A youth project in Dines Green has successfully helped calm anti social behaviour and encouraged young people to engage with local services.
A youth project in Dines Green has successfully helped calm anti social behaviour and encouraged young people to engage with local services.
Delivered by the UP Foundation, in association with Worcester Community Trust, the programme set out to reconnect young people with positive activity after concerns over anti-social behaviour, rising tensions, and a sense among some teenagers that the activities were “not for them”.
By the end of the 19-week project, 25 young people had received significant engagement, 15 were attending regularly, and staff were seeing clear shifts in behaviour, confidence, and community cohesion.
Supported by a Worcestershire County Council Public Health community grant, staff delivered weekly multi sports sessions, one to one mentoring, and visible outreach across parks, streets, and known hang out spots.
This mix of practical support and relationship centred work helped re establish community facilities as welcoming spaces, particularly for young people who had previously avoided them due to conflict or negative experiences. Working alongside WCT this also increased participation in youth activities at the community centre.
Any inappropriate language and behaviour was challenged early and consistently. Staff reported fewer confrontations and more willingness from young people to talk, participate, and take responsibility for their behaviour. Residents also fed back that the presence of youth workers helped the streets to feel calmer.
One young person, unable to take part fully because they didn’t have suitable footwear, was supported through a behaviour based incentive system. After several weeks of consistent positive engagement, they earned a new pair of shoes.
Another participant began the project openly resistant and disengaged, but through patient, steady relationship building, became one of the most respectful and enthusiastic contributors by the end.
Public Health are utilising learning from the project to increase investment across the county to ensure consistent delivery of detached youth work – further increasing the opportunities for young people to engage in youth worker led activity.
To apply for a wellbeing grant to improve young people’s health and wellbeing where you are. Please visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/communitygrants
Supported by a Worcestershire County Council Public Health community grant, staff delivered weekly multi sports sessions, one to one mentoring, and visible outreach across parks, streets, and known hang out spots.
This mix of practical support and relationship centred work helped re establish community facilities as welcoming spaces, particularly for young people who had previously avoided them due to conflict or negative experiences. Working alongside WCT this also increased participation in youth activities at the community centre.
Any inappropriate language and behaviour was challenged early and consistently. Staff reported fewer confrontations and more willingness from young people to talk, participate, and take responsibility for their behaviour.
Residents also fed back that the presence of youth workers helped the streets to feel calmer.
One young person, unable to take part fully because they didn’t have suitable footwear, was supported through a behaviour based incentive system. After several weeks of consistent positive engagement, they earned a new pair of shoes.
Another participant began the project openly resistant and disengaged, but through patient, steady relationship building, became one of the most respectful and enthusiastic contributors by the end.
Public Health are utilising learning from the project to increase investment across the county to ensure consistent delivery of detached youth work – further increasing the opportunities for young people to engage in youth worker led activity.
To apply for a wellbeing grant to improve young people’s health and wellbeing where you are. Please visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/communitygrants