Hammersmith and Fulham Action on Disability (HAFAD)

BASIC INFORMATION:

Case study date: June 2006

Local authority in which project based: Hammersmith and Fulham

Date started: 1979 (Agenda for Youth Programme launched in 2000)

Type of organisation: Independent charity/voluntary sector

Brief description:

HAFAD is an independent organisation led by disabled people which promotes equality for disabled people living and working in Hammersmith and Fulham through providing a range of support services, campaigns and developing opportunity and inclusion. The Agenda for Youth programme, driven by the 1^st Chance Project, aims to develop an integrated programme of social and learning opportunities for young disabled people, which provide support and progression pathways into the wider community. The programme includes opportunities for members to volunteer within the organisation or in the community, and to influence local services through regular consultation forums.

Collaboration:

Project works with social services, education department, play and youth service, council regeneration department, Connexions. Other key partners include the Children's Trust, Learning Disability Partnership Board, Millennium Volunteers, Volunteer Development Agency, Enterprise project, Sports Development Team and Youthbank.

Funding:

The council provides core funding from various departments including education (£50k, plus £20k for transport costs), youth service (£47k) and social services (£25k). Other funding streams for progression and volunteering activity include Children's Fund (£22k), regeneration budget (£18k), Access to Work (£22.5k) and Connexions PAYP (£30k). Agenda for Youth was funded by The NYA's Neighbourhood Support Fund between 2000 and 2006, and has Government Office for London funding for 2006-07.

Staffing:

The core 1^st Chance office staff team consists of a project manager, two project coordinators, a project administrator and two youth progression workers. A sessional workers' team includes senior workers, one-to-one and general support workers, drivers, escorts and specialist workshop leaders. User volunteers augment the staff team.

NATURE OF PROVISION

Which groups of young people does the project work with?

The project works with young disabled people aged 11-25 with a wide range of physical, learning and sensory impairments. Most have learning disabilities and half have a compounding physical or sensory disability. 20 per cent of users have high needs requiring one-to-one support. The Agenda for Youth programme provides between 600 and 800 places each year, including up to 30 volunteering opportunities. Nearly half (47%) of the users are from minority ethnic groups, and 40 per cent are female. The project has set targets for building contacts with asylum seekers and refugee communities.

How was the need for the project identified, and by whom?

HAFAD was established as an independent charity in 1979. The 1^st Chance Project has developed youth provision in the borough since 1985, becoming a lead partner in holiday programmes for disabled young people. It secured a service level agreement from the Youth Service to launch Agenda for Youth in 2000, after it identified the need for a more integrated service for young disabled people.

How do young people become involved? What, if any, commitment do you ask for?

Self-referral is possible, but most users are referred from social services, special education or Connexions. Once users reach 16, they are encouraged to get involved in volunteering opportunities as part of their progression.

What are the main approaches used and volunteering opportunities offered?

The project provides a range of leisure, education and social opportunities for young disabled people as part of its Agenda for Youth Programme. This includes volunteering opportunities with up to 30 places for service users. The programme include a holiday youth scheme operating for nine weeks of the school year, providing arts projects, sports activities, life skills, computers and offsite trips, and various term time projects.

Young volunteers work alongside and are supported by the youth work team. They undertake a wide range of activities including supporting workers on outings, overseeing activities, escort duties for the transport service, and general office work. The project also provides opportunities for members to influence local services. It manages a database of service users who want to be actively involved in consultation activity. Close links with the Disability Forum provides further opportunities for members to comment formally on the borough's policies and services. Various panels focus on particular areas, including readers' panels assesssing information to disabled members of the public; a 'mystery shoppers' panel which checks information provided by the council and other bodies; and an access panel which scrutinises planning developments.

How are young people involved in shaping the project/programme and their own volunteering opportunities?

The project has a participation action plan, and all programmes are designed in consultation with members. Users identify their needs and interests through a graffiti wall, facilitated sessions, individual interviews and feedback. Users are also represented on the project's executive committee.

Volunteers take part in pre-scheme planning meetings alongside staff members, and receive support and supervision from specific staff. Links with a local mentoring project provides opportunities for further involvement in the community according to member's interests.

How does the project respond to the specific needs of disabled young people, particularly those with high support needs?

HAFAD provides a fully inclusive service which includes young people with high levels of support need. Agenda for Youth's progression system was initially targeted at users with high and complex needs. One-to-one support is available, and progression monitoring ensures that members' interests and needs are met.

Resources for high needs members include multi-sensory equipment, and overhead tracking hoists for use in the multi-sensory area and personal care changing room.

The project also commissions community transport services for those who need them, although some members are encouraged to make their own transport arrangements as part of their progression.

OUTCOMES OF WORK

How do young people benefit from their involvement in the project?

Volunteers develop skills which help their progression into further education, training or employment, such as timekeeping, health and safety, and communication.

Some young people progress into youth and support work in HAFAD or other local projects, leading to employment opportunities in some cases. There is an effective network of disability organisations in the borough that helps to facilitate progression and build on the volunteering experience at the project. MV has also run joint programmes to encourage progression beyond HAFAD. Volunteers have access to other HAFAD services such as employment, direct payments and benefits advice.

How does your organisation benefit from involving/supporting young disabled people as volunteers (within or outside your organisation)?

Volunteers provide valuable support for the staff team. They set an example to younger members, help support the progression initiatives and promote HAFAD as a user led organisation. They views help improve HAFAD's services, as they have progressed through the service and have a good understanding of users' needs.

How do other young people, organisations or the wider community benefit from the project?

Agenda for Youth aims to facilitate a programme of activity that responds to the diversity within the borough's disabled community. The greater visibility of young disabled people taking on responsibilities challenges prejudices, encourages inclusion and enhances community cohesion Many members sit on other groups and forums, such as the borough's Learning Disabilities Partnership Board and the Strategic Commissioning Group for Learning Disabilities.

How are young people's progress and achievements celebrated, measured and recorded?

ASDAN Work Right scheme is used to recognise work placement skills. The project is planning to use ASDAN Community Volunteering scheme in partnership with a local FE college to provide a pathway in career development. It also uses the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Getting Connected accreditation. HAFAD has its own awards scheme, and is seeking to link this the borough's award programme. Young people gain around 60 awards from schemes and an additional 25 nationally accredited outcomes are achieved each year.

Monitoring of progress takes place through individual programme assessments and the development of personal profile reports.

Members also have an opportunity to report on their own achievements through the annual summer newsletter and the bi-monthly HAFAD bulletin.

MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS

How is the project evaluated and by whom?

Funders require the project to provide quarterly monitoring of financial and user data.

In 2003 the project undertook a comprehensive review of its services, including input from parents and users. A freelance consultant has assisted with evaluating the progress of inclusive partnership work with the Youth Service. HAFAD will be linked to the youth service's 2006-07 Ofsted inspection.

What changes/developments have occurred - or are planned - as a result of evaluation?

Following the 2003 internal review in 2003, HAFAD obtained funding from The NYA Neighbourhood Support Fund to pilot the development of a term-time Coordinator post for the 1^st Chance Project. The initiative helped the project to identify a range of new users, while moving some on to more age appropriate services.

The annual Agenda for Youth review helps to identify the focus of forthcoming programme and the income generation strategy. Current developments include:

a training programme for sessional staff and volunteers, linked to the Every Child Matters agenda. HAFAD intends to draw on the skills and experience of young disabled people from the volunteer programme in delivering some aspects of this training;
installation of a Sensory Studio;
a Bridge working initiative to develop inclusion in other borough youth services; and
work on how young disabled people can become grantmakers for the new youth opportunities and capital funds, including the possible development of a YouthBank.

What are the main barriers you experience when involving/supporting disabled young people as volunteers?

Limited resources linked to short term funding initiatives, affecting levels of and continuity of support - a key issue for those with additional needs.
Low expectations and negative attitudes toward young disabled people in the workplace, often creating additional barriers to the provision of new opportunities.
Difficulties providing good progression opportunities beyond HAFAD, often compounded by lack of adequate support in other work settings.
Additional barriers for those progressing within a project as their change in role can present challenges in working with their peer group.

How has your organisation been able to overcome these barriers?

The successful implementation of the ASDAN workright scheme has helped to provide a framework for development.
The inclusion of volunteers in training programmes helps them identify their roles within the wider staff team and provides clarity for support staff.
Greater clarity on expectations and standards, including recognising that some young people may not yet be ready to volunteer.
Dedicated resources.
Ongoing one-to-one support.
Good management and supervision of workers.
Effective communication

Are there any that still remain, if so, why?

Supporting individual progression through volunteering will always be a challenge because of the wide variety of individual needs and the changing nature of staffing teams.
There are still difficulties in securing effectively supported progression routes beyond the service.

PARTNERSHIP/MULTI-DISCIPLINARY WORKING

When working in partnership, what is the distinctive contribution of your organisation/project?

HAFAD provides an on site service supporting young people's progression into new roles. It is flexible and linked to a range of other services and resources to meet a holistic model of development. It also acts as an advocate for more support and resources for other groups through social services.

Has this partnership resulted in greater collaboration or increased understanding between partners?

Yes. A recent example is work with MV to help them develop a peer support bid linking disabled volunteers up to buddies for future work placements.

STRATEGIC IMPACT

Do you consider this project to be innovative?

Yes, because it has developed within a delivery service and helps empowers disabled people to take control of their own services as part of their transition experience.

How do you disseminate the learning from the project?

Annual report, summer newsletter and Open Day event.

Has the learning from this work influenced wider organisational/service strategies? If so, how?

Through partnership working with the MV and Youth Services and input to consultations.

What plans do you have to sustain/develop this work?

The project continues to promote its volunteering programmes through the borough's development programmes, e.g. regeneration and the Children's Trust Board.

CONTACT

Richard Day, Deputy Director/ Youth Services Manager, HAFAD, Greswell Centre, Greswell Street, London SW6 6PX. Tel: 0207 471 8510. E-mail: Richard.day@hafad.org.uk