Note: To keep the young person's identity confidential, we refer to them as 'C' throughout the example below. Any individuals in the header image are for illustrative purposes only and are not the subjects of this case study.
About the Intervention
The intervention focused on the development of the youth outreach offer in North Lincolnshire. This was closely aligned to North Lincolnshire Council’s Integrated Youth Offer and Risk Outside the Home Strategy. Funding from the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership was used to increase team capacity.
Youth workers engage with young people gathering in local parks, high streets and shelters. By having conversations with young people, the youth workers can recommend positive local activities. They also offer advice and help young people explore their options for the future and understand their place in the community.
Background
A youth outreach worker frequently visits a local project that runs a youth café. The café is in a hotspot area for anti-social behaviour, exploitation and youth violence. She has built a positive relationship with a group of children – some of whom are engaged in carrying weapons.
Breaking the Cycle
Our Breaking the Cycle campaign aims to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives and encourages them to make positive choices.
After introducing the young people to the Breaking the Cycle resources, the youth outreach worker noticed good progress. Incidents of the group carrying weapons has reduced and there have been no further arrests since the intervention.
The importance of Trusted Adults
C is currently on court bail for a serious offence using a knife and has a youth justice worker. The outreach team has built a good relationship with C and regularly see him in the community and at the youth café.
He engaged well with the knife crime resources and has received lots of key messages, advice and guidance around staying safe and engaging in more positive activities.
C was taken into the care of the local authority. By asking how he was feeling, the youth justice worker acted as a trusted adult during this time of instability and helped him with a difficult transition.
Our Listen to Us! campaign supports trusted adults to talk to young people without judgment, agenda or expectation.
