The Barca-Leeds' Youth Inclusion Project (YIP) was a highly successful youth crime prevention initiative working with children and young people aged 8 to 13 years old who are at risk of becoming NEET, involved in offending or anti-social behaviour (including gang-related activity) and experiencing school exclusion. Barca-Leeds proudly delivered the project for over 10 years, until March 2022.
We supported children by providing one-to-one support and group work activities that builds their self-esteem, raises their aspirations, develops new skills and ultimately, helps them to find alternative choices to offending. Each year we worked with over 100 children and their families with an aim to reduce anti-social behaviours, improve school attendance and attainment and raise aspirations.
Our aim is to provide:
We supported children aged 8 to 13 who have been identified to be at risk of offending. This can include engaging in anti-social and criminal behaviour where the police haven’t been involved or siblings and parents who have been involved with the police.
It could also include children at risk of being excluded from school or who have difficulties managing and expressing their emotions or who are being educated in alternative provisions.
Referrals were accepted directly from professionals including behaviour support and pastoral workers, LASBT officers, West Yorkshire Police, social workers and family support workers. We also accept referrals by working with partners across the city by being part of Guidance and Support meetings, Community Safety meetings and ROCLA (Reducing Offending for Children Looked After).
When we first started working with Jacob, he was living in a very chaotic environment and this was having a big impact on his emotional well-being, and subsequently his ability to engage in education.
School made a referral to YIP for us to offer some support to help him understand his emotions, build his resilience and increase his self-esteem.
Jacob really enjoys his sessions with his keyworker, he takes responsibility for himself to remember when his session is and to go to meet her on the right day and time.
Jacob and his keyworker worked together to talk about his positive qualities, the things he is good at and the things he enjoys doing. They worked out things that Jacob would be able to do that would make him feel better about himself such as doing creative activities. Jacob also spent time with us outside school where he was able to meet with other young people and engage in positive activities together.
Jacob really enjoys his sessions with his keyworker, he takes responsibility for himself to remember when his session is and to go to meet her on the right day and time. He is managing better in school and his self-esteem is improving.
If you would like to find out more about our children and young people services, please contact Amanda Sykes, Children and Young Person’s Manager, on 0113 255 9582 or email: amanda@barca-leeds.org
