CashBack for Communities Youth Work Fund Annual Report 2020 / 21
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Several projects adapted their original detached / outreach programme to meet need and address issues related to COVID-19 restrictions ( particularly young people gathering outside and anti-social behaviour ) while others adapted original plans for centre based work to include an element of detached work in anticipation of the challenge to re-engage young people post-lockdown .
Govan Youth Information Project ( Glasgow )
GYIP originally applied to run a project combining outreach with follow up intensive support and skills training for young peoples in response to issues of anti-social behaviour identified in their locality . The project which received £ 12,635 started slightly later than planned and initially shifted it ’ s focus to work with Police Scotland and the local community to provide a street work response to new community safety concerns related to lockdown . Detached workers ( and volunteer young people ) specifically responded to concerns about groups of young people congregating during lockdown and to the wellbeing concerns of young people .
GYIP successfully engaged 126 young people , double the number originally intended . As restrictions began to ease over the summer they were able to re-instate the group work outlined in the original proposal . Participants gained awards such as Dynamic Youth Awards , Cycling Scotland and Place 2 Be ( mental health ) training .
( see full case study , appendix 1 ).
“ In consultation with Police Scotland we adopted the three E ’ s Engage , Explain & Encourage with young people . During the early stages of the street work programme the most common theme was reassuring young people about COVID-19 and the rules around this . The Detached street work programme proved to be an effective mechanism at a time when there was a lot of uncertainty . during restrictions ”
Kevin Kane , GYIP