Group History

Through establishing an outreach team to engage the young people who are deemed as the hardest to reach, gave us the opportunity to develop relationships with young people in the community of West Middlesbrough. The logic behind outreach work is to access and inform young people of the Youth Inclusion Projects aims and to encourage participation. The West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust's risk management meetings identified 'hot spots' where groups of young people where identified as at risk of anti-social behaviour. After initial engagement the group became interested in the YIP and the activities available. Involvement in these activities led to the group establishing itslef and forming a clear identity. The group lacked some focus and direction so a residential was saught to develop the group into a team and provide further experiences for their personal and social development. The group took part in a one week residential at the Peet Rigg centre. This week comprised of activities and exercises which helped the group development and individual needs. The group as a whole excelled, participated in all activities, encouraged and supported each other and were empowered to take responsibility for their actions. The residential was a great success. Regular contact was made with the YIP from the members in the group who participated in the various projects. The group however felt such a strong sense of identity they continually asked to be invoved and take part in any further projects. During outreach sessions the group pinpointed the lack of things to do on the estate on Friday evenings. In discussion with senior staff from Middlesbrough Youth Service we negotiated the opening of the centre on Friday evenings from 7pm till 9pm. The session was open for the group to have some activity time and also to focus on some area of peer education. The group in discussion with youth workers came up with the idea of a street play on an issue they face in their lives. An idea arose from these discussions relating to choices young people make in their lives and the consequences to these actions. They started to come up with ideas and finally decided to tell the story of two brothers who on their way to school decide to take two seperate routes. One decides to play truant from school and gets involved in a TWOC and other negative scenarios and the other decides to focus on his school work and attaining certification. the play tells the story of what happened in there lives as a result of the choices thay made. Here are some screenshots from the street play