The Jitty

Young People’s Outcomes

1st July, Derby

• Youth Portal for the Young People of Leicestershire.

• To help Young People make informed decisions at key moments in their lives.

• To be run by Young People.

• Started by Oadby & Wigston Borough Council.

• 2005 Leicestershire Youth Service take up project management.

• Started after a consultation with Young People, 3 members as editors and on the chat forum. 300 hits a month.

• Won a National Award, Wavemakers.

• Group of 40 young people run the site from around Leicestershire.

• Over 1000 registered members on the chat forum

• 20,000 “hits” a month.

What Makes The Jitty Work?

• Ran by young people, not for them

• Varying degrees of involvement

• The process is transparent

• Accessibility

• Peer Support

• Anonymity (from other users not youth workers)

• Staff mixing IT and Youth Worker approach

• Inappropriate behaviour is challenged, and worked with

• Ongoing support from the County Council Youth Service

What do people get out of it?

• Greater understanding of others

• Help and support

• Empathy

• New opportunities

• English language and poetry

• ICT (24 hour tech support)

• Teamwork

• Being professional

• Greater understanding of others

• Confidence / not as shy

• Kept me busy

• Can see other people’s view points

Internet – The Benefits

• Once again – accessibility

• Flexible

• Able to monitor what goes on

• Leads to interaction between varied demographics

• Stops image-based stereotypes (and others)

• Open all hours

• ‘Social networking with a conscience’

• Young people own what they post

• Secure

Successes

• Diversity – different groups of people

• Police Authority Consultation

• Wavemakers award

• Residentials

• Days out such as Go karting and Laser quest

• Interviews with: Footballers, New Found Glory, Rare

• Jittymon Cards designed by young people with internet safety tips that are actually useful

• Poetry book: all of the poems were written by young people

Thank You For Listening