Organisation: The Box Youth Project
Issue: Lack of youth provision
The situation: Five years ago young people attended a public meeting and formed a youth forum with the aim of starting a youth project in the area as there was no youth provision at that time. Detached youth workers supported the young people throughout the years as they met the council and residents to advance their plans.
What children and young people said: "I personally got involved to have somewhere for my three-year old to go as I had nowhere to go when I was growing up"... "We knew it wouldn't happen overnight and it would be hard work. I think that the success of the project is because we were treated like adults from the start. We had staff members behind us 100 per cent, although we had never done anything like this before."
What's changed: In November 2006, the Box Youth Project, conceived, designed and run by young people, was finally opened. It offers a place for young people to meet but also receive advice and support if they should need it. The Box Youth Project now has the main youth work provision contract for Sunderland South and continues to develop.
Every Child Matters outcomes: Making a positive contribution; enjoying and achieving; economic wellbeing.
Please send your examples to activeinvolvement@nya.org.uk. A blank template is available from www.nya.org.uk/whatschanged.
