Children had indicated in a survey that they wanted more support and help with their homework; however they were not bringing their homework to the libraries. In partnership with NewCeys the library service funded staff to establish homework clubs in all Newham libraries. Young people fed back to the staff and this enabled the service to develop to the needs of the young people. An evaluation of the service indicated that children who attended the clubs did better at maths and science.
Tag Archives: organisational change
Young people help improve hospital ward
Staff on a new hospital ward invited parents and young people to discuss arrangements thereby allowing young people to have a say and directly affect change. Changes have been made in the choice of food and drinks, the information available and the introduction of an appropriate complaints system. Young people have continued to meet and agreed that the ward merited an ‘Investment in Children’ Award.
Young carers review and improve their young carers project
The Young Carers Project has been providing support for young carers since 1997. Recently the service was reviewed by young people. Young people said that whilst they valued existing elements of the service, they wanted more support during transition years and also on an individual basis. As a result the service now has a system of individual reviews, which allows individual needs to be assessed ongoing and has also introduced a support group for older young carers.
Cheshire West acts on what it hears about its teenage pregnancy service
After a consultation exercise with Cheshire West PCT, the teenage pregnancy midwife and 123 pregnant teenagers who attend the young people’s clinic, changes were put in place based on their responses to help make the service more accessible. One radiographer was replaced with a more approachable member of staff and some services have been developed to be taken out to the young people. Drop in clinics are now operating in hot spot areas. These offer local support and access to services.
Young disabled people prevent the closure of their residential facility
Children and young people and their parents were consulted about proposals to close a residential facility at their school. Young people said that they did not want it to close and that it offered valuable opportunities to socialise and share activities with their friends. A DVD was produced capturing both the young people’s and the parent’s views and shown to decision makers. The proposed closure was overturned.
Achieving more positive portrayal of young people in Nottingham’s press
Nottingham Youth Council raised the issue of the negative portrayal of young people in the media. Nottingham Evening Post staff were invited to meet with the youth council to discuss their concerns. As a result the Evening Post agreed to create a youth column in the paper, to seek the opinion of young people and to cover youth events in the future.
Collective action across the ages leads to new youth facility
Following incidents of anti social behaviour young people and local residents decided to create somewhere for young people to go. Young people and other members of the community applied for funding and the Burysed Community Youth project has been established. The centre now has a formal Board of Trustees and is ran by volunteers from the local community.
Young people gain improvements in their support service
Young people wanted more convenient opening hours and a more relaxed atmosphere with greater access to IT at their Connexions centre. Young people’s views have been incorporated into the design of a number of new centres. The opening hours have been changed and usage has increased.
Sexual health clinic turned around after working with young people
Following constant anti social behaviour by young people at a sexual health clinic, staff and the PCT decided to engage young people and discover their views about the Clinic. Young people felt that the Clinic was not user friendly for young people. Changes made include staff training, availability of a detached youth work team, changes to clinic times and the implementation of a fast track system. The Clinic has remained open.
Young people support the development of a new service
Young people wanted somewhere safe to go and hang out and not have to worry about being moved on by the police. A suitable building was identified and funding secured with young people being involved through the whole process. An area of the building is currently being refurbished to create a youth cafe. The cafe will include access to sexual health, drug and alcohol services and Connexions.