues with the chaos of the home.
C started attending the BMEYPP summer of 2021, he presented as shy, has had issues socially interacting with peers preferring to spend time on his own or with a member of staff, and reluctant to be in groups, take risks or step outside his comfort zone.
C has a passion for cooking and loves spending time in the kitchen with a member of staff. This is definitely his safe space. When a group of new young people attended the session C immediately retreated to the kitchen and told us that he does not like people and would not be talking to them.
At first, he would only cook dishes that he had experience of cooking previously, but we have worked with him and suggested that he try and cook new dishes and meals within the sessions, we have put certain strategies in place whereby C would cook something new along with something familiar for a number of weeks and months. C is now more confident in cooking new dishes, and taking suggestions from other members, and working alongside them to prepare the end of session meal.
During these sessions, we have observed that C has grown in confidence. From initially being quite hesitant but showing some interest, as well as making decisions about what to cook, he makes the shopping list, and goes shopping for ingredients with staff. He comes to sessions with his ideas of what to cook and likes to take the leadership role in the kitchen and will assign cooking roles to his peers.
We have provided and encouraged C to take part in activities outside of the kitchen area, such as conducting an interview with a role model as part of the BMEYPP Commonwealth Project, playing board games or just chilling with other members. We carried out a community event as part of the Ageing Well Festival where we invited older people to a drop in session. C was very keen to be involved and helped with different aspects of planning for the evening.
We have observed that he has developed friendships with members, with whom he has fun and shares jokes and stories, becoming a lot more vocal with staff and members alike.
Being able to regularly take part in an activity that he really enjoys has given him the platform to develop skills in areas which he would previously struggle with. For example, his communication skills and talking to new people have improved. He used to be very hesitant around new people, especially a group of them. However, through developing a sense of ownership of the kitchen and drop in space, he has thrived in the environment where he feels more comfortable to step outside of his comfort zone and develop his skills.
As part of our youth work, we have recognised this as an area of importance for C and have ensured he is given the responsibility he needed to develop this sense of ownership and leadership in the kitchen.
We have recruited C to be part of the Management Committee where he has opportunities to develop friendships with a wider team of young people and use his leadership skills that he has developed.
|