Latest news with #youthworkers
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Calls for more youth services in West Northamptonshire
There are calls by providers, young people and backed by councillors for more youth services, like youth clubs and youth workers, in West Northamptonshire Council recently committed to exploring new opportunities for improving youth support and Family Centre in Northampton provides 16 youth sessions a week over six Malatji, Development Manager at the centre, said: "There's definitely a need for a better youth system in Northampton to support all the kids." "We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, the majority of the kids are in overcrowded housing, they have two to four siblings, plus two parents in a two-bedroom house," Mr Malatji said. "There is no room to play or even for them to do their homework or just to breathe."So having this space within their community is helpful to get away from that crowded environment."Springs Family Centre has seen a 37% increase in attendance in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in people between eight and 25 years old can attend the centre, but most (70%) are aged between 11 and 18. Teenager Cedric Kwarteng said coming to the youth club has "had a positive impact" on him. "I get to meet new people from different backgrounds and understand where they've come from, and it just builds me as a person," the 18-year-old said.A cross-party group of West Northamptonshire Council members recently visited the WEST London Youth Zone in Shepherd's Bush to see what facilities are provided for young Arnull, leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: "It was inspiring to learn from such a positive initiative and how we can take away key points to consider our opportunities for our young people locally here in West Northants."Every area is so different, and we definitely need to scope out the art of the possible within our local area, however it is encouraging to see this cross-party support and to experience such a positive scheme." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Yahoo
After-school patrols reassure pupils walking home
A scheme to keep children safe on their way home from school by putting specialist youth workers on the streets has been trialled by an east London council. Adults experienced in conflict management and de-escalation patrolled from Monday to Friday on three routes in Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton. The scheme was funded by the mayor's violence reduction unit, and started in January after young people said trusted adults in the community would make them feel safer. The teams were on duty between 15:00 and 18:00 until the scheme was paused for the summer holidays. Mobile phone theft One 15-year-old boy from Waltham Forest said he found the youth workers were a reassuring presence. "Inevitably stuff is going to happen between children. It could be because they pronounce their words differently or it could be something more serious. "By having trusted adults around areas such as the market, where most schoolchildren come together, makes it safer for everyone." He also said he found the Safer Routes team "less intimidating" than the police. Wayne George, from community interest group Creative Engagement Services, is one of those involved. He said a lot of his work was related to mobile phone theft, so he runs workshops on how to be safe with phones. According to a Waltham Forest Council survey, 43% of residents said crime was one of their top concerns. Data provided by the council also suggested young people were most vulnerable on school days during the two-hour period after the school day finished. Barrington Todd has been a youth worker for more than 20 years. He said knowing how to find common ground was important: "Once we have pulled two people apart or a group of people we say 'look, it's us, you know us'. "We say police are not the ogres, we are not the ogres, we are just friendly people who care about young people." He added that youth workers hoped to be positive role models within the community and to remind children of their own expectations of themselves and their values. 'Put interventions in place' The team on the ground were also able to share real-time updates with the community safety team and professionals including school staff. Helen Marriott, head teacher at Walthamstow School for Girls, said: "They are able to communicate with us, let us know if there are any incidents, any young people at risk, and then we're able to act on that and put interventions in place when they come back into school." Risks children could encounter after school included drug dealers, criminal gangs and harassment and violence against women and girls. Mr Todd said a special summer programme of activity would take place during the school holidays in order to engage with young people. One mother, Candy Cridland, said the scheme offered her some reassurance because it made her daughter feel safer. She said her daughter, who has a disability, gets incredibly anxious and worries about being picked on by bigger children. Ms Cridland said her daughter had befriended one of the female adults - something that provides reassurance for both Ms Cridland and her daughter. Waltham Forest Council said it was taking quarterly feedback from young people to discuss the routes. It will evaluate the pilot after two years and if it is effective, will be looking at ways to keep it. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to More on this story Handling of youth service cuts plan an 'insult' Youth club closures increased offending - report Related internet links Waltham Forest Council London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Yahoo
After-school patrols reassure pupils walking home
A scheme to keep children safe on their way home from school by putting specialist youth workers on the streets has been trialled by an east London council. Adults experienced in conflict management and de-escalation patrolled from Monday to Friday on three routes in Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton. The scheme was funded by the mayor's office for policing and crime, and started in January after young people said trusted adults in the community would make them feel safer. The teams were on duty between 15:00 and 18:00 until the scheme was paused for the summer holidays. Mobile phone theft One 15-year-old boy from Waltham Forest said he found the youth workers were a reassuring presence. "Inevitably stuff is going to happen between children. It could be because they pronounce their words differently or it could be something more serious. "By having trusted adults around areas such as the market, where most school children come together, makes it safer for everyone." He also said he found the Safer Routes team "less intimidating" than the police. Wayne George, from community interest group Creative Engagement Services, is one of those involved. He said a lot of his work is related to mobile phone theft, so he runs workshops on how to be safe with phones. According to a Waltham Forest council survey, 43% of residents said crime was one of their top concerns. Data provided by the council also suggested young people were most vulnerable on school days during the two hour period after the school day finished. Barrington Todd has been a youth worker for more than 20 years. He said knowing how to find the common ground was important: "Once we have pulled two people apart or a group of people we say 'look, it's us, you know us'. "We say police are not the ogres, we are not the ogres, we are just friendly people who care about young people." He added that youth workers hope to be positive role models within the community and to remind children of their own expectations of themselves and their values. 'Put interventions in place' The team on the ground were also able to share real-time updates with the community safety team and professionals including school staff. Helen Marriott, headteacher at Walthamstow School for Girls, said: "They are able to communicate with us, let us know if there are any incidents, any young people at risk, and then we're able to act on that and put interventions in place when they come back into school." Risks children could encounter after school included drug dealers, criminal gangs and harassment and violence against women and girls. Mr Todd said a special summer programme of activity would take place during the school holidays in order to engage with young people. One mother, Candy Cridland, said the scheme offered her some reassurance because it made her daughter feel safer. She said her daughter, who has a disability, gets incredibly anxious and worries about being picked on by bigger children. Ms Cridland said her daughter had befriended one of the female adults - something that provides reassurance for both Ms Cridland and her daughter. Waltham Forest Council said it was taking quarterly feedback from young people to discuss the routes. It will evaluate the pilot after two years and if it is effective, will be looking at ways to keep it. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to More on this story Handling of youth service cuts plan an 'insult' Youth club closures increased offending - report Related internet links The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime Waltham Forest Council
BBC News
23-07-2025
- BBC News
After-school safety patrols: 'We are friendly people who care'
A scheme to keep children safe on their way home from school by putting specialist youth workers on the streets has been trialled by an east London experienced in conflict management and de-escalation patrolled from Monday to Friday on three routes in Chingford, Walthamstow and scheme was funded by the mayor's office for policing and crime, and started in January after young people said trusted adults in the community would make them feel teams were on duty between 15:00 and 18:00 until the scheme was paused for the summer holidays. Mobile phone theft One 15-year-old boy from Waltham Forest said he found the youth workers were a reassuring presence."Inevitably stuff is going to happen between children. It could be because they pronounce their words differently or it could be something more serious. "By having trusted adults around areas such as the market, where most school children come together, makes it safer for everyone."He also said he found the Safer Routes team "less intimidating" than the police. Wayne George, from community interest group Creative Engagement Services, is one of those said a lot of his work is related to mobile phone theft, so he runs workshops on how to be safe with to a Waltham Forest council survey, 43% of residents said crime was one of their top provided by the council also suggested young people were most vulnerable on school days during the two hour period after the school day finished. Barrington Todd has been a youth worker for more than 20 said knowing how to find the common ground was important: "Once we have pulled two people apart or a group of people we say 'look, it's us, you know us'."We say police are not the ogres, we are not the ogres, we are just friendly people who care about young people."He added that youth workers hope to be positive role models within the community and to remind children of their own expectations of themselves and their values. 'Put interventions in place' The team on the ground were also able to share real-time updates with the community safety team and professionals including school Marriott, headteacher at Walthamstow School for Girls, said: "They are able to communicate with us, let us know if there are any incidents, any young people at risk, and then we're able to act on that and put interventions in place when they come back into school."Risks children could encounter after school included drug dealers, criminal gangs and harassment and violence against women and Todd said a special summer programme of activity would take place during the school holidays in order to engage with young people. One mother, Candy Cridland, said the scheme offered her some reassurance because it made her daughter feel said her daughter, who has a disability, gets incredibly anxious and worries about being picked on by bigger Cridland said her daughter had befriended one of the female adults - something that provides reassurance for both Ms Cridland and her Forest Council said it was taking quarterly feedback from young people to discuss the will evaluate the pilot after two years and if it is effective, will be looking at ways to keep it.
ABC News
03-07-2025
- ABC News
Queensland's child safety commission of inquiry to prioritise complaints system for frontline carers
A child safety inquiry will prioritise reviewing the complaints system for those working and caring for children in the sector following an investigation by the ABC. Several youth workers who spoke with the ABC urgently called for an independent complaints mechanism to allow reports to be made anonymously and without fear of reprisal. Following the reporting, the commissioner of the inquiry, Paul Anastassiou KC, said the complaints system would be a "key early focus" of the 18-month review into Queensland's child safety system. Mr Anastassiou said frontline carers had raised serious concerns to the inquiry "about the risks they face and the barriers they encounter when trying to raise issues about safety, working conditions, and the level of support they receive". "There is particular concern that people are fearful of making complaints due to possible repercussions or loss of employment or placements," Mr Anastassiou said. He said submissions were now open for anyone wishing to share views on the complaint system. An ABC investigation published this week uncovered days of violence and chaos inside one residential care home. Incident reports seen by the ABC detailed one case where two girls threatened to use garden lamps as a weapon against a staff member who was forced to hide as a colleague calmed them. The reports said one girl had earlier attempted to start a fire and chased the other girl around a table with a belt in hand. A youth worker familiar with the case said the girls had significant trauma and it was "ridiculous" to place them together. They claimed that when the girls were first introduced, they had a physical fight at the shopping centre which had to be broken up by security. "I've reported several health and safety concerns [publicly] to the department that were never addressed." Another worker claimed several children attempted to assault him at one residential care home. He said on another occasion, a 14-year-old girl attempted to stab a worker with a weapon. "When you think youth worker, you think playing guitars, we're all in this together, but in reality, we're on the frontline of youth being homeless, becoming criminals," he said. "We are the last hope for a lot of these kids. "[It's] so easy to go, 'Lock those kids up, they're bad kids, they should be in jail, where are their parents?' When really, no-one knows what these kids' backgrounds are." Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm told the ABC she had asked for interim reports throughout the inquiry and would act on those, including if it recommends urgent changes to the current complaints process. The commissioner will hold a short public hearing in July to formally open the inquiry. The commission will travel around Queensland to hear from government and those involved in the system. It said it would not shy away from scrutinising critical issues of accountability and proper governance within the system.
