Young people from North Washington at the Boldon Environment Centre. © Crime Concern
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £50,000 in 2007/08 that supported the work of Sefton, Roehampton and North Washington Youth Inclusion Projects. The projects all work with young people at risk of engagement in crime and anti-social behaviour, aged between 13 and 16. The funding has enabled each of the projects to undertake a range of innovative work.
Sefton have been furthering their work building young peoples participation and genuine involvement in decision making at the project. Examples of this have included negotiation led by the young people to develop activities on mischief night. On an evening that locally traditionally sees large amounts of anti-social behaviour, reports of problems were significantly reduced. Other examples of youth participation have included young people making a presentation to the Youth Justice Board Prevention Forum and playing a role in the development of 11 Million, the organisation of the Children’s Commissioner.
North Washington engages their young people in a variety of outdoor activities, taking advantage of the natural resources surrounding the urban location in which the project is based. Activities have included residential trips to the Boldon Environment Centre, where the young people learnt the full range of skills required to cook outdoors.
Roehampton have supported a number of activities including the delivery of a ten week multi sports programme, a 6-week street dance workshop and a 4-week course on relationships. They have also taken part in the Wandsworth Prison Reach out project, concluding in a visit to the prison, leading to identifiable changes in attitudes.
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