Youthscape

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Youthscape Programme (YP); a cross border, cross community interventionist programme incorporating the collective strengths of South West College (SWC); Donegal Youth Service (DYS); & Tides Training (TT) to deliver a high impact intervention programme to 800 of the Region’s most marginalised young people in 5 locations; Enniskillen; Dungannon; Strabane; Omagh; Letterkenny; & Ballybofey. The Partnership has been developed to capitalise on the following expertise and experience: 1)Developing & leading a transformative cross community personal development, good relations and citizenship focused programme (SWC); 2)Deploying a youth work approach to delivering high impact intervention programmes for marginalised young people (DYS); 3)Developing & delivering specialist Good Relations programmes regionally (TT); 4)Developing & delivering tailored progression opportunities (SWC); PROJECT DESIGN: YP will encompass 3 components: 1) Initial Engagement (6 weeks): i) Identification & recruitment of participants; ii) Assignment of a Key Worker (KW) for each young person; iii) Identification and addressing of barriers to participation including signposting to & arrangement of specialist interventions; iv) Assessment of individual’s needs & interests; v) Preparation of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) & on-going review of progress against individualised programme of activity. 2) Programme Delivery (16 weeks): i) Delivery of individualised programmes of activity centred around the three OCN Level 1 Accredited Programme Outcome Areas: Personal Development: Good Relations; & Citizenship; ii) Completion of an active Citizenship Project; iii) Sustained contact with appointed KW to support implementation of the PDP. 3) Transition Support Period (12 weeks); i) Continued support through contact with appointed KW; ii) Support with implementation of the PDP to include assistance to engage, enter & sustain chosen education, training or employment option; iii) Directional support so young people can play a continued role in the creation of a more cohesive society within their communities. FEATURES: YP will incorporate a youth development approach delivered by skilled professionals; this will result in the requisite levels of retention and completion of 80% of the individualised programme of activity within the PDP. This approach also provides for the KW supporting the participant to overcome identified barriers to progression. 1) YP activity will span 9 months including 3/4 days per week in the delivery phase; 2) All activity will be undertaken on a cross community basis, with at least 5 opportunities for cross border contact per cohort; 3) YP content will be delivered around 3 Key Outcome Areas: Personal Development; Good Relations; and Citizenship. DELIVERY: In line with targets, between September 2017 – September 2018 200 young people will complete (Phase 1); and between October 2018 – December 2021 600 young people will complete (Phase 2). Phase 1 will involve 3 cohorts of 75 young people; Phase 2 will involve 9 cohorts of 75 young people. PRINCIPLES: YP will: 1) be young person centred: ensuring that each individual remains the central focal point; 2) be underpinned by youth work principles, with activity delivered by suitably qualified staff (as per previous experience); 3) Incorporate on-going engagement with and co-design by young people to ensure that the PDP developed for each young person remains relevant & realistic; 4) Be characterised by empathy and respect for young people; 5) Incorporate an emphasis on educational development, with a focus on early achievement and engagement with education & training providers to identify progression pathways; 6) Be conducted within a safe and supportive environment ; 7) Characterised by a respect for diversity for young people from different cultural, religious & community backgrounds; 8) Be designed to ensure that all participating young people find and are empowered to utilise their voice to improve individual life circumstances. CROSS COMMUNITY & CROSS BORDER OUTPUTS:Partners will deliver YP to 480 young people in NI; & 320 in the BROI. In NI the participants per community will be 45% CRN’ 45% PUL; & 10% BME. In BROI; this will be 80% CRN; 10% PUL; & 10% BME. OPTIONS APPRAISAL & COSTS: A number of project design related options were considered including incorporation of specialist good relations input; partnership approaches to active citizenship & a Peace Apprenticeship programme. YP will cost €3.9m, (€4993 per participant). RISK MANAGEMENT:Partners have identified a number of potential risks associated with YP including difficulties related to participant recruitment; failure to recruit & retain suitably qualified staff; challenges related to ensuring participants complete required level of programming. Related mitigation strategies have been developed & YP risk register reviewed monthly. MANAGEMENT: YP will be implemented by a dedicated management team comprising representatives from SWC, DYS & TT and also by a Youth Advisory Board (stakeholder organisations) & a Youth Forum (nominated participants). SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: YP has been developed to align with EU & regional Sustainable Development principles & equality legislation. COMMUNICATIONS: Multi-faceted Communications Plan encompasses a YP social media platform designed to assist in participant recruitment; promote successes; & facilitate ongoing cross community & cross border contact amongst participants. MONITORING & EVALUATION: YP will deploy dedicated E&M Officer responsible for collection of baseline, interim & final data for analysis within JET evaluation system. EXIT STRATEGY: YP learning incorporated into future provision within SWC & DYS. Partners will seek additional opportunities to continue to develop & deliver high impact interventionist programmes for marginalised young people counties on a cross border basis.

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