Staying safe
Some young work projects target the most vulnerable young people, offering them practical help to help improve their circumstances and support to develop their personal and social skills.
Youth work can also help all young people explore issues of risk and develop their ability to recognise and practise behaviour that minimises their exposure to risk. This can take the form of:
Also of interest...
- Targeted work for marginalised young people, such as those abused through prostitution, young people leaving care, or those with special needs;
- Awareness-raising work with young people in schools, college or youth organisations on issues related to risk and safety;
- Practical support such as access to housing, transport, food or laundry facilities for socially excluded young people;
- Partnership work with other organisations to enable vulnerable young people to access services;
- Providing a safe environment for young people experiencing discrimination.
To view any case study in full, please click on the name of the organisation.
Buckinghamshire Community and Youth Engagement Intergenerational Project
Brief description, including aims and objectives:
Buckinghamshire Community and Youth Engagement (BCYE) Intergenerational Project was developed as part of its post-16 citizenship programme. It began in January 2006 as a two year pilot project in the north of the county, using the theme of World War 2 to build positive relationships between young people and older people. It uses a range of activities to enable young people and older people to share experiences and knowledge using the four themes of conflict, consequences, resolution and reconciliation. In addition to group work, field trips and community action projects, the programme included a joint residential to the site of the Normandy invasion and an educational visit to Berlin for the young people. Participants helped produce a DVD resource documenting their experience, for use as a learning and promotional tool to encourage further intergenerational activities.
Darlington Intergenerational
Brief description, including aims and objectives:
This partnership project brings young people and older people together to find common ground, break down barriers and explore intergenerational issues across Darlington using a variety of creative mediums. As part of an initial 12 week programme, the group produced a short film based on their discussions and secured separate funding to create a range of resources to support the development of intergenerational work more widely. Members of the group continue to be actively involved by developing and delivering workshops promoting intergenerational work to a variety of local youth, community and school based groups. As a result of the original programme some young people involved in the group have joined their local Community Partnership, participating in local decision making at a strategic level.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
Waltham Forest award winning Defending Da Hood (DDH) project was set up in 2004 to work with ‘hard to reach’ young people and address the issues which are relevant to them whilst raising awareness of employment, health, crime and community safety. The project’s core aim is to improve the life chances of young people and reduce gang-related crime. It uses a programme of community events and activities to create an environment where young people can tackle issues such as gang culture, gun crime, teenage pregnancy and community tensions. Regular youth forums and consultation events provide young people with a platform to discuss issues of concern and influence local service provision.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) is a community based youth action project using sports and youth work to engage young people and support them in developing projects which benefit the community and improve relationships between people from different ethnic and age groups throughout the London Borough of Camden. Set up in 1997, its motto is 'young people creating a better community'. The projects include a community football programme, the Unity Cup anti-racist football tournament, a drug peer research project, a young residents' association, and a range of intergenerational and environmental activities. By bringing different groups together, FYA has restored pride and ownership of the local environment and helped generate a sense of community among residents.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
Kings Norton New Deal for Communities (NDC) Youth Strategy, operating on the 3 Estates in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham, has been developed under the leadership of Birmingham Youth Service. The strategy aims to ensure that young people’s involvement in local regeneration is ‘built in, not bolted on’, with young people working for change in partnership with mainstream service providers and policy makers. The Youth Strategy Team, supported by three Peer Liaison Officers, is developing a strategy for delivering the five core Every Child Matters outcomes in consultation with local young people. The 3 Estates Youth Forum has been established to provide a mechanism for the coordinated involvement of children and young people in decision making processes, including formal links to the NDC board and the Extended Schools Cluster. Forum members take part in consultation activity and are promoting the use of Hear by Right participation standards to local organisations. To date they have developed a manifesto outlining their priorities, begun contributing to plans for local facilities and services, and taken part in recruitment processes. Once the forward strategy document is produced, they will play a more active role in taking forward recommendations arising from the ECM research.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
Multi Agency Project for Young People (MAP) is an area-based regeneration initiative working with young people aged 11-21 as part of New Deal for Communities (NDC) strategy in the ABCD (All Saints and Blakenhall Community Development) area of Wolverhampton. It aims to provide activities and support for young people at risk of educational, employment and personal social exclusion by putting them at the forefront of improving the social environment in which they live as well as improving their own education and career prospects. The ABCD youth forum ‘Positive Youth Action’ group provides opportunities to influence service provision and effect change locally A range of volunteering opportunities is also available including cycle repair and maintenance work. Motiv8 learning programme and opportunities to gain formal accreditation in areas such as Junior Sports Leadership provide young people with the necessary training and support to assist in their personal and social development and become actively involved in the community.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
The Maypole Centre provides planned programmes of support to young people in the Druids Health area within a target age range of 11-25. It seeks to improve personal and social development and assist with entry into education, training, employment through programmes on sexual health, substance misuse, adventure and sports opportunities, alternative education, personal development, mentoring, peer education and arts development. The Centre's 'Innov8' programme provides in-depth support to young people at risk through a one-year development programme funded by the Department of Health. This funding ends in March 2007. The centre is one of few statutory youth service outlets with a contract with Supporting People to deliver housing related floating support to 40 young people at any one time, assisting them to move to independent living.
A National Voice
Brief description, including aims and objectives
A National Voice (ANV) is an organisation run by and for care experienced young people, with staff who have themselves been in care. Set up in 1999, its main aim is to create positive changes to the care system in England and provide a national platform for approximately 60,000 looked after children and young people, plus a further approx 50,000 care leavers. Its work includes consultation with young people, organising regional and national events for young people and promoting a positive image of young people from care. It works alongside voluntary organisations and local authorities to improve the care system, and raise awareness and promote the rights of young people in and leaving care. Its work is guided by a management committee consisting of young people aged 14 to 24.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
The Parallel is a young persons' health centre designed by young people for young people. The project offers a range of health and well-being services for young people aged 11 to 19 through a holistic approach involving collaboration with partner organisations. The Parallel aims to work with young people in securing their right to a positive and health lifestyle through their involvement in all stages of planning for the future direction of the centre.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
Hartlepool based RESPECT (Reaching Every Social and Personal Effect Concerning Teenagers) provides a mentoring and befriending service with professional counselling support for young people aged 11-19. The overall aims of RESPECT are to help young people reduce self-harm, bullying and isolation, increase youth participation and improve holistic well-being. It operates a four tier support service - including counselling and referral to external services - enabling young people to access the appropriate level of support. This case study will focus on the services offered in levels one and two: befriending with group support, and mentoring.
RESPECT became a constituted voluntary organisation in 2004 and offers a range of services in addition to mentoring and befriending. These include accredited training schemes, issue based workshops, and an all year round drop in service.
Brief description, including aims and objectives
St Basils works with young people aged 16 to 25 to enable them to find and keep a home, to develop their confidence, skills and opportunities, and to prevent homelessness. It has developed a range of services for young people at risk, including providing accommodation and support for around 400 young people in Birmingham, Solihull and Redditch. It is committed to involving young people at all levels of the organisation, with young people involved in setting standards, identifying priorities and improving services, in particular through its youth advisory board. St Basils also supports the Schools Training and Mentoring Project (STaMP), through which young people are involved in peer education and mentoring on housing and homelessness issues, in order to prevent homelessness among other young people.
StreetGames
Brief description, including aims and objectives:
StreetGames is a national charity providing sports programmes for young people living in disadvantaged communities who are not current participants or members of sports clubs. Young people can access sport and dance opportunities where, when and how they want. Training is often done in basic but convenient facilities such as local parks and community spaces. Volunteers of all ages are involved in StreetGames, with a volunteer programme specifically for young people – the Co-Operative StreetGames Youth Volunteering Programme - currently being developed.
The programme aims to:
- provide a route into sustained and regular sport;
- develop local leadership, citizenship and coaching skills within communities;
- spread skills and knowledge so sports workers learn how to involve young people;
- support renewal agencies in communicating with young people about their sporting needs and other lifestyle issues.
StreetGames operates through an expanding network of projects (currently 24) across England. This case study focuses on Reading StreetGames which has a proven track record of working with young volunteers.
Youth on Health (YOH!) is part of the Leeds Education Healthy Schools Initiative and supports the citizenship curriculum. It aims to provide a city wide forum on health run by and for young people recruited from primary and secondary schools working with Leeds Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Leeds Healthy Schools Standard (LHSS), giving them opportunities to identify health related issues within their schools and bring about positive change to improve their health. Pupils represent their school and are supported through YOH! to become ambassadors for change and making a difference.
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