With youth centres closed during COVID-19 and unable to open operate at their usual capacity, its even more important to support the most at risk.
Who is Ourside Youth Association
Ourside Youth Centre is a charity that provides open access sessions along with targeted youth work to the young people aged 11 - 19 of Evesham (Worcestershire) and the surrounding areas. Our Vision is 'Putting young people at the forefront of design and delivery'. Our primary aim is to provide a safe and welcoming space with young peoples needs at the forefront of our service delivery. Prior to COVID-19 we saw over 100 young people each week across several open access sessions. This is not possible for the foreseeable future and means that a lot of young people will miss out on essential support. Especially those most at risk from unsupportive home environments or at risk from abuse or exploitation.
Putting youth workers on the street to offer support to at risk young people
The youth centre acted as a hub for any young person who just wanted a safe a quiet place to go, meet friends or get support from a youth worker. The new guidelines for keeping society safe from COVID-19 does not allow for open access sessions to happen as they did before. We want to enable young people to still have the ability to get the support they need, when they need it. Therefore having youth workers on the street will provide this in a safe setting alongside providing invaluable insight to the challenges and issues facing young people - right now.
We will spend the core funding both essential staffing and resources in order complete the outreach work.
This funding will allow us to employ a dedicated outreach youth worker and support worker to work two sessions a week out in the local area. This will also enable partnership working and information sharing between local groups and youth services for example Worcestershire County Councils Missing Children and Child Exploitations team, local schools for SME young people and Worcestershire PCC. Through initial conversations with service providers we are aware of issues in the town involving substance abuse, anti social behaviour alongside growing 'County Lines' activity. Having trained youth workers on the streets two nights a week will not only gain an understanding of the challenges young people are facing directly from the young people but will offer them support and the ability to develop secure and dependable relationships in a safe setting.
The changes and outcomes of this project
- A shared understanding of the needs and challenges facing young people in the area. , especially during COVID-19
- Developed relationships and referral process between local service providers, working to tackle issues facing young people.
- Young people are treated fairly and equally and feel listened to.
- Young people have the support and tools to become active members of their communities
Youth workers will be equipped with appropriate tools including: warm and visible clothing, personal alarms, drink flasks, bags. Along with supplies to enable an element of detached youth work where required and appropriate, for example supplies to provide free to young people such as: hand sanitiser, face coverings, sanitary products, water/snacks, information flyers/leaflets and signposting cards.