PUSH is a DVD showcasing the work of
young people involved in the arts, sports and dance projects
hosted by Leeds Youth Offending Service and run in partnership
with the Leeds Museums and galleries Discovery Centre, Leeds
Rhinos and the Dance United Academy, Bradford.
It's a high quality 52Mb Movie file (.mov). Depending on your
connection speed this movie may take a minute to download.
If you have any difficulties viewing
this movie
you may need to install the latest QuickTime player.
The filming occurred over 3 days at the venues where the
projects take place, Headingley rugby ground and the Leeds
Discovery Centre. The dancers involved have all completed the 12
week Dance United programme.
The projects were developed with funding from the Learning
Skills Council in order to engage young people age 12-19 in the
NEET category who were at risk or involved in offending. The
idea has been to motivate young people to take part, achieve and
think about future goals. Through the mediums of art, sport and
dance they have learnt transferable skills and improved soft
skills such as confidence, self esteem and trust, enabling many
of them to move back into education or explore opportunities for
training and employment.
Multi-disciplinary teams of project specific support staff from
the youth offending service have worked closely with each group
of young people to motivate and facilitate their attendance,
support them through difficulties during the course and to work
with them around appropriate exit strategies and move on,
including assisting with sourcing courses, application forms and
preparation for and attendance at interviews.
Since January 2008 we have piloted two twelve week courses of
each of the projects. They vary in intensity from full time 25
hrs per week to 2 days per week 2 hours per day. The idea was to
offer a range of options in order to accommodate the needs and
abilities of a broader group of young people.
Cohort Two is ongoing and due to complete by the end of July. We
currently have 32 young people from across the city engaged with
the projects.
The first cohort completed in April. Referrals were accepted
citywide from within the youth offending service but also from
any other agencies, i.e. children’s homes, connexions, schools
providing the young people fitted the referral criteria age
range,Neet and at risk of involvement in offending.
For Cohort One 52 young people were referred to all projects. Of
those 42% were age 12-15 and 58% were 16-19 years old. A total
of 28 are male and 24 female. Of these referrals 86% were for
white European young people, 6% black young people and 8% mixed
race young people. These figures are representative of the
ethnic makeup of the youth offending service client group.
The Arts course was facilitated by Carlotta Goulden from
Stretch, 16 young people started the course, 8 completed and 6
of those achieved the Bronze level arts award. 3 have gone onto
the next cohort to work towards the silver arts award, 2 have
gained employment, one has moved overseas and 2 have returned to
education.
The sports course facilitated by Kwasi Adoo from Hoops, had 24
young people commence 11 of whom completed, working towards
achieving the junior sports leadership award. 5 will complete
the award via cohort 2. 4 have moved into employment or
training, 1 has returned to custody and 1 has moved onto cohort
2 of the arts project.
The dance project facilitated by Dance United in Bradford
offered 13 young people the opportunity to take part. Of those 9
completed and achieved the qualification in Professional
Performance Skills. 5 young people continue involvement in the
Youth Dance Forum of Dance United on a weekly basis.
6 young people are either engaged in or have places to take up
on further training courses. 2 young people have employment and
1 has returned to education.
Further in depth evaluation of outcomes for young people
referred to both cohorts will occur following the completion of
cohort 2.
If you would like any further information or wish to discuss
similar schemes please feel free to contact us.
