At New Horizon Youth Centre we improve systems and outcomes for young people (16 to 25) fleeing and/or becoming homeless due to violence. This project is called The Blue Prints. For the purpose of this project we are focusing on “youth violence” which includes but is not limited to, violence from child criminal exploitation, criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation, sexual violence, contextual safeguarding concerns etc. This is usually referred to more colloquially as “gang violence” or “street-based violence”.
We want to ensure that young people, their families and professional voices shape the development and implementation of the Blue Prints. This is why we are launching a series of Community of Practices to see how this cohort of young people engage with each sector, how professionals respond to their needs and what systems changes are required to better support young people and professionals.
As professionals you will have the chance to share your examples of good practice and hear examples from others within your sector. This is your chance to share what changes and learnings you feel are needed within your sector to support you with supporting this cohort of young people, and what wider systems changes are needed. Notes from the session will be provided afterwards, as well as updates and continued dialogue about how to implement some of the suggestions made within the session both short term and long term.
Professionals who attend will have the opportunity to join our “Friends of the Blue Print” group and contribute to ongoing systems changes, at a pace and level of involvement that suits them.
For the purposes of the Blue Print and this series of Community of Practice we will be defining a young person as anyone aged between 16 to 24 years of age. The session will focus mainly on young people who are fleeing youth violence or are at risk of being involved with youth violence.
The questions discussed in the session will be;
Question One – In what circumstances does a young person fleeing youth violence present within your sector?
Question Two – What does good practice to support this cohort of young people look like within this sector?
Question Three – What systems changes are required to support this cohort of young people within your sector? This can range from short term to long term pieces of work. For example, new referral pathways, cohesive multi-agency working, specialist accommodation for this cohort, new services, new roles etc.
