The National Youth Agency's Young People's Development Programme (YPDP) team has recently been conducting the first set of annual assessment visits with projects.
The YPDP is a Department of Health funded three-year health pilot co-ordinated by The NYA. The 27 pilot projects focus on areas of deprivation and are located in rural, seaside, former coalfields and urban settings across the nine Government Office regions in England.
The aim of the programme is to address risk-taking behaviour through a developmental programme for young people aged 13 to 15. This includes:
- reduced health risk behaviours, such as reduced alcohol and substance misuse;
- improved sexual health and a reduction in unplanned pregnancies;
- reduced school exclusions, authorised and unauthorised absenteeism; and
- improved educational attainment up to 16.
The YPDP has just completed its first year, which comprised project setup and the forming of partnerships with local services for young people, including schools, youth services, primary care trusts and Connexions.
The assessment visits have found that the pilot projects are well under way with the YPDP work, delivering most of the 10 key components of the programme, including education, life skills, sports, mentoring and volunteering.
The visits have shown the diversity between the 27 pilot projects, which are all showing different models of delivery for the YPDP work. They are undertaking activities such as outdoor pursuits, journalism and alternative education provision. There is also a variety of resources used, such as virtual babies, car and bike renovation, T-shirt design and creation and film-making.
The projects are taking their learning from Year One forward. For example, in Year Two, projects will:
- target local agencies that provide useful partnerships - for recruitment, delivery of sessions and to gain or share resources;
- recruit targeted young people who will benefit from a year-long programme;
- use holiday activities and residentials for more intensive work with young people; and
- record good practice and share learning.
The visits have also shown that project staff feel more confident about the work in Year Two, having worked out the most effective methods of delivery.
The assessment visits included observation of the YPDP work with young people, and various organisational checks, based on previously returned work programmes, quarterly reports and evidence gathered from previous visits and contact.
Following Year One, the YPDP has become a coherent programme, with The NYA fulfilling its role as the training and co-ordination agent by providing training courses, regional meetings, news and updates, help and support, and the sharing of practice, information and resources.
- For further information about YPDP, contact: Richard McKie at richardm@nya.org.uk or on 0116 242 7428 or Kerry Williams at kerryw@nya.org.uk or on 0116 242 7429.
