DOWN LOAD  THIS NEWS LETTER HERE

SAVY LINK UP!

VOLUNTARY NOT AMATEUR

COMMUNITY PRIDE

You will probably have seen a number of newspaper articles over the past few months talking about Community Pride. This was a wide ranging programme promoting “Pride“ in Stockport for all its residents. SAVY members have played a key role in delivering some excellent activities for young people. Stockport Young Carers have made a DVD about their lives using the Big Comedy Shop theatre company.  Youth Action Stockport have organised some exciting projects working with young people, at the Plaza Theatre where a production of Little Shop of Horrors “ was entirely put on by young people who acted, designed and built the set, did the make up , lighting and all other aspects of putting a show on.  The Youth Service has provided new programmes of activities with looked after young people and young carers that have included music, art and residential experiences.  Many young people have also gained recognised accreditation from their contributions throughout Stockport Pride.

NEW PL!NGS WEB SITE “Fish where the fish are”

There is now a web site you can visit to see how it is all progressing. We hope to be able to soon offer you the opportunity to be able to up load / edit your own listings.  Just type stockport.plings.net into your web address bar to have a look. Any feedback would be very welcome as this is a trail period until its officially launched in National Youth Work Week in November 2008.  Feedback to plings@stockport.gov.uk , STOP PRESS - see attached registration  forms.

YOUTH ACTION STOCKPORT 

 The team tasked to support volunteering for 16 - 25 year olds – has had some new additions. The new Stockport v involved team has been created through funding from the national youth charity v to encourage more young people to volunteer in Stockport.  Alex team leader says we aim to work with a number of voluntary organisations to tap into a younger generation of volunteers, as well as a number of businesses to encourage their employees to volunteer and also support young people to set-up their own volunteering projects. We want to help champion youth volunteering within Stockport and expect a level of commitment and excellence from young people that we work with; in return they will receive community recognition and national accreditations.

Research:-  Understanding the motivation for why young people volunteer, was a priority for us and we have conducted some research with 40 young people, on the issues surrounding volunteering.

One question asked was “what sort of volunteering opportunities young people would like to see more of within Stockport?”. The good news for organisations indicates that young people want to see a range of volunteering opportunities. The focus should not be on ‘what’ volunteering opportunities are developed, but ‘how’ they are undertaken and ‘why’ would young people want to participate in them. Young People were asked, what would encourage them to volunteer?

·         New skills and experiences - 37%

·         Volunteering with friends - 9%

·         Volunteering was included as part of a structured day - 18%

·         More responsibility - 18%

·         Incentive/ greater recognition - 18%

If you want to know how we can work with you and your young volunteers in creating new ways they can have a positive impact on the Stockport community then ring 0161 477 0246 and ask to speak to either Alex or Tracy.

SK MONEY- YOF ANOTHER 3 YEARS AT LEAST!

Good news on the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds. The Government has confirmed that the programmes will continue for at least another 3 years representing nearly £300K of additional new funding coming to Stockport each year for the next 3 years.

There are still funds still available in both the pots for young people in Stockport.  For more information on how young people may apply ( this is the key aspect of this grant fund) or become involved in the grant giving panels contact Services for Young People on 0161 474 4438 (Helen Forber) or email  skmoney@stockport.gov.uk 

UPDATE ON SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (AKA SfYP)

Which is of course the name for the new council service comprising of The Youth Service, Connexions and Education Welfare. The services are now co-located in 3 geographical areas and one borough wide team..

They have a new Leadership Team headed by Maria Kidd and supported by Assistant Heads of Service  Mike Brown and Mike Walsh. The 4 area managers and their areas are listed below. The 3 geographical areas each correspond to the Local Partnerships which comprise of two cluster areas each.. 

To see which cluster or SfYP Area you fall under you may visit the www.stockport.gov.uk  web site for an accurate map of which area your group is in.

NB. SOME TELEPHONE NUMBERS WILL SOON  CHANGE AS AREA OFFICES ARE LINKED TO THE TOWN HALL NETWORK

YOUTH ACTION STOCKPORT SEEK NEW FUNDING

You have probably heard, had contact with or even worked with the Youth Action Stockport team and know how creative and effective they are at involving young people in volunteering projects. They have hit all their funding targets for creating volunteering opportunities and recognised accreditations for the young volunteers. Their initial funding from the national V charity finishes at the end of March 09. They are working on funding applications and have very recently been informed they have been successful with a Children in Need  application. This interestingly will enable them to work with 14 year olds as well as the original remit of 16- 25 year olds. To find out more about their work visit www.youthactionstockport.org.uk

NEW WORKER FOR SAVY

We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Tracy Ryan to work with SAVY groups to help them develop project work within an accredited frame work and offer guidance on policies and practice . She is due to start work in October. Watch this space!

MANAGING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF VOLUNTEERS

One of the strands described within the Children’s Act 2006 was for organisations responses to allegations against Staff or volunteers to be dealt with more thoroughly and consistently.

The changes now mean that all allegations including those that fall below the “gross misconduct/ criminal” threshold must now be reported. In the language of the guidance it now includes behaviour regarding potential safeguarding misconduct (ie. inappropriate text messages or grooming type behaviour ) and capability factors such as need for training. More details of this may be read at www.safeguardingchildreninstockport.org.uk .

BRIEFING ON NEW LEGAL REQUIREMETNS FOR GROUP LEADERS

There will be a briefing session for Group leaders on the above  and other new safeguarding legislation on the 7 December 7.00- 9.30. The theme of the evening will be the “Safe Cycle of Practice” and will address recruitment and selection of volunteers, induction, supervision and training, safer practice, the management of allegations, and “Reporting and Baring” the role of the new ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) This is an essential session for all group leaders / officers. See Web site for details on how to book.

GLOSSARY OF NEW TERMS

As Stockport, along with the rest of the country, moves towards a “Trust” approach for all services for young people and children a whole new language is emerging. Here are some of the more commonly used terms that are relevant to voluntary sector.

Children and Young Peoples Workforce- This now refers to any (statutory, voluntary, private, independent sector) of us  who is part of providing some sort of service or activity to young people. It encompases the whole overall view.

Common Core of Skill and Knowledge- The basic set of skills and knowledge  in terms what you (the above) should have to work well and safely with young people and children. (It includes a set of  “Common Induction Standards”)

Integrated Working- All the systems and processes that support the children’s workforce designed to enable them to work effectively together, so that young people “don’t fall through the net”.

Multi agency approach- A common approach to bring more than one agency together to address the needs of individual young people across the whole range of options for support.

Safeguarding –Any thing that affects a young persons safety most importantly child protection but also includes Health & Safety, Safe Recruitment, risk assessments etc.

Work force Reform – The process of raising awareness and training the “Workforce” to the Common Core and the  ideals and practice of Integrated Working.

Compact – Agreement between Local Authority and Voluntary Sector governing fair relationships and codes of practice i.e. on funding.

EVERY ORGANISATION MATTERS

“The children and young people’s voluntary and community sector employs roughly one third of the total voluntary and community workforce – about 160,000 paid workers, generating income of at least £15 billion.” These were among the findings of the first ever mapping research into the size and scope of the children and young people’s voluntary and community sector across England launched on 9 July 2008. The research was commissioned by NCVYS and NCVCCO, as part of Speaking Out project funded by the Office of the Third Sector, Cabinet Office. The research - Every Organisation Matters - highlighted some key issues for the sector including that small organisations, many of whom work with highly vulnerable children and young people, are under threat because of the government’s shift towards commissioning services. The survey found that children aged 7-13 appear to be poorly provided for, with an emphasis on early years provision and a growing government agenda around services for young people leading to this transitional age group missing out. For more information and copy of report visit  www.ncvys.org.uk

YOU’V GOT THE RIGHT – New Service for Young People

·          Have you ever been stopped by the police and wondered why?

·         Do you need more information about your rights at school?

·         Do you have a say in seeing a parent who doesn’t live with you?

·         Do you have trouble accessing services because of a disability?

·         Are you being bullied because of your race?

The Children’s Rights Alliance for England has launched a new confidential advice service called You’ve got the Right to answer questions like these and advise children and young people over the phone or by email about the law, human rights and what to do if they’re being treated unfairly. They will also be able to refer young people to other services. With funding from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, this service is for anyone under 18 but they can also advise adults calling on behalf of children.

The number to call is: freephone* 0800 32 88 759 (*Standard charges apply from mobiles. Textphone users dial 18001 first). Or email: advice@crae.org.uk Lines are open every Tue/Wed/Thu from 3.30pm to 5.30pm

YOUTH GANGS IN AN ENGLISH CITY

A research team, led by Dr Judith Aldridge at the University of Manchester, has found evidence which directly contradicts the core assumptions of government policy on gang and knife crime. Based on two years' work with members of six gangs in an English city, the research finds that in reality, gangs are loose, messy, changing friendship networks - less organised and criminally active than widely believed - with shifting and unstable leadership. The guardian has published podcast interview online with the researcher. To access the report, please contact research team member, Robert Ralphs: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/14/knifecrime.ukcrime

To access past papers by Dr Judith Aldridge: http://www.law.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/judith_aldridge/default.htm

SAVY TRAINING

From the beginning of September there will be a new training program available to SAVY groups. The details may be found on the SAVY web site if you require a printed version please contact Nikki or Robin 0161 476 1338.

The training will consist of First Aid; Child Protection / Safeguarding Level 1; Introduction to Youth Work; and other youth work training

STOCKPORT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S FORUM

The Forum is open to all that work or are involved in Children and Young People’s issues. The  forum has been formed as a mechanism for consulting with different groups in the sector and a way of making sure that views and issues are taken forward. Why not come along to the next meeting, or be added to our email listing to get up to date information on Children and Young People’s issues. (Margaret Brookes our Chair and Robin Tryon also  attend this meeting )Next meeting: Tuesday 7^th, October 10am-12pm at SCVS office. Contact Nadia Ali for further information on 477 0246 or nadia@stockportcvs.co.uk

OPEN INVITE – NEXT SAVY MEETING – SEPTEMBER 10^th, Reddish Area Office.

Meetings are held at the Reddish Area Office formerly Training and Development Centre in Reddish. We very often have visiting speakers who will share information of interest to our sector all are welcome and the meetings begin at 6.30 pm with light refreshments at 6.00pm

To find out how to join or get on the e mail list contact us below.

 Children and Young Peoples Directorate, Services for Young People

For information or editorial contact , Robin Tryon, Training and Development Centre, Reddish Vale Road, Reddish Stockport, SK5 7HQ , 476 13