In Practice: Case study - Targeted advice for young people

Objectives: The Health Hut at Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England Secondary School is a base for targeted support for pupils as well as general advice and information about health and wellbeing. It is funded by Hackney Drug and Alcohol Action Team. The facility helps meet government policy goals such as the core offer of extended schools, which includes easy access to targeted and specialist services.

What was done: The hut opened in May 2007. Before that project manager Chris Stein made a presentation to the school's senior management team, consulted widely with pupils and set up a young people's steering group. The hut is open from 8am to 5pm. It's used for general drop-ins before and after school and at lunchtimes, and targeted support during lessons. Pupils can self-refer or be referred for appointments through the school's in-house inclusion department. That might be for support around sexual health and relationships delivered by City and Hackney Young People's Services, part of the local primary care trust. Hackney Youth Support Team takes referrals and has a worker specialising in substance misuse. The Health Hut is also used by Hackney Youth Inclusion and Support Panel, which does targeted work with young people at risk of being drawn into anti-social behaviour. In addition, the Health Hut team organises activities such as dance classes, bike maintenance, summer programmes and healthy cooking classes at the school.