Agenda item

The Challenge are attending explain the work they do with the young people of Southwark and to discuss how can work more closely with the Council in order to ensure everyone involved gets the most out of the programme.

• Lauren Kocher, Programme Manager
• Steven McGoldrick, Schools Relations Manager for Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham

5.1  The chair invited Lauren Kocher, Programme Manager and Steven McGoldrick, Schools Relations Manager for Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham to explain the work they do with the young people.

5.2  The Challenge Managers explained that the programme consists of 5 days of outside activities, such as climbing and canoeing, and is held in a residential location. The second 5 days is also spent away from home and consists of trying out different skills such as photography and media. The young people work with a local partner who can benefit from their input. The next stage is to develop a proposal for a Dragoon’s Den and a social media campaign.

5.3  The initiative started in 2009 in Southwark with 200 young people and now 12,500 young people have taken part in a National Citizen Service programme powered by the Challenge Network. The scheme works with a range of local partners from care homes, to local charities like Blackfriars and Surry Docks,  as well as larger corporations including the Police, the council and large firms like IBM.

5.4  The managers explained that they are always looking for partners (charities and professional organizations)  and for councilors to volunteer as dragons. They added that they had managed to outreach to  lots of mainstream schools , however they had been less successful with PRU and special needs schools in Southwark, and they would appreciate ideas, help and assistance in reaching young people in these educational establishments. A member asked how the council could help with this and the managers said that they had visited ‘Street Vibe’ but they had found it harder to make contact with other centers and they would appreciate help with improving links and communication. Members suggested using the Southwark Website and contacting Southwark communication department to assist with this.

5.5  Members asked how the Challenge Network engaged with schools and the managers explained that they present at assemblies, which is most effective. They also go back for lunchtimes and parent evenings. The initiative has an online presence which they use for outreach, but they have not found this as effective as face to face contact.

5.6  The Challenge Network was then asked if they build links with local businesses that could lead to employment for young people. The managers explained that they have an initiative called  ‘Head start’, which involves 16 hours volunteer work at a business with a guarantee of an interview. This is a brand new programme which they are piloting in Kentish Town.

5.7  A member asked how the programme is evaluated and the managers said that a survey is done looking at feelings and attitudes at the beginning and end of the programme and this always shows an improvement, and there is a youth council who look at how to improve the programme. Members asked if the programme uses schools to provide feedback for improvements, but the managers said they did not, and that schools are predominantly used as a platform to outreach and engage with young people. They added that schools are very over stretched and the Challenge Network does not want to add to their workload.

5.8  The managers were asked about young people who struggle, and find it difficult to complete the residential or the whole programme. They responded that there is a high graduation rate of 88 % . A member asked if the programme follows up with young people who don't complete.  The managers said that this is often hard but they do follow up contact, and young people can also complete the programme in different ways.

5.9  Members referred to the Youth Council and asked if the Challenge Network had links and if their work was featured on respective websites and facebook pages. The Youth Council members and Challenge Network managers said they did not have formal links; however two Youth Council members said that they had done the programme and praised the content, remarking that the team building exercises had been very good and enabled the team to bond quickly. The young people remarked on how the programme had helped them to understand better how to talk with their peers, deal with anger and be a better leader – both participants reported it had been a positive experience.

5.10  Members thanked the Challenge Network for their presentation and encouraged the education officers present, youth council members and Challenge Network managers to exchange contact details to work together to  support the programme.