The idea
The aim of the project is to creatively engage with socially excluded young people and young people who are involved in anti-social behaviour, especially because of a lack of support through the Covid crisis.
The detached youth work will be delivered by going out to the young people in the area and engaging them in order to establish relationships, to assist us to bring the services to them.
Three magnet activities will be on offer to the YP: Music, Football, & boxing. We have already spoken to many of the YP we will be aiming to bring onto the project and they have specifically asked for these activities.
Each activity will start with an 8-week course and the support for the YP will extend over the year.
The music project will take place at St. Pauls Rossmore Road, football sessions in Lisson Green Estate & boxing sessions at St.Johns Wood Church. We have the backing of both Churches to do so and seed funding for the initial work.
What we'll deliver
- 6 Young people learning to DJ and music production course with access to accredited course on completion
- Thai boxing sessions for 10 young people
- Football sessions for 10 young people (with view to starting a team)
Why it's a great idea
This would bring health benefits to the YP, many of which smoke cannabis regularly by way of regular sporting activity. It would bring disconnected YP who have spent a year of informal education back into a structured learning setting.
It would mean they could learn new skills and show their creativity in ways they might never of thought possible.
It would mean a reduction in antisocial behaviour for residents of Church Street by targeting YP doing ASB regularly. It would mean opportunities for YP interested in a career in music and music production.
Further down the line it would mean career opportunities for YP NEET in the aftermath of Covid 19
Steps to get it done
- Buying the boxing gloves and pads for the young people and teaching them how to use them
- Buying the football equipment and starting the football training
- Buying the CJD's and teaching the young people how to DJ and how to perform
- Starting a local football team for the most popular age group
- Completion of the 8 week DJ course
- Getting at least 5 young people back into a form of education, employment or training by September
I am an employment consultant for care leavers so I have vast experience in helping YP get into employment once we have engaged with the YP through our magnet activities.
My colleague Karl Grant and I have vast experience in working with hard to reach YP, with Karl a former Lead Detached Worker for Westminster Youth Service and myself a former youth and gangs worker in the borough, as well as sports coach and conflict management facilitator.
I have done Thai and classic boxing for over a decade and have taught it in pupil referral units as well as for other challenging demographics. I have ran a successful football team in the NW locality (Mozart Estate) which was put together by Karl. I started out as one of his hard to reach young people!
He has a music course that he runs that covers DJ'ing and music production and engineering that he would be bringing to the targeted YP.
