Ten thousand what I hear you ask? Well this is YPN so it can only refer to young people. I'm pleased, proud and delighted to be able to say this is one of the fantastic achievements of NYA - Neighbourhood Support Fund (NSF) projects. We have worked with and, the evidence says, helped more than 10,000 young people since we began work in July 2000.
This is no mean feat - these are young people that lots of other agencies, organisations and individuals had allowed to slip through the net; those for whom the future looked less than bright and who often had as little aspiration for their own lives as they believed, often with good reason, that the rest of society had.
I'm guessing that your next question is: "What's so different about NYA-NSF?" The answer is "everything and nothing". Everything for these young people in that we have great staff, who work extremely hard, have high standards and make time to provide the right support. That's where the "nothing" comes in - all good youth work is like that.
One of the things we have done really well is learn how to record what we do - yes, it takes time; I know lots of youth workers would rather be doing than writing, but it gets easier and eventually becomes part of the youth work process. You will notice the difference over time, and those same young people will be the prime beneficiaries. Our projects can now tell you exactly who they work with; what they plan to do with each young person; why that's the right programme for them; and can provide evidence of those young people's learning journeys.
The best bit about this has been that workers who were, shall we say, a little reluctant about recording, are, if not sold on the idea, convinced that it's the right thing to do. The gathering and presentation of this information has also been significantly important in proving to the Government that youth work works; in raising the profile of these voluntary sector projects in their local areas and in helping return many of the 10,000 to education, training and employment.
So, if you want more information about any of the 10,000, just ask.
- For further information on Neighbourhood Support Fund projects, contact Wendy Flint on 0116 242 7430. Email: wendyf@nya.org.uk. Alternatively, visit The National Youth Agency web site at www.nya.org.uk.
