Duke of Edinburgh awardThis year saw the project deliver its second year of Duke of Edinburgh bronze award with 8 young people taking part. The sections that each participant had to complete included volunteering, a physical activity and learning a new skill. The young people undertook a range of activities to complete the various sections of their award including volunteering in the youth project, charity shops, working with homeless people, building and maintaining a model railway, learning to cook and prepare meals and coaching younger children with disabilities at Palace for Life football sessions. The expedition was completed by all in July with their awards ceremony planned for February 2019.

With a funding bid for a new DofE licensing fee in the process, we hope to continue delivering this valuable and respected award into 2019 for a new group.

DofE assessor’s reports from volunteers placements- Jamie has volunteered at the Good Shepherd Mission for the

homeless for over 6 months and still does this with his mum every Thursday night.

“Jamie started as a volunteer with a group of 6-10 adults who he sees regularly every Thursday evening. He travels to London and distributes tea, soup, sandwiches and clothes. I have watched Jamie progress in developing his personal skills, which were limited. But he has become more responsible and now has more confidence in dealing with those in need. Sensitivity is needed and Jamie is acquiring just that.”

- David volunteers at an Early Years setting and has done so for over a year.

“David is always on time and has built up a great rapport both with children and the team members. He has grown in confidence in his abilities and is now willing to do things outside of his comfort zone. He is able to communicate and encourage children with positive praise and support. He contributes at all the evaluation meetings, offering some great ideas which get planned in for the next week.”

Young person’s feedback about DofE expedition“We were trying to work as team during the expedition. It was different

because you had to wait and walk together. It was fun. I would do it again but not the walk back the next day. I wanted to prove that people with

disabilities can do it.”

Parent feedback about DofE award

“Dear Paul, Bev, Wayne and Amanda. Thanks for all the efforts in enabling William to complete his Duke of Edinburgh award. He is delighted with his achievements and we are very impressed he managed it. None of it would have been possible without your vision and hard work. Many, many thanks-Anna and Peter”

Palace for Life FoundationOur continued partnership with the Palace for Life Foundation has seen outside of the Council and funding from the Sustainable Communities team contribute towards the delivery of football coaching at various venues throughout the year and during holiday schemes. These have also included 2 weekly sessions on a Monday and Tuesday at Waddon Youth and Waddon Leisure centres.

Monday TuesdayYouth Club session and age group

Palace for Life

18-25

Palace for Life

9-18Number of individual

attendees Jan 1st - Dec 1st

2018 29 28

Number of sessions Jan 1st - Dec 1st

2018

11 33

Total number of

attendances Jan 1st - Dec

1st 2018

128 477

We have also supported the active participation of young people and adults at the various Palace for Life sports inclusion days throughout the year- https://www.palaceforlife.org/fun-had-by-all-at-palace-sports-inclusion-day/

Once again in October two of the staff team, Wayne and Luke along with 4 young men from the youth project (with one doing it for 2nd year) walked 26.2 miles as part of the Palace for Life Marathon march- https://www.palaceforlife.org/marathon-achievement-as-palace-fans-raise-50000-for-local-community/ to help raise money for the foundation. Our team again raised over £700 towards the final total of £100,000 and it took them just under 10 hours to complete with one young man using his wheelchair to support his involvement.

Young person’s feedback“That was hard. I was proving that I could do it and to other people. To show that disadvantaged people can still keep up with able bodied people. I did the whole thing. I wanted to give something back to

the Palace for Life Foundation as they have done lots of sessions with us at youth club”

Their voice

In January, to follow on from their talk at the Kids SEND conference last year, two of our young men from our 18-25 year old groups (Marlon and Elisha) were invited to speak at the PIP AGM conference in front of parents and council managers. They again shared their experiences of growing up in Croydon with a disability and how they had coped with school, both mainstream and specialist and how they had been supported by various services as well as their hopes and aspirations for the future. One young man has taken this further and now speaks publicly in such places as Box Park and South London pubs. He discusses such things as his experiences of having a learning disability, knife crime in London as well as having positive relationships. He now sees himself now as a “Spoken Word Artist” and continues to spread his good vibe message to other people.

“Ever since that conference that me and Marlon did, I thought there was something in there for me to do. I’ve entered into a journey to teach the rest of the guys out there who are willing to take on board what I’m giving them. It’s a journey, destiny and pride in myself.” - Elisha ‘Peace’ Mensah

ConsultationThroughout this year our groups of young people have been consulted about a number of things that affect them directly. This has ranged from their continued involvement in the shaping of the Youth Disability Project, education and employment, the new Waddon outdoor gym, the Waddon football development and re-location of the local park as well as the video for the relaunched Croydon Local Offer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVXBx4ijpI4&feature=youtu.be

These consultation sessions give young people the opportunities to have their voice heard and our partners, colleagues and managers have taken the time to come and listen to their views and use that feedback to support further outcomes for not only young people with disabilities but the Croydon community as a whole.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

We have faced a number of issues this year around young people’s mental health and working with those whose behaviour can be challenging.Our own “Me, Myself and I” small group work programmes, as well as support from our partners at Drop-In have given young people a chance to work with staff, often in young men or young women groups only to discuss such things as sex and relationships, drug and alcohol use, appropriate use of social media and positive life choices. These sessions support young people’s development and give them coping mechanisms when dealing with adolescence and transitions into adulthood. Our open door policy means the young people feel able to come and share their

personal concerns and issues with staff with the knowledge that we will support them and refer them to other agencies and professionals where appropriate.

Arts, Music and Club Soda eventsArts and music programmes are essential to our delivery for supporting young people with additional and sensory needs. As well as the skills our own staff bring to delivering art sessions we also work with our internal partners along with Club Soda to produce fun and creative outcomes for our young people. Supporting our older members to attend Soda Beat and Club Soda music events gives many of them the opportunity to access age appropriate evening events with other adults and the opportunity to have an alcoholic drink and be supported to do it responsibly.

Employment

We have continued to work with our internal partners at Gateway Employment services this year and after supportive discussions our staff have referred a number of our 18-25 year old groups to their service. Some of our young people have also

found employment independently and we have supported a number of them to complete job applications and update their C.V’s. This support into employment gives our 18-25 year olds member’s confidence, a sense of wellbeing and self-worth and a clear transition and pathway leading up to them leaving our project and continuing their journey into adulthood. Two of our older young people, and one long standing volunteer have recently begun paid employment within the Youth Disability Project and with the Children with Disabilities Saturday and holiday schemes. Their knowledge of Croydon and having a disability themselves has brought valuable experience to the job roles they undertake with children and young people.

Volunteer’s feedback“I enjoy just making new friends. I wanted to do something and I did

volunteering for a few years and now I have a job, but I still see everyone”

Offsite trips into the community

Supporting our young people and adults to access things in the community is a regular part of our yearly programmes. The aim is to give them the experiences and knowledge to move forward and become socially independent within and outside the borough of Croydon once they move on from the youth project. Outings include Adventure and Forest School activities at local woodlands, Club Soda and Soda Beat events, and nights out at the local pub for meals, quiz nights and regular visits to Box Park in Croydon. This summer saw the 18-25 year old group undertake the ‘Brighton Challenge’. This involved five teams, on possibly the rainiest day of the whole summer walking round and, amongst other things having to take photos of their team in front of a retro shop, a team member on a ride and a photo with the most people in it. The only challenge that no team was able to complete was to find a police officer to have their photo taken with.

Parent feedbackParent feedback whose daughter began attending the club over 7 years ago.

“To Bev and everyone at the Waddon Monday night club. Thank you so much for making S so welcome. Club has been a big highpoint for her each week, as well as giving us a precious few hours to ourselves during a very difficult year for all of us. The clubs are a very valuable resource for all of the young people who use them and we sincerely hope that this continues to be recognised. Many thanks and love from the E family”

Video of parent feedback whose daughter attends the Waddon Post 19 and 18-25 year old youth project. (Click on video link) -

OutcomesOutcomes for our young people are very practical and we push and challenge our young people in a positive way so that they may progress as individuals within society. Outcomes include but are not limited to:

Increased confidence Improved communication skills Improved participation in physical activity and raised fitness levels Improved ability in developing and sustaining positive personal

relationships Increased development in social and emotional skills Increased awareness in wellbeing, healthy lifestyles and personal

hygiene Increased awareness in healthy diets Improved ability in independent life skills Increased awareness in internet and social networking safety Increased attendance at term time clubs- giving young people and

parents a short break Improved pathway from children’s to adult services Improved independence and access to employment

A big thank you

We would like to say a big thank you to all funders and supporters within and outside of the Council. We could not offer all of these services to Croydon young people without your specialist knowledge and backing. We would like to say many thanks to all the parents for continuing to support the project. You always work with us in a positive and open way to carry on your child’s development and your trust in us really enables us to work together to be part of your young person’s life journey. I would like to say a personal thank you to the whole staff team, both paid and volunteers. Your enthusiasm and dedication to working with the young people is incomparable. You all go above and beyond what is expected of you and I feel truly blessed to have you all as part of the team.Lastly we would all like to say a huge thanks to the young people we work with. The reason we all do this kind of work is because we feel privileged to get to know you all and support you as you grow and develop. You fill our days with so much…sometimes with challenges but always with fun and laughter.

Here’s to another successful year in 2019

For information about the project please contact paul.funnell@croydon.gov.uk or 07990790183