News

Using carefully targeted prevention projects as an approach to reduce offending amongst children and young people has proved highly successful. 

One example is Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIPs) which were established by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) in 2000 as part of its strategy to deal with youth crime.

The YJB’s strategy comprises 70 YIPs that operate in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England and Wales.  Although participation by young people is entirely voluntary, YIPs identify 50 of the most ‘at risk’ 13 to 16 years olds living in the neighbourhood and try to encourage them to get involved in constructive activities to help prevent them from offending.  However, the YIPs are highly inclusive and also encourage participation from other young people in the area.

Existing programmes are starting to show promising results:

• 30% reduction in reported neighbourhood crime 
• 60% reduction in youth arrest rates 
• 30% reduction in school exclusion

Kickstart YIP

Kickstart, YIP in Southwark, South London, is one such example.  Kickstart engage with children and young people in the local area through positive and constructive activities to minimise the risk of crime and help create a safer community.

Kickstart is part of the national registered charity, Crime Concern Trust.  It works with local and national partners to reduce crime and create safer communities.

Kickstart aims to provide young people with a realistic alternative to ‘hanging around on the streets’. 

Kickstart’s aims and objectives include:

• Engaging young people in positive and constructive activities as a means to reducing youth crime and enhancing social and personal development of young people
• Empowering local communities, including young people, to tackle social exclusion and crime problems
• Promoting good practice and knowledge of ‘what works’ through training, events, publications, media liaison, and information services

Kickstart provides sessions in a range of different activities including football, dance, photography, video production, DJing and MCing, cooking, local history and art and design.

Working with young people in trouble

Kickstart also carries targeted work with young people referred from the local youth offending team, social services, educational welfare, local schools and the community.  These young people have often been excluded and may be on a final warning, or a court order for one or more offences.

Through small group sessions, Kickstart workers help these young people deal with their anti-social behaviour.  A daytime educational programme aims to encourage members to increase their skills and confidence.  Most benefit enough to go on to mainstream educational activities, as well as Kickstart’s drop-in sessions.

One of Kickstart’s key partners is the Rockingham Estate Play Association (REPA).  Kickstart has always worked closely with REPA, which has supported the scheme from the start and whose volunteers sit on the steering committees.  The strong relationship enables sharing of best practice meaning that children and young people visiting the centre get the best possible support to ensure they stay on the right track.