Diversionary activities are provided either through contracted agencies or through a Lambeth PAYP central programme run by key workers.

Transcription

1 Lambeth Positive Activities for Young People Briefing to Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group 10 th January Lambeth Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) PAYP schemes target at risk young people to support them away from criminal behaviour and other risky activities. PAYP support to young people is offered through two means: intense one-to-one key working and the provision of diversionary activities. Lambeth s budget is split approximately between key work provision and diversionary activity provision. Lambeth PAYP is one of 7 schemes within the Central London Partnership and receives under 700,000 per annum to provide its service. Lambeth s scheme is the largest within the Central London Partnership, and the Partnership is one of the most successful examples of PAYP provision in the Country. Lambeth PAYP has surpassed its annual targets each year of provision. PAYP schemes are now funded until 2008 when they will be subsumed into the Childrens' Trust. It has been announced that Big Lottery Fund funding for the schemes diversionary activities will be reduced over the next two years. The Big Lottery cut will mean a reduction of 46% of the PAYP budget for activities. Key Working in Lambeth is provided by a team of 12 key workers working with agencies such as Youth Advocacy Programme UK, Youth Inclusion Programme, Resettlement Aftercare Provision, LCPT, etc. A Team Leader supervises the Key Work Team. Diversionary activities are provided either through contracted agencies or through a Lambeth PAYP central programme run by key workers. Government Office for London have this year increased the focus of PAYP schemes towards targeting a smaler number of at risk young people; in 2005/6 Lambeth PAYP s young persons participation cap has been reduced from 1300 young people to a maximum of 939 (this total includes both young people key worked and young people participating in diversionary activities). The aim of the cap is to direct PAYP towards funding schemes that provide ongoing development support across the year to smaller numbers of at risk young people i.e., 15 YPs participating in a scheme over 3 or 6 months rather than 200 young people attending a 1 day event. Additional to this change, PAYP schemes are being directed to provide developmental learning provision, leaving behind leisure based schemes. For example, sports and arts schemes can only be funded if they are used as a magnet activity to draw at risk young people into social development, careers, education or life skills schemes. Lambeth Uproject - Work with Young People in Care In 2005/6 Lambeth PAYP for the first time received Government funds to deliver the Uproject in Lambeth. This scheme supports young people s transition from school to employment, training, etc. Lambeth PAYP decided to focus this scheme on Lambeth s looked after young people one of the most vulnerable groups in the Borough. 32 vulnerable young people in local authority care were supported by the Scheme, through 1 to 1 key working, group work and a residential. The young people have been supported with developing confidence, group work and team work, looking at available opportunities for 1

2 progression, as well as usual key worker support with their personal problems. The residential consisted of two groups of 15 young people attending intensive workshops to help them plan for their future, and to explore and identify key areas that the young people would like to focus on once they retuned to London. In partnership with the Lambeth Youth Council the young people produced a video diary of their experiences and made recommendations. The young people are now in the process of developing a support group that will lead on developing a training video for teachers, social workers, youth worker and any other professionals that provide a service to young people in care. 2. Diversionary Activities: What PAYP does fund: Inventive schemes involving life skills development/ awareness raising / skills development/ education Targeting small numbers of young people 10 to 15 per scheme Schemes developed around the needs of a known group of young people at risk Young people participating are at risk Ongoing schemes 4 to 6 weeks over the summer; the full period of half-term breaks Schemes will provide a minimum of 10 hours per week of activity provision for each young person (up to 35 hours per week of provision is favoured) Residentials with a life skills development theme Projects can run multi schemes at once or across the year Projects that improve community cohesion What PAYP does not fund: Open access activities General youth provision Day trips or outings (except as rewards for achievement) Activities with more than 15 young people participating at a time This change of focus means that it is very difficult for PAYP to fund large-scale, general open access provision during 2005/6. One exception to this rule is Lambeth PAYP has agreed with Government Office of London/ Central London Connexions to fund the Metropolitan Police Summer Trust Project in the summer of 2005 on the basis that it is a good practice scheme that develops relationships between the Police and young people appx 750 young people were provided with 4 weeks of activities in 3 sites across Lambeth. Examples of Diversionary Activity Provision in 2005/6 Being Healthy - PAYP promoted healthy lifestyles to children and young people during the Summer holiday period through the provision of: Lambeth Youth Council (LYC) Young Men's Project The Project was delivered throughout August to 15 young men aged between 13 and 19. It focused on the needs of and issues affecting young men. The Project delivered a range of modules using interactive workshops, poetry, spoken word, music, role-play, activities and visits. Module subjects include: Culture General Health & Well being Mental Health Awareness Domestic Violence Rites & Responsibilities 2

3 Sexual Health & Teenage Pregnancy Participants were also encouraged to join a follow on Peer Education Project from September focusing on Substance Misuse and Risk. Lambeth Youth Inclusion Programme This project used the medium of film to empower 15 participants aged 14 to 17 to produce a piece of work which represents young people and the issues of most importance to them. Alongside developing technical skills, the programme was designed with workshops that address specific themes and issues, for example identity and power in the media. Throughout the project participants also learnt the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. Each young person was given a specific role of responsibility within the team taking on individual challenges and new experiences. They were encouraged to support and communicate with each other developing their personal and team work skills. The technical aspects of the programme were delivered by professional staff using high quality digital camera equipment and recording facilities. Young people had the opportunity to learn how to use all the equipment and produced and edited the project from its initial stage to its completion. The project was designed and delivered in partnership with the Albany Theatre. Yoga for Young Mothers - PAYP Central Programme The benefits of yoga for young mothers is to provides knowledge of the bodies, assist in their experience of pregnancy and is a life long experience which will enable them to make positive decision in a safe environment that is for them and their babies. From this experience the young mothers are able to develop their: 1) Self- worth 2) Self Esteem 3) Self-Respect 4) Self- Confidence Da Project- ACAPS ongoing programme Sep 05- Mar 06 The Da Project is running over 6 months training young Peer Educators (16-25) to become fully aware of the issues around the abuse of Drugs and Alcohol. The training covered will be: Personal development and preparing for work life Health Crime and guns Violence The Peer Educators will receive an accredited certificate to highlight their achievements and become Educators in the felid of Substance misuse. Staying Safe - PAYP contributed to the protection of vulnerable young people and, with the support of other key partners, helping safeguard them from harm through the provision of: Lambeth Youth Inclusion Programme Young Womens Project The programme consisted of a number of workshops and activities that cumulated into a week long residential for a core group of girls between the ages of 8 12 living in the Coldharbour ward. The young people that took part in the residential are a core group of girls whom have been identified as having higher than average vulnerability and therefore likely to experience social exclusion in one or more environments. This group has a plethora of issues ranging from low self-esteem, lack of confidence, family conflict, and puberty associated issues. The residential complimented existing personal development work 3

4 currently being undertaken with these young girls and assisted in equipping them with the necessary skills needed to function in a healthy and productive manner. The residential seeked to address eight issues that the young people need to address to achieve a healthy transition between childhood and adolescents. These eight themes are; 1) Trust 2) Self Esteem 3) Self-Respect 4) Responsibility 5) Living with others 6) Sharing 7) Community 8) Listening Enjoy & Achieve PAYP will support young people to achieve their goals and enjoy their teenage years whilst doing so through the provision of: Landsdowne Youth Centre (LYC) LYC worked in partnership with Noh Budget Films to deliver Summer Splash 05 a two week youth arts programme for YP aged 11 to 19 which includes workshops in Dance, Drama & Music. Additional to workshop themes, the Project developed young people s skils in: Working with others Problem solving Improving self learning Performance skills Photography Project - PAYP Central Programme The Project s purpose was to involve PAYP key worked young people in the planning, management and production of a photography project about the work of PAYP in Lambeth. The Project ran from mid July for 8 weeks concluding in an exhibition of the work at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The young people taking part in the Project were asked to attend a minimum of three photography sessions that focused on photographic technique and use of digital and / or analogue SLR cameras. In the following two session participants were given the opportunity to take photographs related to the subject of the exhibition. This involved meeting with PAYP Key Workers and their clients and photographing their activities. The best and most illustrative examples of the photographic work was then selected for the final exhibition. Lambeth Crime Prevention Trust Offered a range of music and film activities to at risk young people across Lambeth, key work support was made available at each of the sessions. All young people were aged 8-19 years and were identified, targeted and referred as being most at risk of crime, antisocial behaviour and social exclusion. Holiday Intervention Project Recruited and trained 32 young people to act as Associate Mentors consulting their peers regarding activity provision, then planning and delivering activities to more than 150 young people. Many of the activities were developmental and provided by local colleges. All young people were aged 8-19 years and were identified, targeted and referred as being most at risk of crime, antisocial behaviour and social exclusion. 4

5 ORIGIN- ongoing programme Oct 05- Sep 06 Origin is a 1year community rites of passage programme that provides personal development and community mentoring for young black¹ men (13-18 years old) with the aim of work with families and agencies to support young men in their transition to adulthood. The Project hope to instil outcomes: 1) Reduction of at risk behaviour 2) Enhanced identity development 3) Increased awareness of social issues that impact on the lives of young Black men within the context of their community 4) Greater sense of Black historical achievements that contribute towards positive personal self- confidence 5) Increased awareness of linkages between rights, roles and responsibilities 6) Greater appreciation of the other agencies for continuous development 7) Increased awareness and preparation to voluntarily enrol on the ORIGIN rites of passage programme for young Black men. Economic Well-being - PAYP will encourage and support young people to enter and remain in education, training and employment after the age of 16, through the provision of: Family Friends (FF) FF delivered an accredited training programme to 30 young people, aged 13-19, over 6 weeks, focused on Music, Media and developing Social Enterprise. Trainees were able to: Gain an accredited qualification (LCON or AQA) Gain music production skills (Reason and Cubase SX2 and other non linear music production software) Produce a CD of their work Promote and market their skills & services Gain team work experience Improve confidence & self esteem Take advantage of work placements & other employment opportunities Lambeth Youth Advocacy Programme Ran a five week programme for 30 young offenders on court orders / ISSP which focused on the provision of skills, education and employment. Each week the Young People were provided with 4 full days of training on an occupational skill, with the fifth day put aside for a leisure based activity reward. The training covered the following areas: Plumbing Workshop Cookery Workshop Gas Engineering Workshop Painting & Decorating Workshop Electrician Workshop Family Friends (FF) ongoing project Sep 05- Mar 06 From the success of the summer programme, FF will deliver an accredited training programme to 15 young people, aged 13-19, over 6 months (Sep 05- Mar 06), focusing on developing and managing a Social Enterprise. Young Trainee s wil be able to: Gain an accredited qualification (LCON or AQA) Promote and market their skills & services Gain team work experience Improve confidence & self esteem Take advantage of work placements & other employment opportunities 5

6 Making a Positive Contribution - Connexions will support all young people to improve local services for young people in their area/community, through the provision of: Family Housing Association (FHA) Ran a film project for 30 young people two groups aged 13 to 16 and 16 to 19 - focusing on key issues such as: Anti-social behaviour; Personal Safety Sexual Health Gun Crime Identity The ethos behind the Project was to address the high levels of ASB related to young people within communities, and to break down barriers to opportunity available to young people from deprived and disadvantaged backgrounds. The Project aimed to: Provide opportunities normally unavailable to them; Enable young people to develop and learn a variety of new skills in new media Allow the young people to challenge the way in which they are portrayed within the community Breakdown the barriers of territories by bringing together young people from different areas of Lambeth Vauxhall City Farm (VCF) Summer Film Project The Summer film project was on the theme of keeping young people safe at VCF. This theme will be continued and developed over the coming year. The has engaged young people to address personal safety, staying safe within the community and looking at the needs of the other people within our locality. The freedom pass holders (a group of young people who have been inducted and trained) will work with 2 skilled film professionals and a host of volunteers and actors to produce an innovative Health and Safety film shot on VCF for future young people to watch, learn and be safe whilst enjoying their experience at the farm. The young people will get the chance to learn techniques used by film professionals and will then be encouraged to apply them to the production of this short 30min film. Save A Mate (SAM) ongoing programme PAYP central programme The SAM project in partnership with the GEL project and the British Red Cross are in their second round of training young Peer Educators is relation to Emergence First Aid. The Peer Educators will receive an accredited certificate to highlight their achievements. The main body of the training is to empower young people to be able to; Cope Deliver Provide an insight into health, safety and the quality of life, which will benefit themselves, their peeps and the communities. 3. Community Cohesion Community Cohesion is a focus added by the Home Office to PAYP in Year 2 of the Scheme, without additional funds. The issues that Lambeth focuses upon include: Weapons use Gang culture Resident and youth conflict Refugees and asylum seekers Homophobia in schools Substance misuse 6

7 2005/6 will see PAYP further develop our existing community cohesion projects, for example: The Lambeth Project (formerly the David Morley Project) This initiative provides anti-homophobic bullying training to Lambeth schools and is in response to reports of increasing homophobic bullying in schools and to the recent tragic violent death of David Morley on the South Bank for which 6 Lambeth teenagers have been charged. PAYP will additionally employ a full-time LGBT Key Worker post to provide high intensity support to LGBT young people at risk. First Aid Peer Training Project Save a Mate In partnership with Lambeth Youth Council and the Red Cross, Lambeth PAYP is developing and funding a peer education project aimed at equipping young people with the first aid skills needed to save the life of their peers who receive weapons injuries. The scheme is a response to the tragic death of Damiola Taylor and to the rising number of incidents of young people carrying weapons into schools and youth clubs in Lambeth. ORIGIN Origin is a 1 year community rites of passage programme that provides personal development and community mentoring for young black¹ men (13-18 years old) with the aim of work with families and agencies to support young men in their transition to adulthood. The Project hope to instil outcomes: 1) Reduction of at risk behaviour 2) Enhanced identity development 3) Increased awareness of social issues that impact on the lives of young Black men within the context of their community 4) Greater sense of Black historical achievements that contribute towards positive personal self- confidence 5) Increased awareness of linkages between rights, roles and responsibilities 6) Greater appreciation of the other agencies for continuous development 7) Increased awareness and preparation to voluntarily enrol on the ORIGIN rites of passage programme for young Black men. Lambeth has funded a range of schemes that support at risk young people to counter the culture of weapons use and gang membership, including film projects, music and performance initiatives, etc. 4. Integrating Holiday Activities Provision in Lambeth The Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership was set up to evaluate current Council and community holiday activity provision with the aim of clarifying objectives and strategically improving provision both across the Council and in agencies funded by the Council. The Partnership has met twice, with a membership of agencies with a role in funding / providing diversionary activities to children & young people: Education Business Partnership Positive Activities for Young People Youth & Play Services Children s Fund YOT Community Safety Lambeth Crime Prevention Trust The Partnership has agreed to undertake the following tasks: 7

8 The collation of relevant agencies priorities & targets for activity provision The collation of relevant agencies budget and spend on activity provision (both commissioned and in-house) The collation of targeted and general provision spend (both commissioned and in-house) The collation of organisations commissioned to provide activities (both cost and description of activity) Sharing of commissioning and funding strategies & processes. Lambeth PAYP has undertaken the above tasks and will build this data into a report for discussion by the Partnership, Youth JAG and agreement by the Integrated Youth Senior Management Team. The Partnership has agreed to consider each member s budget and resources with the aim of reducing overlap in the areas of priorities, targeting resources and spend. Proposed Way Forward 1. Partnership Working 1.1. That the Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership continues to meet with the role of coordinating the Council s diversionary activities programme for children & young people That the Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership develop agreed joint priorities and targets for providing a strategic annual programme of children & young people s diversionary activities for discussion by the Youth JAG and agreement by the Integrated Youth Senior Management Team That the Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership undertakes the role of putting into practice the agreed joint priorities and targets for providing a strategic programme of children & young people s diversionary activities 2. Programme Organisation 2.1. That the Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership sets as its initial target the effective coordination of diversionary activities for Summer 2006/ That the Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership supports all member agencies to clarify their priorities and targets for 2006/7 and ensure that all activity providers (both commissioned and in-house) are able to plan and manage provision, and provide clear information on provision for 2006/7 to an appropriate timetable for publication. That Lambeth PAYP take the lead in delivering the above That a Holiday Programme Coordinator post be recruited to oversee the collation and publicity of Summer activity provision. That this post be funded by the Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership members. That this post be placed within the Lambeth PAYP team. 3. Budget 3.1. That Lambeth Holiday Activities Partnership members clarify their diversionary activity spend for 2006/7 (both commissioned and in-house spend and Targeted and 8

9 general provision) and come together on a regular basis to effectively jointly commission diversionary activities. Lee Hewitson Lambeth PAYP Manager 9

10 LAMBETH POSITIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE YAP Connexions YIP Youth & Play LCPT YOT RAP Government Office for London Central London Connexions Integrated Youth Services Connexions LMC PAYP Referral Panel PAYP Manager Key Worker Team Leader PAYP Key Workers EBP 5 posts PAYP Key Workers YIP 2 posts Project Development Officer MI Administrators YAP / RAP 3 posts LCPT 2 posts Lambeth Project Anti-homophobic Bullying in Schools Lambeth LGBT Forum 10

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