Chelmsford City Council fund summer youth outreach in city centre
Specialist youth workers will provide targeted outreach to support young people in the city centre throughout the school holidays.
Specialist youth workers providing targeted outreach
Chelmsford City Council is working with Essex Youth Service and YMCA Essex to increase the level of targeted outreach happening in the city centre.
Specialist youth workers from Essex Youth Service and YMCA Essex already provide what is known as detached youth work – going into the areas young people choose to spend their time, rather than asking young people to come to them – on Friday nights. Now, with funding from the council’s dedicated anti-social behaviour fund, further detached youth work will take place on Thursday afternoons, to provide support for those who need it over the summer holidays.
The summer outreach programme begins on Thursday 16 July and will see youth workers engaging with young people in order to understand their experiences and refer or signpost them to support services where needed. They will also focus on safeguarding vulnerable children.
Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, says this council funding will help those who rely on in-school support systems:
““As is the case across the country, we tend to see an increase in reports of nuisance and anti-social behaviour during the summer months. The summer holidays can be a difficult time for children and young people who are unsafe or unhappy at home.
Cllr Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Chelmsford City Council
“For those who rely on emotional support from friends and teachers during term time, knowing there are spaces where they will be welcome can make all the difference. Equally, there are children and young people who have support at home but have fallen into exploitative relationships, who would also benefit from support services. Specialist youth workers know how to spot signs of exploitation or a need for safeguarding and can offer support where it is needed the most.
“Alongside funding additional police patrols to discourage nuisance behaviour, it’s important that we also work to address what causes the behaviour in the first place – and the best way to do that is to engage with people and understand what they’re experiencing.”
Youth outreach part of increased community engagement
This outreach is part of the increased community engagement taking place over the summer, including additional police patrols, increased presence of Night Marshals, and weekly pop-ups in the high street from Safer Chelmsford partners. The engagement pop-ups, which began on 2 June and continue until 27 August, are organised by the council’s community safety team and have a different theme each week, covering everything from sexual health and healthy relationships to modern day slavery and spotting signs of exploitation.
Safer Chelmsford partners at a recent summer pop-up.
Youth support services in Chelmsford
Essex Youth Service has two local hubs in Chelmsford, one in the city centre and one in Galleywood. Their summer schedule has everything from gaming sessions to cooking activities! They also offer drop-in sessions for 16 to 18-year-olds thinking about next steps in education, employment, or training. Visit their website for more information, where you’ll also find a map of groups and activities for young people in Essex: https://ecvys.org.uk/youth-groups/
YMCA Essex offers an extensive programme of informal youth groups for different ages, as well as training programmes for young people, including entry to employment, focus groups, and peer support. You can learn more about YMCA Chelmsford by visiting their website.
Continued support through education
The council’s community safety team works with local schools and colleges throughout the year to educate young people on personal and online safety, understanding healthy relationships and how to spot signs of exploitation. Most recently, officers delivered their annual Crucial Crew education days, where they were joined by partners from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police, educating over 500 pupils from 12 different schools about bullying and online exploitation, alcohol and drug abuse and personal safety in public spaces.
As well as providing an opportunity for education, outreach like this ensures that young people know that support is available to them should they need it.
Support for parents
If you’re a parent, guardian or carer concerned about a young person, there is advice and support available.
Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU) works to help young people stay safe and away from crime, exploitation and serious violence. The VVU website has advice and resources for parents and you can contact them directly if you want to talk to someone about your concerns.
If you suspect a young person is being radicalised, there is support available. The council, police and other organisations protect vulnerable people from being exploited by extremists through a Home Office programme called Prevent. The programme’s ACT Early Support Line is open 24/7 and no concern is too small – if you’re worried, take a look at the ACT Early website to find out more about signs of radicalisation and call 0800 011 3764 to speak confidentially with specially trained officers.
VVU also provides support directly to young people. If you are struggling, they want to help. Visit the VVU website for more information.
