Positive Activities for Young People in Newcastle Catherine Fitt Executive Director of Children’s Services

Young People in Newcastle

Publicising Positive Activities in Newcastle Audit of existing services for Young People Enhancing the Young People’s Zone of the Children and Young People’s Directory directory.org.ukhttp://newcastle.cyp- directory.org.uk Average of 2,482 hits per day in August 07; 3,214 for October 07 Developing alreet.com – our website specifically for young people in the City. Developing a magazine aimed at Young People aged promoting youth provision available across all sectors in the City

The Interactive Project Aims: To identify young people in the Byker area who are most at risk of being involved in anti social/criminal activity or being excluded from school To engage with these young people and support them to integrate back into the local area and school life Develop and promote social inclusion through 1:1 support, group work, award programmes, holiday programmes, outreach and home visits Nationally accredited programme over a 6-month period, 8 key elements to the award including St John’s Ambulance Young Lifesavers Award

For the period July-September 2007: 46 individuals accessing the service 11 young people new to the service 46 young people involved directly in making decisions about the programme of the project 22 different activities offered 86 activity sessions offered 23 young people achieving accreditation 10 individual parents accessing the Family Support Service 100% of users exiting the service expressing satisfaction with the service 100% of referring agencies expressing satisfaction with the service

Fulcrum Challenge 9 month personal development programme for 26 Y12 students from schools and college Involves four main experiences – fundraising of £1,950; personal development weekend; overseas cultural visit to India or Africa with a village project in a remote area; ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Fulcrum Ambassador scheme offered to all participants to extend their volunteering opportunities locally before leaving school or College Previous Ambassadors have represented Newcastle at the 11 million launch, Youth CHOGM and play an active part in organising participation activities locally with the Youth Engagement Team

Photos

Transition Sessions Broomley Grange Trips Ten Pin Bowling Multi Sport Sessions Rookie Sport Golf Seven Stories Centre For Children's books Dance Academy Healthy Living Football in the Community Outdoor Pursuits ICT Young People (800) Behaviour LAC Poor Social Skills Excluded Pupils Family Requests BME SEN Low Attenders Circus Skills Education Welfare Summer Activities

Young People and Leisure Young people’s top priority for change following extensive consultation Access to leisure facilities specifically raised as an issue by young people with Councillors Most important issue to young people through the U Decide Participatory Budgeting process Free activities for young people aged 5-18yrs at all Newcastle City Council managed Leisure Centres, pools and partner organisations Promoted through schools, youth projects and alreet.com

Positive Futures East Newcastle YMCA Aim: Improve the health of young people and provide positive role models and ongoing support Disengaged 13-19yr olds Those at risk of becoming involved in drug / alcohol / crime Established April ft workers plus sessional coaching staff Covers a small area Referral routes – EWO, schools, YOT, Probation, D ‘n’ A, self Intensive support and activity Progression to volunteering and coaching qualifications Sept – Jan 43 (29/14) young people involved Volunteer programme started 5 young people returning to school 6 to college/training 4 volunteering 6 accredited courses 4 sport accreditation Volunteer programme – 6 week taster session planned % participating in football / athletics / keep fit / skiing / karting / dancing / boxing Positive feedback from young people, parents and colleagues.

Stepping Stones 10 bed young people’s residential centre for homeless young people Advice and support from a dedicated team of support staff on key issues relating to drugs and alcohol, access to training and employment "Without this place I don't know where I'd be." "Most people who live with their mum and dad get all their cooking and cleaning done for them, they don't realise how lucky they are. You don't know what you've got until it's gone or realise how hard life can be when you're on your own… …And it's very hard getting your life back… …Places like Stepping Stones really help."

Bullying – What happened when you told? A project devised to train young people to carry out research around primary and secondary pupil’s experience of reporting bullying To provide a body of data for the schools involved and to deliver a training programme to school staff led by young people Phase One – Train and plan sessions with the young people to introduce and develop skills and research tools Phase Two – Research activity in the schools led by the young researchers. All resources developed by the young people themselves Phase Three – Results collated by young people with support. Feedback and training planned for staff Phase Four - Feedback to young people and practice development workshops for staff including the action planning and next steps.

What will get you inside the door? Compassionate Trustworthy / Reliable Involved Not giving up Critical thinkers Flexible Optimistic Diplomatic Patience Creative Able to deal with stress Altruistic