The West Area U Project covered Portslade Community College, Hove Park, Blatchington Mill and Cardinal Newman Schools.
|
 |
The Project team was:
| Connexions Intensive P.A.’s. |
| Eve Woodeson |
Portslade Community College |
| John Rook |
BHASVIC |
| Amanda Scalway |
Cardinal Newman |
| Karen Trice |
Hove Park |
| Youth Workers |
|
| Kevin Betts |
Portslade Community College |
| Julia Box |
B&H YSS |
| Project Manager |
|
| Peter Trenholme |
Portslade Community College |
Participants
The project enrolled ten young people, five males and five females.
| School |
Male |
Female |
Total |
| Portslade Community College |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| Cardinal Newman |
|
2 |
2 |
| Blatchington Mill |
|
1 |
1 |
Hove Park
|
|
1 |
1 |
| BHASVIC |
1 |
|
1 |
| |
5 |
5 |
10 |
  
Programmes
All participants took part in a programme of structured informal learning including activities aimed at developing confidence and raising self-esteem, acquiring/practising basic skills in communication, personal action planning and self management. The project designed a programme that would enable young people to:
- Gain/regain the confidence, self esteem and motivation necessary to participate in available opportunities.
- Work as part of a team and relate to others.
- Identify their own personal needs and recognise the needs of others.
- Agree a personal action plan and identify steps needed to achieve personal goals.
- Identify the actions needed and support necessary to progress their personal action plan.
- Identify and take up opportunities available in either:
Employment/further education/training
- Access courses/agencies that provide further support.
All young people were allocated ‘one to one’ time with their personal advisor.
The Project launch was held at Portslade Community College – The Village Centre on Friday 3rd June 2005. Following this participants attended a number of sessions including:
- Team building and programme planning session - !7th June
- Outdoor activity session at Adur Outdoor Activity Centre - 1st July
- Action planning, C.V. writing and visit to Sussex Careers - 8th July
- Personal Development and creativity day - 15th July
- Pre residential taster session at Bowles Activity Centre - 18th July
- Residential experience at Bowles Activity Centre - 8th to 10th August
- Activity session at Trax Go Kart Centre - 26th August
- Evaluation session - 22nd September
- U Project Celebration Event at 67 Centre - 5th October.
All ten participants completed the required aspects of the programme. Not all young people attended the residential. Everyone who did attend benefited enormously through the experience. Three young people had personal issues which meant that they could/would not attend the residential part of the programme and one young person , whilst participating fully in the daytime programme, would not stay overnight. This has been the experience in previous years and although the residential, for those who attend, is a valuable experience its overall worth in a programme such as this should not be taken for granted.
Young people have continued to receive support from project staff and as of the half term break (28th October) all ten participants are still in education or employment.
Evaluation
 
The project was a success because the targeting and recruitment was successful.
The young people who were recruited fitted the U Project categories in that they were vulnerable, lacked self confidence and self esteem, had little or no direction and were struggling with the practicalities of the Year 11 transition. In nearly all cases the young people would not have enrolled of their own volition and their attendance on the project was dependant on the support and quality of relationship with their Intensive Personal Advisor and/or Youth Worker.
The project was a success because the resourcing was adequate.
Both the quality of the programme and the level of support available for the participants were very high, and necessary for this type of client group.
The project was a success because the group size was appropriate.
The nature of the clients means that a well supported group which is large enough to allow the participants to experience and develop inter personal relationships yet small enough that they are not overwhelmed by the number of people within the group is essential.
The project was a success because the staff team were highly skilled and able to work as a cooperative partnership.
The team shared an ethos which allowed and enabled partnership working from the very start. The initial planning and team meetings were successful in establishing working parameters and a shared project identity.
The project was a success because it was effectively managed.
The local management arrangements, through Portslade Community College, meant that many of the practical aspects of the project e.g. accommodation, publicity, finance (booking trips and petty cash), transport etc. were dealt with quickly and locally. Programme planning and decision making was handled locally and a single point of reference for the team was available at all times.
The project was successful because the young people who enrolled all completed the required elements of the programme.
They were able to learn and practise new skills, engage with new experiences and demonstrate their personal growth through the programme. They all recorded successful outcomes and none of them are currently N.E.E.T. (not in employment, education or training).
As in all such projects there is room for improvement - the lack of notice is still an issue and the lead in to the Summer Project should begin in January to have best effect. There were issues regarding central administration and finance which were quickly resolved.
None of this detracts from the overall success of the West area project and the commitment, enthusiasm and energy of the staff and young people involved in the…
West Area Youth Project 2005
Peter Trenholme
October 2005
Email: youthoffice@pcc-web.com
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