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YPRAG's summer and whats happening now

Over summer 2008 yprag have been busy we had a display of the poems and posters sent in for the Knife, Gun and Gang crime competition and questionnaires around how children and young people feel about this. Which has been successful with several questionnaires filled out we were able to put together a report which is being professionally published by Barnardo's creative services. This is available to read at or contact us and we can send it on to you .  The introduction and summary to the report is as follows;

Introduction

This report has been researched, compiled and written by Barnardo’s NE Young People’s Regional Advisory Group (YPRAG).

There are 10 members in the YPRAG who are Barnardo’s Young Volunteers or current/ex-Barnardo’s service users, aged 12yrs to 24yrs and come from right across the North East to form a regional group.

The groups primary aims are;
• Meeting with Barnardos Directors and Trustees to ensure that the voice of the children and young people is at the heart of the organisation
• Advising on how Barnardo’s services could be improved

The groups achievements include:
o winning a National award for excellence in participation,
o contributing to the training of over 600 social work students and foster carers
o speaking in an All Parties House of Commons debate on poverty,
o advising the Children’s Workforce Development Council on national standards
o undertaking research such as this study on knife, gun and gang crime.

Background

The NCVCCO “Speaking Out” fund helps young people to explore the connection between knife and gun crime and gang culture amongst their peers.

Thanks to this funding the YPRAG launched a creative arts competition, supporting entries on poster design, photography and poetry. However feedback from peers suggested that they preferred face to face interviews rather than contribute to an art exhibition. The group put together a questionnaire and embarked on interviewing young people from their social networks, schools and Barnardos projects across the region.

   information and our competition entries and came to the following conclusions;

• The actual fear of crime may drive some young people to carry a weapon to defend them against a knife, gun or gang crime attack.

• Concerns are that the increasing media exposure is heightening this fear and making this level of violence a vicious cycle.

• The media always shows negative images of young people.

• Young people don’t feel safe.

• Solutions are needed to this problem and it doesn’t help by tarring every young person with the same negative brush.

• All gun, knife and gang crime should be recorded by the Police even if the young people are below a certain age.

• Curfews may not be the answer as research shows that the highest percentage of violent youth crime takes place within the one hour time frame following the end of the school day.

• Zero tolerance and more stop and search.

• Pay for more Police on the streets and stop all this Police paperwork.

• Licence or ban the sale of knives.

• Communities need to work together as it’s everyone’s problem and not just happening to someone else.

• Stiffer jail sentences for carrying knives and any violent crime.

• Set up a programme where Youth Workers identify and select young leaders/influencers in schools, even if they are anti-social. These young people influence other young people a lot so give them a lot of support and leadership training to make sure that this influence is positive and against violent crime.

• Violence is often linked to alcohol and drugs. Crack down on under age drinking and drugs.

We presented our findings at the UK YOUTH Confrence - 'Big Trouble in Little Britian' 2008 in July which we also took part in workshops and different team building activities. From the Confrence two young people from YPRAG have joined UK YOUTH's Young People's Board - UKYV amd are going to there first meeting next month.

A young person from the group is involved in a Fundraising Ball for Barnardo's '007 BOND Ball' we hope she enjoys the event in the North East.

3 young people are going to the End Poverty Rally in London in October

A bid that we contributed to, re- Under 5s participation work was successful, including Under 5s in a meaningful way. The work will take place in the Nurseries Under 5s being involved in staff supervision and appraisals. a member from YPRAG will be on the selection panel to employ a Participation Worker to do this Early Years work.

We have also worked with the media and had a peice in the local newspaper about our work on Gun, Knife and Gang crime. And went to the 'Save Our Streets' seminar with News of the World.

And how could I forget YPRAG also took part in Research by the Children's Workforce Developement Council contributing to the development of National Occupational Standards.

Thats all I can think of for now will let you know how the 007 Ball went and how the first UKYV meeting goes and all the other exciting stuff goes next time.