Case Study 3: Promoting emotional well-being through drama and physical activity

National Youth Homelessness Scheme

Subject: Health
Organisation: Community Campus 87 (external link)

Community Campus 87 is based in Middlesbrough and Stockton. The organisation has 62 units of Supported accommodation for young homeless people aged 16-25 years. Alongside the supporting people service is a charitable funded youth project which runs a wide range of activities (see Tools 7 and 8 below).

This case study illustrates:

A holistic approach to the needs of young people
Extensive use of fundraising to generate resources over and above core funding.
A youth steering committee that is involved in running the project
Improving emotional well-being through activities aimed at increasing self esteem and confidence.

Background

Community Campus 87 employs a holistic approach to working with young people but the advent of Supporting People funding meant that the support service had to focus on more purely housing related support. They developed the separate youth project to work alongside the supported housing team which enables a clearer focus on the wider needs of the clients.

The youth project and activities supporting emotional well-being

The project provides a wide range of activities which can be seen on the Community Campus Website. This case study is focussing on activities that impact most specifically on young people's emotional well-being and self esteem. These are an allotment on which young people work twice per week and a drama group which is a very active, young person led group.

A youth steering group (see Tool 9 below) leads the project and continues to attract small pieces of funding for youth led activities. The young people have genuine ability to steer the project and raise funds for activities that they see as important for tenants and other young homeless people.

Resources

Revenue funding comes from a wide range of sources. Initially the youth project was funded by Company reserves, rents etc. The project was developed through various pots of charitable funding including The Big Lottery £30,000 pa for 3 years, Rank foundation etc. To run a youth project more space was needed and CC87 were successful in obtaining £30,000 lottery funding to purchase an old disused nightclub.

CC87 have worked hard to develop partnerships with other organisations which often leads to work which attracts further resources to the project. For example they have recently received funding from the local authority to set up and administer the youth led young person's homelessness strategy group. They have also been paid to deliver our pre-tenancy course to young people from other organisations.

The project currently costs approx £80,000 per year to fund. Core funding is due to run out in 2007 and after this may have to be delivered at a reduced level according to funding available.

The Allotment

In 2005 the organisation gained access to 9 unused plots in a local allotment. Working the allotment provides physical activity outdoors and develops team work. It's not all plain sailing, an allotment requires constant input and the level of involvement goes up and down. Following a recent donation of materials such as paving stones and gravel CC87 organised a successful big push to put in paving and it is currently well used. A football has pitch has also been created within the allotment area.

Resources required in addition to the allotment itself are gardening equipment and if it is a large area, fencing and paving and seeds/plants. CC87 have had most of the resources donated and the allotment therefore runs at a minimal cost.

Drama group

A drama group has recently developed on the initiative of a trainee youth worker (and former tenant) with a background in drama. The group started meeting in May, initially once a week. It has however proved so popular that the group is meeting 2 or 3 times a week and is planning a stage performance and a DVD. The group has attracted significant numbers, and has proved a success in increasing confidence and self esteem in young people who had very little of either. The effect surpassed the expectations of staff.

Resources required for the drama group are primarily a youth worker with a relevant background and a room in which to work. The group uses cheap materials for making props and has raised some funding for video equipment.

Evaluation

Community Campus 87 uses a number of methods to monitor quality and measure success: Regular monitoring of the numbers of young people engaged in activities; monitoring of opportunities offered to young people through the project; individual case studies; and surveys of young people

What's next

Core funding for the youth project is not long term at the moment and may reduce; this may result in having to reduce the range of services available to young people. Funding is a continuing problem for developing non core housing related services as there is little long term funding available and considerable effort has to be made to continually raise funds.

Tips and learning points

Using a wide range of consultation methods has enabled CC87 to maximise the opportunities for all young people to become involved at a level they are comfortable with.

There have been tensions between the supported housing focus and the youth project focus and we have learned the need for strong communication between the 2 sides of the project, mutual respect for each other's perspectives and compromise.