positive futures: part of the bigger picture – broadening horizons and delivering on every child...
TRANSCRIPT
Positive Futures:
Part of the bigger picture – broadening horizons and delivering on every child matters
Dr Rosie Chadwick, Director of Prevention Services, Crime Concern
Alex Robertson, Crime Concern/Positive Futures V team
• Sports, arts & activity based social inclusion programme
• Set up by Home Office in 2000
• Strong backing from Football Foundation
• 124 projects
• Focus on disadvantaged neighbourhoods
• Relational programme
• Evaluated by consortium
Introducing Positive Futures
The Positive Futures journey (1)
From diversion to development
DiversionDiversion
• Alternative ‘beneficial’ activityAlternative ‘beneficial’ activity
• Fixed outcomesFixed outcomes
• SuccessSuccess = Mass Participation = Mass Participation
• ActivityActivity has intrinsic value has intrinsic value
• Delivery short or fixed termDelivery short or fixed term
• Structured work schemes Structured work schemes
• AuthoritarianAuthoritarian
• Doing what programmeDoing what programme
leaders think worthwhileleaders think worthwhile
DevelopmentDevelopment
• Activity as gateway to ongoingActivity as gateway to ongoing
personal developmentpersonal development
• Open ended outcomesOpen ended outcomes
• SuccessSuccess=Quality of Engagement=Quality of Engagement
• ActivityActivity = means to an end = means to an end
• Delivery ongoing & open-endedDelivery ongoing & open-ended
• Activities flexible, organicActivities flexible, organic
• Mutual respect based on trustMutual respect based on trust
• Doing what young person thinks Doing what young person thinks
worthwhileworthwhile
The Positive Futures journey (2)
From Disengagement to Autonomy
Level 1 - Disengaged
Level 2 - Curious
Level 3 - Involvement
Level 4 - Achievement
Level 5 - Autonomous
The Positive Futures journey (2)
From Disengagement to Autonomy
Level 1 Level 1 DisengagedDisengaged
Level 2Level 2
CuriousCurious
Level 3Level 3
InvolvedInvolved
Level 4Level 4
AchievementAchievement
Level 5Level 5
AutonomyAutonomy
Sit outSit out WatchWatch Join inJoin in Complete Complete taskstasks
Gain relevant Gain relevant qualificationsqualifications
Encourage Encourage disputesdisputes
Dip in & outDip in & out Respond to Respond to instructioninstruction
Communicate Communicate with staff with staff outside of outside of activityactivity
Initiate ideasInitiate ideas
Distract Distract othersothers
Ask Ask questionsquestions
Talk about Talk about experiencesexperiences
Make positive Make positive statements re statements re workwork
Help plan and Help plan and run activitiesrun activities
PF journeysSupporting Every Child Matters
PF impacts
Nationally Nationally
• 29,000 + young people engaged Oct 06 - Mar 0729,000 + young people engaged Oct 06 - Mar 07
• 39% attended for 3 months+39% attended for 3 months+
• Over 6% of participants moving up a levelOver 6% of participants moving up a level
• Nearly 2% moving up 2 levelsNearly 2% moving up 2 levels
• 1368 gaining qualifications & achievements1368 gaining qualifications & achievements
• Volunteering / School returners / EmploymentVolunteering / School returners / Employment
PF lessons and challenges
The critical role of staffThe critical role of staff
Location, Location, LocationLocation, Location, Location
Redefining youth workRedefining youth work
Living with open-ended outcomesLiving with open-ended outcomes
Combining ambition and realismCombining ambition and realism
Some questions for discussion
How relevant are these lessons for other areas of youth delivery?
How should they affect our practice?
How can we work with ‘open-ended’ outcomes?
