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Since the last report to EMT, the YES-Cyber Partnership has been engaged in a wide range of initiatives:
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After-School Club.
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Volunteering Project (SRB3).
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PAYP (Connexions).
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L.C.C Connexions Pilot (transitional support) (TDC).
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Connexions Access Points (CAPs) (Youth Service).
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learndirect / UK online (TDC).
This has been in addition to its core role of referral and support for young people. In all of these areas, the Project has been successful in meeting targets and, in particular, engaging or re-engaging young people from the hardest to reach groups, including ex-offenders, those excluded from education and those from BME communities.
The benefits of being involved in such a high-profile successful Project are many, although not always easily measurable – an objective of the Project for the coming year is to improve monitoring, reporting and quality assurance procedures. The key benefits to TDC can be summarised as:
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Through its prominent location and high profile in the Chapeltown community, the Project promotes TDC in the community.
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The Project is actively engaged with significant numbers of young people who are making decisions about what they are going to do post-16; TDC is actively promoted to young people, where appropriate for them.
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Outreach Workers facilitate the transition of young people who choose TDC, as they work from both venues.
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Outreach Workers support ‘at risk’ students at TDC and facilitate student – student and student – staff communication, as required. The Project supports students who are excluded.
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Several members of BME staff have been recruited to TDC who worked or volunteered formerly at YES-Cyber and were encouraged to apply. This not only improves the ethnic profile of the staff, but also adds to cultural understanding and diversity.
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Good standing with Connexions and the Youth Service.
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Experience of the YES-Cyber Manager (for a full list of committee / group membership see Appendix 7).
Connexions.
Cultural awareness, eg support for TDC Security Staff in dealing with BME male students, etc.
Youth justice issues.
Positive working relationships with L.C.C. and a wide variety of agencies.
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Approximately 50% of young people engaged by the Project will have some contact with TDC, either through school assemblies, visits or Open Days.
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Non-traditional venue for, eg IT Taster Classes, learndirect, surgeries for Connexions Personal Advisers, etc, etc.
 However, managing such a plethora of projects, with different funding, monitoring and quality assurance requirements, plus recruiting and managing staff on short-term, and often part-time contracts has presented many challenges. It is timely now to reflect not only on the achievements of YES-Cyber but what its forward strategy might be.
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