BARCA’s Children and Young People’s Services are a broad range of services that (with partners), offer the most appropriate support to young people who face many different issues.
Why Children and Young People’s Services?
We help vulnerable young people avoid exclusion in all its guises so that they can fulfil their potential and be an asset to their families, the local community and the economy.
We provide young people with the opportunity to meet, have fun and engage in their community
1. Youth Work
We offer a range of services for young people aged 11-19 years old in West Leeds. We work with young people to raise aspirations, provide positive opportunities and key skills to build resilience for adulthood.
The main aims for our targeted youth work service are:
- Encourage positive activities and healthy lifestyles.
- Support young people who are or may be at risk of being NEET (not in education or training).
- Increase opportunities for ‘looked after’ children.
- Promote positive sexual health.
- Increase young people’s opportunity to voice, participate and influence their community.
- Provide an alternative to anti-social behaviour and crime.
How do we work with Young Poeple?
Each week we deliver 16 different sessions for young people aged 13 – 19 years. These include football, housing, sexual health and money managements drop in’s, youth clubs, healthy choice programme and outreach work. We also have a group called Youth Bank, which is a young person led group that fundraises and administers small grants for activities for other young people in their community. Our services include:
- Youth Work Programme (see below)
- One-to-one Support
- Sexual Health Services including pregnancy testing, chlamydia testing and C Card.
- Confidential Advice
- Healthy Young People’s Clinic
- Group Work
- Young Person’s Outreach
- Access to information, Advice and Guidance
- Young person’s Accreditation
- Volunteer Opportunities
Please contact reception@barca-leeds.org for a copy of this weeks youth work programme.
Funding
We currently support around 250 young people each quarter! Unfortunately we cannot meet the demand to provide one-to-one support for all young people.We provide a small amount of one-to-one support for young people who are struggling with some aspect of their life for example; domestic violence, bullying or the victim of gangs. This is an area we are currently seeking funds.
Other useful links:
http://www.leedssexualhealth.com/
https://www.leedsinitiative.org/SpringBulletin2012.apsx
http://www.thefamilyhubleed.org/start.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Connexions Targeted Suport – Information, Advice and Guidance for Young People:
BARCA-Leeds provides targeted IAG for young people aged 13-19 in West Leeds. The main aims of the service is to provide:
- One to one intensive support
- Easy access points across West Leeds (including 277 Upper Town Street, Bramley, Armley One Stop Centre, Fairfield Community Centre and Swallow Hill High School
- We have a mobile careers bus that we can take to any area that does not have any community facilities
- We provide positive activities for NEET young people
- Group work (Pupil Referral Unit and Burley Park)
- Home visits
- Signposting to other agencies (support for young people with mental health issues, drugs and alcohol advice
- Advocating for young people (housing, benefits and court)
- NEET parenting advice
Funding:
We provide emergency food parcels for young people who are in crisis. Any donations are gratefully received.
Testimonial:
“Me and my partner both feel very strongly about the service that BARCA/ Connexions provide for young people because without this service me and my partner would have no one to turn too. We have been working with BARCA/ Connexions and they have always been there to lend a hand.
The staff have been highly welcoming and have made it an easier experience whilst we have been having not only financial troubles but emotional troubles too, in particular one member of staff named Andrea had been extremely understanding and helpful, she has always been competent and knowledgeable on how to deal with our many changing situations.
If there were more services out there like connexions them a lot more young people could be helped. My partner and I’s situation would be much worse than it is today without this service and we believe that it is the best service for young people today” EF 01/04/2012
Other useful links:
https://www.igengroup.co.uk/Leeds_Intensive_Connexions_Service/
https://www.leedspathways.org.uk/CAP/Home.aspx
3. Youth Inclusion Project
We support young people aged 8-16 years to find alternative choices to offending and anti-social behaviour.
The main aims of the service are:
- Keep young people safe from harm.
- Increase young people’s opportunity to voice, participate and influence their community.
- Provide alternatives to anti-social behaviour and crime.
- Increase access to positive opportunities
- Support young people to achieve in school
BARCA-Leeds provides this service in West and North West Leeds. Our partner organisations NACRO provides this service in North East and South if you wish information about NACRO please contact elaine.holden@nacro.org.uk.
Our services include:
- Restorative one to one support
- Information and advice about accessing education or training
- Positive group activities (to raise self esteem and buid new skills)
- behaviour workshops
- Sexual heath advice
- Drugs and alcohol support
- home visits
Funding
We have bases in both Bramley and Hyde Park. At our base in Bramley base we have a football pitch which has been used to accredit young people in football coaching, it is also an excellent resource for the community and well used by the local young people. The football pitch is currently out of use as the turf is badly damaged. we are currently seeking funds to re-open the pitch.
Other useful links:
http://restorativejustice.org.uk/what_is_restorative_justice/
http://www.nacro.org.uk/services/yorkshire/nacro-leeds-youth-inclusion/
Platform
Platform Young People’s Drug Treatment Service in Leeds (partnership between BARCA-Leeds and DISC) focuses on allowing young people up to the age of 18 to make an informed choice about their lifestyle and seek help regarding substance and alcohol use.
The service aims to:
- Keep young people safe from harm
- Reduce number of young people using drugs and alcohol
Our Services include:
- One to one support for young people
- Group work – drug and alcohol education and advice
- Outreach and detached work
- Training for professionals
- Treatment, where appropriate
- Signposting for additional support (eg mental health or housing)
Why not read about what Ofsted have said about our good practise:
Have a look at the link below:
http://www.platformleeds-online.org.uk/
Other useful links:
UK National Drugs Helpline (FRANK) – 0800 776 600
Coming Soon…. Targeted Play Sessions
This summer we will begin to deliver Targeted Play sessions that will support children aged 8-13 years old across West Leeds who are:
- At risk of social isolation
- Low attendance/ attainment at school
- At risk of becoming NEET
This project is funded by The Henry Smith Charity. We will be recruiting shortly.
For further information contact Helen Hart, Children and Young People’s Service Manager – helen.hart@barca-leeds.org
BARCA-Leeds says.
The impact of youth work is notoriously difficult to measure. But what we do makes a real difference to young people, their families and community. It’s not just about reducing rates of offending or anti-social behaviour. When I see a young person who thought they had nothing building their confidence, winning an award, achieving accredited learning, being able to speak up for themselves… that’s what we’re here for. I truly believe in young people. The community never forgets we’re here. Years later, young people we’ve worked with will drop by to say hello, introduce us to their own children or tell us about their new job.
Facts and figures.
- 32 young people per week engaged in our Youth Work programme
- BARCA Connexions works with around 16 young people per week on a 1:1 basis
- BARCA Youth Clubs are open-door services. Around 20 young people attend each twice-weekly session.
How we could grow the service
Future services will be developed specifically around the needs of young people with a local cluster of schools.
Andrew’s story
Andrew, 15, often attended a local youth club. One day, he approached one of the youth workers to ask whether they might get together elsewhere instead. Over the next few weeks, Andrew and his friends, with the help of the youth worked, planned a day trip to Scarborough. They had to check train times, work out a budget, research what to do there, do a risk assessment, arrange permission forms, hold meetings and make decisions as a team. The Scarborough trip came and went; the skills Andrew picked up are permanent.
Sarah’s story
When the youth work van began to park up and open its doors in her neighbourhood, Sarah, 16, came along to say hello to the youth workers. Sometimes she would sit inside and have a chat. On other occasions, she would just watch a DVD or play a game. Sarah’s self-confidence was very low. ‘I’ll never get a job,’ she would say. ‘I can’t do anything. I’m rubbish.’ As Sarah’s trust in the youth workers grew, they were able to challenge her negative view of herself. Sarah eventually asked about volunteer work, and the workers were able to arrange this. Later, they helped Sarah apply for college. Sarah now works as a nursery nurse.
Josh’s story
The detached youth workers first came across Josh when he was 13. He was identified as one of the top 50 most vulnerable young people in the area. Josh, who was easily influenced by his peers, was associating with known offenders, and so was at risk of moving into the criminal justice system. The detached workers slowly but steadily built up their relationship with Josh. Eventually, Josh allowed them to help him apply for a building apprenticeship, which he got. Now that Josh has skills ranging from carpentry and joinery to brick work, his prospects are much more positive. This process took the best part of eight years.
