NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE
In 2007, North East Lincolnshire noted an increase in attacks on operational fire crew, youth-related antisocial behaviour and criminal damage, and arson incidents during Bonfire Night and Halloween.
Incidents were starting to make local, regional and national headlines and creating a negative perception of young people in the area.
Key partners from the emergency services, community and youth service identified a partnership approach that would support emergency colleagues, by providing a robust and exciting engagement programme for young people and their families, influenced by young people’s views and reinforced by enforcement techniques when necessary.
Results:
- Engagement with young people increased by 88 per cent – from 690 in 2007 to 1307 in 2010
- Antisocial behaviour reduced by 53 per cent – from 217 in 2007 to 102 in 2010
- Criminal damage reduced by 50 per cent – from 166 in 2007 to 82 in 2010
- Not a single fire fighter was injured in 2010. This was down from nine in 2007
SALFORD
After disturbances in August at Salford Precinct, the council was keen to ensure young people in the neighbourhood have ready access to after-school activities.
A series of free football training sessions, led by Manchester United Foundation coaches, were set up for young people to go to from 6pm to 9pm, using special mobile floodlit "football cages".
Youth workers were on hand to talk to the young people attending and their parents. The police have also attended the sessions, to build trust and positive relationships.
The football coaches themselves are from Salford, providing excellent role models to the teenagers, showing that there are opportunities open to young people from the city.
The sessions have been a huge hit, with more than 200 young people attending, often along with parents eager to see their child’s football skills honed under the supervision of the Premier League coaches.
ST JOHN AMBULANCE: ASPIRE
Aspire, an initiative based in Peckham, south London, has been set up by St John Ambulance to coach young people aged 16 to 20 to teach first aid to other young people through peer education.
The project runs over 24 weeks for 24 hours a week and in just three months has equipped young people with skills as a young first aider, essential skills in youth work, peer education and working with young people safely.
Sessions in first aid awareness, CV development and job application and interview skills have also been run. The young people are now preparing to work with schools and youth offending teams and are in the process of organising a social action project, which looks at how young people are represented in society.
WIRRAL COUNCIL YOUTH AND PLAY SERVICE
Wirral Council has been running a number of initiatives during 2011 to bring the community together through the borough’s youth hubs and neighbourhood youth centres.
This has developed relationships between young people, the community and families. These proved invaluable during the summer’s disturbances when youth workers went out and about speaking to young people to dissuade them from travelling to town centres to engage with the rioting.
Working with police officers, youth workers were out in all weathers, travelling on trains, talking to teenagers, and helping to provide a reassuring presence in Birkenhead.
Wirral Youth and Play Service also provided extra "diversionary activities" designed to deter young people from getting involved.
WI CHAIR EXPERIENCES YOUTH WORK IN ACTION
St John Ambulance Rise project and its sister project V24/24 hosted a session for Ruth Bond, chair of the Women’s Institute (WI).
During the session young people spoke about their experience of being part of St John Ambulance and the opportunities they have had since joining the organisation.
The Aspire group from the V24/24 project spoke about putting together their documentary based on how young people are portrayed in the media and the Rise project spoke about the work they have done within the local community, working with young people involved in gangs and antisocial behaviour.
The session concluded with the young people showing Ruth Bond how to treat a major bleed – a clear display of their new skills.
She shared with them the work of the WI, which the young people were fascinated by.
Ruth Bond will now be sharing her experience with members of the WI through its newsletter and will be hosting a young person at a WI event in December.
