Signpost

BASIC INFORMATION

Case study date: October 2005

Local authority in which project based: Sheffield

Date started: March 1999

End date if not ongoing: March 2006

Type of organisation: Voluntary youth organisation

Brief description

Signpost is a voluntary youth organisation working in partnership with schools to engage 'at risk' young people to become involved in alternative personal and social education programmes including volunteering, group work, accredited training and employment opportunities. It focuses on young people in the Manor/Castle area of Sheffield who are not thriving in mainstream education, involving them in a range of activities while building up their confidence and self-esteem. There is a strong focus on involving young people in the regeneration of the local community, and on encouraging young people to attain or improve qualifications in order to boost their life chances. Most young people stay with the project for two years, and Signpost has strong links with Connexions through a personal adviser based in the youth centre - both factors are key to its long-term success. The project is based in a multi-use centre and managed by an umbrella organisation (The Young People's Health Project)

Funding

£40,000 p.a. from NYA Neighbourhood Support Fund until end March 2006. It also makes a small charge to the schools that it works with (approx £500 a month).

Staffing

One full-time manager, one full-time project worker, one part-time admin worker who is also a level 2 youth worker delivering basic skills.Supervision is by Sheffield Futures team leader. The local Parks and Open Spaces team provides a part-time environment worker.

NATURE OF PROVISION

Which groups of young people does the project work with?

Signpost works with up to 50 young people a year, predominantly white young men aged 14 to16 targeted by schools as failing to achieve academically and/or socially.

How was the need for the project identified?

Manor has been identified as an area of acute poverty, unemployment, ill health and early death. The project started in 1999 with funding from NYA Neighbourhood Support Fund.

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

Young people are referred through a range of agencies, including schools, Connexions advisers, Behavioural Improvement project workers, and through other youth provision. Young people choose whether to get involved - the work is based on a voluntary relationship. Participants go through an induction period covering health and safety, equal opportunities, 'why are we here?' and developing action plans.

What are the main approaches used and activities offered?

The project runs a range of groups, including off-site provision for groups of young people in year 10 and 11 (separate groups) at risk of disengaging from mainstream education, work with young people not attending or excluded from school, and pre-and post-16 literacy groups. Most participants stay with the project for two years until leaving school, and attend for between three and five hours a week. All young people are supported by a worker from their school. As they move towards the end of year 11 each group has approximately eight sessions in the youth centre where Connexions advisers can help them review their options, help them with college and employment applications and so on.

Groups develop their own work programmes, including community projects and challenges. Following initial sessions clarifying expectations, each group develops its own work programme based on participants' needs. Examples of activities include

using drama and IT to work on young people's issues, for instance developing a magazine about crime for other young people;
practical environmental work such as building walls, stone-carving and improving the grounds around a local church;
IT and digital art, and graffiti art;
local history projects;
an allotment project, through which young people grow healthy food and learn to enjoy outdoor activities; and
a cookery club, where they are encouraged to explore healthier cooking options.

Specialist training for staff and young people has allowed them to provide 'tasters' in a number of skill areas including welding, woodwork and digital art, which in 2003 resulted in an art day focusing on young people's health. Signpost seeks to balance sessions most likely to appeal to young men with those likely to be popular with young women, for instance following a theme of 'outdoor' work with one focusing on art or drama.

Signpost was also involved in Sheffield Future's Young Leaders in the Community Project, which won first prize for European Youth Drugs Prevention from the Pompidou group and the Council of Europe. In 2003-04 the project received funding from Opportunities for Volunteers to provide health promotion and provide health promotion and awareness of sexual health, outreach and support for young parents.

How are young people involved in shaping the project/programme?

Young people involved in the project have always designed and evaluated programme content. As projects become more established, young people take on greater responsibility and autonomy. Young people are also involved in drawing up personal development plans. Staff and young people decide together on all project spending other than core costs.

How does the project respond to the needs of different young people, particularly the most marginalised?

By using art, drama and hands-on projects, Signpost is able to engage young people who might find some other activities difficult due to language, literacy and a host of learning difficulties. Once a certain level of trust has been established between staff and the young people, participants are encouraged to work on their basic skills.

OUTCOMES OF WORK

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

Young people with low academic achievement levels increase their confidence and self-esteem, and gain access to a range of accredited learning. During phase one of the project, (2000-03) 72 per cent of participants returned to education, training or employment. Twenty-seven year-11 young people attending one project at Myrtle Springs Schools gained a total of 113 accredited outcomes between them, from GCSEs, GNVQs, ASDAN awards in maths and English to more diverse subjects such as child care, expressive arts, business studies, textiles and electronics. Portfolios have been important in helping young people secure further opportunities in employment and training.

How do others (young people, organisations or wider community) benefit from the project?

Young people have made a tangible and visible contribution to local regeneration, and are now seen as central to local regeneration processes. Their activities have included:

community challenges to assess and meet the needs of vulnerable local people, e.g. making benches for community use';
development of community play zones involving parents, residents and volunteers;
young people delivering play schemes and junior provision across 'hotspots' on the estate; and
respecting diversity and celebrating difference projects with lesbian and gay young people, young refugees and young disabled people.

Signpost has recently played an important role in a major city council project. Sheffield City Council is developing a new district park using a sustainable urban drainage system - one of the first in the UK. The system will create a range of water features such as landscaped ponds, wildlife habitat and, potentially, a fishing lake for local community use. Signpost members have developed materials, including posters and working models, which show how the water will be cleaned through the ponds in the park, to educate those using the park about how to care for it.

Does the project contribute to community cohesion?

The project has made a major contribution to improving inter-generational relationships, as other residents see how young people have improved their estate. The community allotment project involves young people working with and being supported by adult/elderly allotment holders. There is a strong focus on ensuring that the community knows the positive impact of the work the young people are doing - for instance, following their work on a local church, the minister has opened up the grounds for celebrations, summer events and barbecues.

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

Signpost uses a range of methods, including individual interviews and written needs assessments using Getting Connected themes, young people's personal development plans, session recording by young people and staff. Each half term starts with an evaluation/planning session. Young people develop portfolios to track their progress. Project offers a range of local and national accreditation, including Sheffield Futures certificate of achievement, accreditation for training in child care, first aid, health and safety and food hygiene, ASDAN, sports leadership, Millennium Volunteers and Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Celebrations are held to highlight 'softer' outcomes that do not fit into accreditation.

MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS

How is the project evaluated and by whom?

Signpost is reviewed as part of city council quality assurance process, and is evaluated by The NYA

What are the findings of any evaluation to date?

The NYA evaluation of the first three years of the programme highlighted the range and depth of work, the level of innovation, the focus on literacy, the development of strong relationships with partners, and specialist training for staff. It concluded that it had demonstrated 'considerable success.'

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

The project has continued to explore and strengthen partnerships, as it sees this as the key to its success.

What factors help the work?

The local Education Action Zone project director described the particular strengths of Signpost as its 'flexible and open approach that has been used to engage students for whom mainstream school curriculum is not wholly suitable.' Its location in a multi-use centre means that support is accessible, while its multi-agency approach means that it can refer young people on to the most appropriate support. The length of young people's involvement with the project (two years, in most cases) is critical to long-term success.

What factors hinder the work?

Insecure funding.

PARTNERSHIP/MULTI-DISCIPLINARY WORKING

What other agencies do you work with?

Signpost works in partnership with range of local agencies, including schools, Connexions (with a PA based at the centre), Sheffield Futures, Education Action Zone, Family Support Project, Manor Assembly, the primary care trust and health Action Zone, Bradford University, environmental agencies and M.A.T.R.E.C (a local training agency).

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

An agreement is in place with Sheffield LEA. The project has developed a written agreement for schools that needs to be completed before work is undertaken, to ensure that all involved understand Signpost's values, principles and ways of working

Has this partnership resulted in greater collaboration or increased understanding between partners? If so, how?

In the past local schools were unsupportive of the work Signpost was trying to do, viewing it as a 'soft option' for young people. Having demanded closer partnership working and provided young people with valuable accreditation, the schools are now willing to pay for a service that was once difficult to 'give' away.

STRATEGIC IMPACT

Do you consider this project to be innovative?

Signpost has always put young people at the its 'helm', with the result that it is constantly changing to suit the needs of the individuals and groups attending. Young people are best placed to take a lead on influencing and contributing to youth provision.

How do you disseminate the learning from the project?

Through presentations to a range of local agencies; articles in local and national press; and through nominations for a wide range of awards - for instance CSV Make a Difference Day.

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

Contracts and partnerships are currently being explored to create sustainability.

CONTACT

Anita Redfern
Steel Inn Centre
135 Harborough Avenue
Manor Park
Sheffield

E-mail: anita.redfern@btconnect.com