newsletter3nov07

Children's Trust Newsletter November 2007

Welcome to the third edition of Sunderland Children's Trust's quarterly e-newsletter. In each issue we will bring you news about the work going on in Sunderland to deliver better outcomes for children and young people.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S PLAN (CYPP) 2007-09

The CYPP 2007-09 ( 1.14mb) is the single, overarching strategic plan for all services for children and young people in the area, provided by the local authority and all relevant partners. It is a 3 year plan which we are required to update annually.

The Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) sets out in clear, accessible terms what everybody in the Children’s Trust is doing to deliver the 10 priorities ( 29kb) to make sure all children and young people in Sunderland are happy, healthy, safe and grow up to have a good future.

This e-newsletter will be a tool by which partners can communicate with each other about the things they are doing to deliver on each of the priorities. All partners are invited to submit short articles for inclusion in the newsletter. Please send them to karen.spoors@sunderland.gov.uk by Friday 18 January 2008.

Priority 1. Be strong individuals, proud of their city and contribute to its future

'Working With Young People In Changing Times' - Targeted Youth Support

A multi-agency conference and workshop for practitioners in Sunderland South and East took place in October. The aims and objectives were:

To involve practitioners in developing the strategy for change
Target practitioners who work in agencies delivering a wide range of services to young people
To build on the same pilot area as the Common Assessment Framework – that is Sunderland East and South and share good practice in this area
Consider barriers to integrated working and identify solutions
Identify where improvements can be made to current service delivery
Create a model for Targeted Youth Support
Identify next steps on our shared journey
Provide an opportunity to share good practice and develop new networks.

For more information download the Conference feedback and evaluation report ( 81kb), or contact Kath Butchert, Integrated Youth Officer, Youth Development Group, on 0191 553 7413 or email Kath.Butchert@sunderland.gov.uk.

Priority 2. Be aware of how their behaviour affects others
and the importance of staying out of trouble

Ryhope's Youngsters One Step Ahead

As the Government pledges to place a youth club in each neighbourhood to help prevent teenage anti social behaviour, a Sunderland youth club already offers children aged 8-12 a structured alternative to ‘hanging around the streets’.

As part of Sunderland City Council’s Extended Schools programme Blue Watch Youth Centre has secured funding to pilot the Blue Watch Juniors youth group in Ryhope.

Research has found that British youths are more likely to engage in anti-social behaviour than their European peers (research from the Institute for Public Policy Research, July 2007). Getting youngsters involved with youth clubs from an early age can help to prevent disruptive behaviour once they reach their teens.

Blue Watch encourages young people to participate in a range of activities including sports, cooking, film nights and trying their hands at music. There are also plenty of

Image: Laser, a popular choice amongst the Blue Watch Juniors opportunities for the youngsters to try activities outside the youth club, from ten pin bowling and laser quest to cycle maintenance.

Many youth clubs meet regularly during term time but once the school holidays arrive they close. As it’s during the school holidays that youngsters need entertaining and activities to look forward to the most, the Blue Watch Juniors operates every Friday afternoon, between 3.30pm and 5.30pm, throughout the year.

For more information contact Tony Semley, Project Manager on 0191 5214060 or email bluewatchyouthcentre@yahoo.co.uk

Priority 3. Make positive lifestyle choices

Young People aim to ‘Tackle’ Substance misuse in the North East

A group of 10 young people from Washington and Sunderland, participating with two of Sunderland Youth Offending Services Prevention Services, have been working with Tyne & Wear Museums, and Superkrush Films to create two fascinating, thought-provoking films about the issues of substance use.

The two 15 minute films, Harvest and Lilya, premiered at the University of Sunderland’s Media Centre in July. They were produced as part of the diverse and effective Tackle It project aiming to address the effects substance misuse can have on young people’s lives. The project involved young people who are looked after by the authority and ‘Wear Kids’, prevention programme.

This project has enabled a piece of educational material to be created for young people by young people. The group of 13 and 14 year olds visited Beamish and The Poison Garden at Alnwick Gardens to gain inspiration for the films. They were then actively involved in every stage of the production of both films, from scriptwriting and editing to having staring roles in the films.

In addition to the films, the DVD will also include a series of interactive workshops and activities which deal with the issues of substance misuse. This Tackle It DVD will be used as an educational tool by the Youth Offending Service and their partners around the region.

For more information about the Tackle It project or other Prevention work delivered by the Youth Offending Service please contact Jack Saward on 0191 566 3113, email Jack.Saward@sundeland.gov.uk.

Priority 4. Lead healthier lives

Food in schools

During British Food Fortnight, which took place from 22 September to 7 October, schools were visited by Sunderland’s Food in Schools Team to teach pupils about correct portion sizes, the different food groups and how to achieve a balanced diet. They were also treated to cooking demonstrations from the team and helped to prepare the session’s ingredients.

There are a variety of study support clubs set up through Sunderland City Council’s Extended Schools programme, which primarily focus on food and cookery.

Many schools across Sunderland now offer breakfast clubs that not only provide pupils with an educational

theme, but also offer a healthy and nutritional start to the day.

It is not just schools that are encouraging healthy eating. Sunderland’s Children’s Centres offer many elements that concentrate on healthier lifestyles.

Children’s Centres work alongside educational dietitians and City Hospitals Sunderland to promote the importance of five a day, eating balanced meals, oral health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy.

For more information contact Elouise Robinson, a Specialist Dietitian for Schools, on 0191 561 4647 or email: Elouise.Robinson@sunderland.gov.uk.

Priority 7. Achieve in their education

Sunderland ‘through young people’s eyes’

Image of Penshaw Monument through Matthew's eyes A partnership between the Attendance Team, Every Schoolday Counts and ACE (Achievement through Choice and Engagement Project) encouraged youngsters not to stay off school, by offering the incentive of a place on a photography project during the summer.

The group of 11 took full control of the project, deciding the locations throughout the city that they would most like to visit – seeing Sunderland through young people’s eyes.

Paul Cockburn, Assistant Attendance Development Officer for the Attendance Team commented: "The group really appreciated this reward for their improved and maintained good attendance. I was highly impressed with their camera skills and also their enthusiasm and team work throughout."

The exhibition will be open to the public from Tuesday 13 November until 30 November 2007 at Washington Arts Centre, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, Sunderland NE38 8AB Tel: 0191 219 3455.

For more information contact the Attendance Team, Every Schoolday Counts on 0191 553 5631.

Sunderland Education Business Partnership Quality Award

Sunderland Education Business Partnership (EBP) is part of the Connexions Service in Sunderland. The role of EBP is to support the enhancement of the National Curriculum through the development, promotion and delivery of activities within primary and secondary schools.

In October EBP successfully achieved the prestigious National EBP Network Quality Award.

The award is given to EBPs that are able to demonstrate that they deliver a high quality service to young people, schools, colleges and businesses. To gain accreditation at least 80% of the 51 performance criteria must be met at levels one or two. Sunderland EBP achieved:

20 at level one
30 at level two
1 at level three
0 at level four
This is a success rate of 98%

Evidence was submitted that demonstrated that EBP had met the objectives and outcomes of the relevant criteria. In addition to this, all team members and the Connexions Service Senior Area Co-ordinator were interviewed. Three witness groups consisting of School, Business and other key partners also took place, which were led by one of the assessors. At the end of the day the assessors remarked that the EBP in Sunderland is a ‘highly regarded team that delivers a high quality service’.

The team will be presented with the award at the National EBP Conference taking place in London during December.

For more information contact David Hunt, EBP Manager, on 0191 443 2899 or email: d.hunt@connexions-tw.co.uk.

Priority 8. Enjoy sport, leisure and play

It’s Safe Play Time

Children’s Centres across Sunderland backed National Playday in August to stress the importance of providing safe areas of play for children.

This year’s National Playday underlined the belief that in today’s society it is becoming increasingly important for children to have these safe places to visit. ‘Our streets too!’ was the focus of this national celebration, which aimed to emphasise the need to reclaim the streets for safe play. Sunderland Children’s Centres are helping to address this matter.

In past years children have used playing outside their homes as a way to make friends with other children from their neighbourhood.

Alongside providing families with safe areas to meet, Children’s Centres also offer a range of play and learning activities including excellent toy libraries, soft play facilities and holiday activities to help keep

Image of grand-daughter of a local resident having fun in the Peat Carr Play Park, partly funded by Sunderland Children's Centres children entertained during the summer holidays.Children’s Centres have helped fund a number of public play areas across the city. These community play areas mean that children can play safely in the fresh air, away from busy roads.

The primary aim of the city’s Children’s Centres is to provide each child with the best start in life by bringing together early education and play with childcare and health and family support.

For more information contact Phil Hayden, Integrated Local Services Manager for Sunderland Children’s Centres, on 0191 553 8834 or email: Phil.Hayden@sunderland.gov.uk.

Priority 10. Get the right training, further education and job

The Bump to Babies Plus Project won the Young Adults Learning Partnership (YALP) Project Award

The B2B+ Project has won the Project Award in the YALP Awards.

The award related to how B2B+ work to get young people to re-engage with Education, Employment or Training.

The B2B+ Project is a multi-agency initiative with Children’s Services, Sunderland Primary Care Trust, Sure Start Plus, Connexions Tyne and Wear and Bridge Women’s Group. The Project provides a range of advice and support services to teenage mothers and fathers and pregnant teenagers across Sunderland city.

The young parents who attend are all 19 years or under and are from a range of social backgrounds, with varying levels of support from extended families. They are all provided with transport to and from the project to ensure that they are able to attend. A nursery is also provided on-site to offer high-quality childcare.

Upon being notified of its success, Manager Alison Horrox commented:

"B2B+ has operated on the basis that young parents’ lives are often complex and difficult. To ensure that young parents can access provision, the first step is to try to remove some of the barriers to learning that might be encountered.

These include, difficulty in travelling to the nursery, lack of childcare, individual support, learning opportunities at the appropriate level and pace, 1:1 support, practical and emotional support and access to a wide range of formal and informal learning opportunities."

Unlike many young parents projects, B2B+ offers an equal service to young mothers and young fathers.

For further information about the work of B2B+, please contact Alison Horrox on 0191 5532381 or email Alison.Horrox@sunderland.gov.uk.

Teens connect to a brighter future

A new service has been launched to help teenagers in Tyne and Wear access the latest training possibilities, job vacancies and advice.

Connexions Tyne and Wear [link to website], a support service for young people aged 13-19, has launched a new service linking mobile phones to its range of information and services, just as teenagers receive their exam results.

The service lets young people find job vacancies, advice on completing application forms and CVs, and information on interview techniques, through their mobile phones.

David Lightfoot, Connexions e-access manager, said: “Technology moves on really quickly and we’ve always tried to be ahead of the game. Young people need speedy access to information at a low cost and the new service provides all this and more."

To view the site, visit www.connexions-tw.co.uk using an internet equipped mobile phone. For more information contact David Lightfoot on 0191 287 8614 or email: d.lightfoot@connexions-tw.co.uk.

http://www.sunderlandchildrenstrust.org.uk/

If you would like to include an article in the next issue please contact Karen Spoors on (0191) 566 1845 or email sct@sunderland.gov.uk