Registered charity 1044254

Annual Report 2013

“I come to SNYP because it is good, you can play games and watch telly” Brogan

“SNYP gives us some-where to go and something to do” Britney

I like coming to the Friday night drop-in because there is nothing to do on Fridays and I like seeing my friends as well - Chloe

“I like coming to the Friday night drop-in because it is fun and I get away from my brothers and sisters “ Regan “ I like the news-

paper because I like writing the stories and being with my friends”

“We learn about different web-sites and I like to write stories” Beth

Project Overview 2013 has been another busy year for everyone involved in the project. The young people have enjoyed a wide variety of activities and many have been involved in the environmental work, which you can see in detail further into this report. The current funding climate has been difficult to survive in recently and SNYP have had to make some changes in order to continue the work that we do. Earlier in the year we entered into the youth work commissioning process and were successful - this means we are working with Sunderland City Council to ensure that good quality youth work is done in the area. One of the highlights of the year was SNYP being chosen as Sainsbury’s charity of the year. This has brought many benefits into the project such as great new friends, a new kitchen in the shared room, fresh paintwork in the lobby, donation of resources and lots of opportunities for young people to fundraise; they did bag packs at Sainsbury’s to contribute towards the annual Flamingo Land trip. There are many people to be thanked for making the work over the past year possible; this includes funders, partners, staff, volunteers and the management committee, but most importantly we must thank the young people who choose to come to SNYP.

Funders

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Sunderland City Council

Children in Need Coutts and Co

High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear Gentoo

Sainsbury’s Sunderland North Lloyds TSB Foundations

Garfield Weston Hadrian Trust Sir Tom Cowie

Anthony Bourne Foundation J P Getty Junior Charitable Trust

Partners

Sainsbury’s SNCBC

Sunderland City Council Salvation Army

Redhouse Academy Southwick Community Primary School

Monkwearmouth School Improving Futures

Gentoo

SNYP Management Committee

Claire Williams (Chairperson)

Ann Russell (Treasurer) Su Kaur (Secretary)

Lisa Snee Clair Roper Jane Eland

Joleen Lumsden Charlotte Cheal

Mak Walters Sue Callaghan

Staff, Students and Volunteers

Nicole Routledge Trish Dennis

John Robertson Kayleigh Richardson

Dan Mills Danika Sidney Jordan Haynes Vicki Hodgson

David Smurthwaite Jackie Oxley

Meg Robertson Lil Edminson

Terri Middleton Lesley Lawson

Julie Foster Katrin Hoeschle Jodie Monarch Dave Mitchell

YOUTH WORK SESSIONS Over 40 individual girls have attended the girls group over the past year; the group disbanded in the months leading up to the summer and this gave the staff the opportunity to undertake outreach work and promote the session to a wider audience. Since the summer break the session has gradually attracted more girls and is proving to be popular amongst the year 6’s. The programme is varied and the girls have planned sessions around cooking and crafts. They have used their time at SNYP to discuss a number of current youth issues including school and alcohol abuse. At the moment the group are enjoying a Christmas programme which they planned and they took responsibility for decorating the youth room for the festive period. The boys group has remained constant throughout the year and as older members naturally moved on, some new year 7’s were invited to become part of it. 19 boys have been part of the session and each of them has had the opportunity to take responsibility for the time they spend at SNYP. The programmes that have been developed have been enjoyed and include cooking, games nights, quizzes, movie time, drumming and walking. The boys have also had focussed time to explore issues which include sexual health, alcohol, employment and bereavement. The progress that the group has made is recorded and clearly shows how each of the boys has developed positively as a direct result of SNYP, we have seen a young man overcome shyness, a hyperactive young man calm down and focus, and a young man turn 18 and become an adult. The group are keen to develop further and have some interesting ideas for programmes next year.

SNYP junior group remains popular and a core group attend every week. There has been a lot of fun sessions based around arts and craft such as hama beads, painting and modroc. The development of the group has been a pleasure to watch and by giving the young people the time and space to be themselves they have learnt how to be part of a group and build friendships. The individual personalities that the juniors have are coming to the fore each time they attend; we have a lovely mix of creative young people, sporty young people and those who are very keen to learn new skills. The young people support each other and share their knowledge; they have been very inventive with the current programme which is focussed around Christmas activities and lots of opportunities to eat sweets.

YOUTH WORK SESSIONS

This year the drop-in sessions at SNYP have been the most popular sessions with the young people of Southwick; always well attended, they are very informal and give young people a space to meet up with friends and engage in a wide range of activities. Lately the drop-in evenings have seen an increase in attendance, and this has introduced a lot of young people to the project and the opportunities that are on offer. Over 100 young people have attended over the year and they have enjoyed being themselves – dancing, decorating the walls with colourful graffiti, playing games, cooking, group work and team challenges. The outreach remains an important part of the work done at SNYP as a way of keeping in touch with young people who do not come into the project and also as a method of introducing new young people to the work at SNYP. We have recorded contacts with over 200 individual young people – conversations with the young people is varied and led by their interests or current issues. We continue to promote activities and other youth opportunities during outreach and we keep up to date with other youth provision in the area which currently includes the mobile youth bus based in Marley Pots and the RHAY centre in Redhouse. The staff have utilised resources from SNYP when requested by young people and many hours were spent in the summer playing cricket on the park.

178 individuals have come into the evening/after school youth sessions

228 individuals have been contacted via outreach 143 young people have sought careers support/advice at SNYP

Careers Work 2013 saw the reduction in hours of the funded careers worker post, however we have worked extra hard to continue and offer the same level of professional service for the young people not in education employment or training. Other funding cuts has lead to the closure of the local library as well as other local providers, leaving SNYP as the only recognised and free of charge informal drop in service in Southwick for young people aged 16-25 years. Southwick job centre recognise the value in our expertise and ability to build high quality relationships with young people based on trust and mutual respect and as such have continued to refer high volumes of young people.

Each Friday we continue to compile a list of the latest vacancies via the job centre, partners at connexions and also online and distribute to a list now 60 strong, the majority via e-mail as we move to becoming more digital in an effort to reduce on printing and postage costs to make the service more sustainable.

The local authority have now recognised the high level of young people out of work and training and have made this a local area priority to helping move this group forward. We have used a percentage of our commissioned service to provide additional help and support to the young people who access our service.

We have continued to build partnerships and networks with local training providers and only refer young people to the places we know can provide the same level of service as the young people receive here at SNYP. Young people who have had success with training providers share their story with other job seekers to emphasise the usefulness of attending these courses to help up skill them to build on their CV’s.

Young people have began to ask us for additional support and information that we have had to train ourselves up on such as assistance making a rapid reclaim for Job Seekers Allowance and other benefit related information.

We have continued to be recommended via word of mouth as young people want their friends to see for themselves how much support we can offer at SNYP. This has meant that we also continue to attract students from the University of Sunderland and City of Sunderland College as well as local residents who wish to volunteer. The students have shadowed the careers worker so that they have a further understanding of how we operate; on an informal basis where young people are always welcome and feel safe and comfortable.

A tutor from Newcastle College contacted us asking to provide a talk as part of a lecture on careers. I visited the students and told them all about youth work and the entry routes into the profession. This allowed wider partnerships outside of Sunderland and demonstrates that we are a recognised service across the North East.

We have used social media a lot more this year as we have seen an increase in the number of smart phones. We research the latest opportunities available to young people and post them onto our SNYP Facebook page on a daily basis. This is an effective method of advertising something at very short notice such as a course which has an imminent start date.

We have continued our partnership with the Princes Trust who have supported a young person through their development award to pay for a refresher of a security licence to allow him to return to work as a doorman. They have also allowed a young person to complete the next level of their 12 week Team Programme where they have helped support students on their level 1 and further increase their confidence. We also continue to refer young people into their Get Started courses where they can gain a taste for a chosen career such as hairdressing and sports etc.

We have worked in partnership with Red House Academy school where I visited each week for a term to help develop Year 11 students CV’s and also provide careers information, advice and guidance to the pupils too. This was very successful and the head of year 11 was very grateful for our service.

We have worked in partnership with the YMCA where we have provided support to young homeless people who need additional help with their CV and employment searching. We also continue to post the latest opportunities to their key worker on a weekly basis.

I have worked in partnership with Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School where I liaised and worked with the deputy head to work with a ASDAN group on their CV’s and offer careers advice. I also gave a talk on money management and interview techniques as well as providing support to the school by accompanying the students on an open day visit to City of Sunderland College where the pupils could have a taster day in their chosen subject, discussed entry require-ments for these courses and advised pupils to visit for further help once they have left school.

The overall employment/careers service that we provide was evaluated by David Smurthwaite, a third year University of Sunderland student who carried out a thorough and in depth study into what works well and areas we can improve upon. David observed the careers worker, interviewed service users and talked with our partners as part of his work. The study widely praises SNYP and the employment service and raises a concern over the reduction in funding for the careers worker which has led to other staff covering in their absence meaning they are able to do less of their own work. The study also suggests we would benefit from a careers open day where we could further publicise our project and also suggests that we could rebrand our employment service with a modern name to tie in with our use of social media and bring us into a more digital age. A full copy of the study is available on request at SNYP.

Newspaper Group

This year has seen the newspaper continue to develop in its design and involvement from more groups of young people. The early part of the year had two groups in Monkwearmouth School and one from Southwick Community Primary School and one here at SNYP. Once July began the year 11’s left school and the holidays began which left only one group running here at SNYP. From September we have been able to establish some new groups within the Salvation Army and Southwick Community Primary School. We have also managed to get back into Redhouse Academy and work with some young people doing alternative education. We haven’t managed to get back into Monkwearmouth School this term but will be in the near future. All the young people involved in the Southwick Hacks Newspaper groups still appear to be en-joining their involvement and some are attending both sessions here at SNYP and Southwick Community Primary School after club. After every issue has been produced positive feedback is received from the local councillors and community. There have been many great stories published this year which include the opening of Grace House, the Southwick Primary School Lantern Festival and the closure of the Southwick Library.

Environmental Project During the six-week summer holidays young people came and joined in the environmental project to give nature a home. Every Wednesday young people spent the day building hedgehog boxes, bee hotels and bird boxes. Every young person learnt a variety of skills ranging from using hand tools safely, to measuring, cutting, and constructing wood to make the wildlife homes. The young people also learnt a lot about the local wildlife that they were building homes for. During week one the young people learnt all about the different tools and the different wood to be used that were safe and friendly for the animals to live in over the winter. They also learnt how to measure wood to meet the specific design of the animal home being built. Some of the young people were so good at measuring that they became peer mentors to the new young people who attended. Each week was allocated to research and build the specific designs shelter to build. The project generated a lot of interest amongst the young people throughout the weeks. Some young people attended every week and brought along a friend. Overall the pilot project was successful and the young people made ten hedgehog boxes, fifteen bee hotels and eight bird boxes. They gave placed them in the community where the animals will live and hopefully survive the cold winter. Some of the young people had this to say about their involvement. Richard said. “ I enjoyed being involved in the environmental project; I made two bee hotels, one for my nana and another to go into the community. I also made a hedgehog box and all the tubes to go into the bee hotel. I learnt how to measure twice and cut once, I learnt how to cut wood safely. I also learnt about bees and hedgehogs and that they will die without our help. I really enjoyed making things and would like to continue doing environmental projects because it was fun, enjoyable and I learnt so much”.

Chloe Williams said, “over the summer holidays I was involved in the environmental project. I made hedgehog boxes and bee hotels, I learnt how to hammer a nail into wood without hitting my finger and how to measure wood. I also learnt about bees and how hedgehogs hibernate for a long time and how the home I built will help them survive. I have really enjoyed building homes to help our wildlife survive”. Chloe Jenner said, “over the six week holidays SNYP have done an environmental project for young people to make things to protect or help animals in the wild. At first we made hedgehog homes. Julie showed me how to measure the wood and mark it to cut. We marked and cut all the lengths we needed to make our houses. We were shown how to put one together first then we had to make our own. I helped show the others how to measure their wood twice before cutting it so we didn’t waste any wood. All the hedgehog boxes came out different sizes but they were all good for a hedgehog to live in over the winter. The other two things I made were a bee hotel and bird box. I enjoyed making things and showing the other kids how to measure wood. Philip Conlin said, he learnt a lot while being involved in the environment project. He said that he learnt how to use different tools safely and about the local wildlife. Deacon Lloyd said, “ I took part in the environmental project at SNYP, I made a bee hotel. I had to get some wood, measure it, two sizes the same for the roof and two for the sides. Then I cut a diamond shape for the back, I hammered all the wood together and put felt on the roof to pro-tect it from water damage. I used recycled paper for the honeycombs for the bees to go into. I also built a hedgehog box. I learnt new skills, I learnt how to use a hammer and saw safely. I en-joyed making the bee hotel, as I’ve never done anything like it before. I think it is important to make things for the environment to help our local wildlife. I would recommend going to SNYP to help our local environment. Overall the pilot environmental project was successful, young people committed themselves to giving nature a home. They learnt so many new skills that they can use throughout their lives. As a result of the project we have successfully gained £6,500 from the LEAF programme to con-tinue the work for a year. This means we can continue to get young people involved in building homes for the wildlife, plant wild flower to encourage butterflies and bees to survive. We will also be carrying out litter picks and looking at recycling.

Partnership work This year there have been opportunities for SNYP to work in partnership with other local organisations. During the summer we worked alongside Gentoo and helped to deliver community street games in Marley Potts. We also worked with the Bizzy B group and organised activities for parents to engage with their children. The Bizzy B group and young people from SNYP did an upcycling project where they restored old furniture donated by Gentoo and learnt about the value of recycling. A record number of young people from SNYP contributed to the annual lantern festival, organised by Southwick Community Primary School and the lanterns have been recycled within the project. Sunderland City Council asked to organisations in the community to help organise the Southwick Illuminations; we got involved and also asked local businesses to be part of the evening. One of the young people from SNYP compeered the event and helped the mayor to officially switch on the lights; it was a great evening and we had a visit from Santa who handed out selection boxes that were donated by Sainsbury’s

“I attend the drop-in because it’s some-where to go, also we enjoy coming here! There’s lots of things to do like pool, wii etc “ Alex

“You meet new friends and it keeps us off the streets and out of trouble, there is always things to do like cooking and arts and crafts “ Chloe

“We come to the drop-in on Tuesdays and Thursdays be-cause the workers are fair and sound and we like playing pool and being with our friends “ Ryan & Levi

“It keeps me out of trouble and stops me being bored and I get on with the workers” Lewis

“I come here because its something to do and its funny as out and the people that work here are really canny and have a laugh with us “ ♥ Dayna

“I come to hang about with my friends. I like coming here because its good fun and there are lots of activities to do such as play pool - which I do every time I come as well as have a laugh” Reece

“I come because its cold outside and it keeps me off the streets and this is better than Tommy” Keaton

“I like the juniors because it is something to do and I like the staff who work at SNYP “ Bridie

“I enjoy coming to the Friday night drop-in because I like playing pool. I will keep coming because I like doing different activities”

“I like going to a Friday night because I like the people that go there “ Brogan

“I like girls group because I like seeing the workers “ Brogan

“I like coming to the girls group because I like to see all of my friends and the workers. I also like playing games and being sociable with the girls” Chloe