DISABLITY

YOUTH

PROJECT

SUMMER

SCHEME

2016

IMPACT &

EVALAUTAION

REPORT

Disability Youth Project – Summer Scheme 2016 Impact & Evaluation Report

Introduction

Over a period of 3 weeks ’s Disability Youth Project, and their partners, delivered a varied programme of sports and keep fit, arts, crafts, drama, film making, music, healthy lifestyles, forest and adventure activities, cycling and travel training. The scheme was funded by Short Breaks, with external funding secured from the London Mayor’s FreeSport Summer 2016 fund to deliver Crystal Palace Foundation coaching every day for 2 weeks.

This year saw us lower our age range to include 7 year olds. Weekly groups were split with 7-12 year olds attending from the 25th-29th July and 13-18 year olds attending from the 1st - 5th August.

The younger age groups schemes took place at Bensham Manor High School as this was deemed as a suitable venue with its appropriate facilities which included outside multi games areas, adventure playground, indoor sports hall and use of multiple rooms for arts, music and sensory activities. Although it is located in the North of the borough it has good transport links.

The 3rd week saw us utilise youth hub to deliver a 4 day scheme of life skills to a targeted group of 19-25 year olds.

Each day ran from 9.30am-4.30pm. These longer hours have now been in place for 3 years across all our holiday schemes after feedback from parents and carers requesting a longer break so they were able to continue working or spend more time with other family members.

The project involved participants with varying needs and abilities. This included those with:

 Downs Syndrome  Asperger’s  ASD- Autistic Spectrum Disorder  Prader-Willi syndrome  Dyspraxia and Dyslexia  ODD- Oppositional Defiant Disorder  GDD – Global Developmental Delay  Hearing impairments  Visual impairments  Speech and language disorder  Physical disabilities  Mild, moderate and severe learning disabilities  Emotional and behavioural needs

This year also saw 2 ‘mainstream’ children attend. One from the local housing estate, who took part in only the football sessions, and another child to support staff in getting to know his brother- who had severe learning disabilities and challenging behaviour-as well as giving their family a complete Short Break.

Services involved

Initial work was undertaken by the team to make sure the scheme was offered to a wide range of schools. Year 6-7 Transition meetings were attended and the team liaised with family workers within schools and attended parent support groups to advertise the service.

All our existing families were given the information and advertising material was placed on the Local Offer site for people to gain access too independently. Scheme Co-ordinators within the 0-25 SEND service referred children who were ready to move on from the younger age group schemes to our service.

Parents in Partnership and National Autistic Society also acted as links between parents and our service. They shared information, allayed parental fears and discussed financial contributions for those families experiencing hardship.

Overall we took referrals from:

 0-25 SEND service  Schools-both specialist and mainstream  Parents and carers  PIP  NAS

During the spring term the Disability Lead liaised with Croydon’s Sports Development Co- Ordinator to ensure that our summer schemes did not clash. This gave children and young people an offer of a service across most of the summer break to ease the strain on families. Schools/colleges involved (Number of children and young people from each school/college shown below)

Crescent Primary 1 Virgo Fidelis 1 Westminster City 1 Broadmead Primary 1 Link Primary 2 Quest Academy 2 Gresham 1 Bensham Manor 16 Brown’s School 1 Applegarth Academy 3 St Nicholas 6 St Peters School 1 Thomas Moore 1 Wolsey Juniors 2 Primary 1 Chaffinch Brook 3 Ridgeway 1 Castle Hill 4 St Giles 4 Winterbourne boys 1 Oak Lodge 1 Carew Academy 5 Kensington Avenue 2 Margaret Roper 1 Red Gates 1 West Thornton 2 Bramley Bank 1 Christ Church 1 Gilbert Scott 1 Beckmead 1 Rosendale Primary 1 Cressey College 1 Fairchild’s 2 O-Zone Oasis 2 Wimbledon College 1 Priory 15 Bromley 1 Access To Success (ATS) 1 St Catherine’s 2 Oak Lodge 1 Spring Board 1 Oasis Shirley 1 Archbishop Tennisons 1 Harris Academy- Sth Norwood 1 Bensham Manor Post 16 5 Link Secondary 3 Nescot College 2 Woodcote High 1 Jace Training 1 Cornfield School 1 Carshalton College 4 Lindon Lodge 2 Papillon House 1 South Thames 2 Orchard Hill 2 Croydon College 1 CALAT 1 Foxes Academy 1 Carshalton 1 Did not say 8

Statistics

This year’s stats saw an increase of 9 unique participants compared to 2015

Total number of participant attendances based on 2 sessions per day 518 7-12 Unique participants 67 year Session hours delivered 35:00 olds

This year’s stats saw a decrease of 8 unique participants compared to 2015

Total number of participant attendances based on 2 sessions per day 420 13-18 Unique participants 52 year 35:00 olds Session hours delivered

This year’s stats saw an increase of 7 unique participants compared to 2015

Total number of participant attendances based on 2 sessions per day 108 19-25 Unique participants 16 year 28:00 olds Session hours delivered

Feedback from young people

Each young person was asked if they felt “Happy” “Okay” or “Sad” about their week and why. Some had difficulty settling in due to new surroundings and meeting new people- but staff support over the weeks helped those new children and young people to make new friends, have positive experiences and become more confident.

“Because I love doing things and being here”

“Playing with my friends and playing football” HAPPY “It’s nice to know I’m not the only person in the world with a disability and it’s really fun here”

“It is fun and friendly. The staff are nice and I would like to come back”

“Because there hasn’t been any game consoles”

OKAY “Because I had some up and down moments”

“When I was frustrated I got to chill out sometimes”

“I’ve been annoyed by some people”

SAD “Because I haven’t found something I really like to do”

We were also keen to gain young people’s thoughts and feelings about what they had learnt and enjoyed from the week. (Please see appendix A for a copy of this and results from our child and young person feedback questionnaire 2016).

We also captured some of this on video as well as the young people on the 2nd week creating their own silent movie – please take some time to watch these (links may need copying to Google Chrome):

‘Young people’s feedback video’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e9qEI3fDO8

‘The Time Traveller’s Cloak’ – Part of Croydon Silent Film Festival https://youtu.be/eAXGllZIGkQ

Training & Volunteers

Our older members have always been an important part of our service and a number of them always express and interest in volunteering within the younger groups. At the end of the summer term we ran an in house ‘Introduction to Youth Work’ course for 12 of those young people. This included discussing their strengths and abilities, what they could bring to the job, safeguarding procedures and possible scenarios they may experience whilst working with children and young people with similar needs and abilities to themselves.

All of these volunteers offered their time and commitment at some stage throughout the summer projects, with some working the 2 weeks scheme and then attending as young adults on the 3rd targeted life skills week. Their time keeping was excellent; they were proactive in suggesting areas they would like to work (alongside paid staff); they engaged and communicated well with the young people and staff team and remembered their training from weeks previous. Some of their feedback can be seen on the video links.

We were also supported by 2 university students with one returning to support us for the 2nd summer running.

Volunteer’s feedback

“The staff all work as a team to support and aid the young people, not only with what they’re good at and like to do but to encourage them to try new things to improve their skills. The staff also help day to day to ensure the young people’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs are met.

This is my first time volunteering for a holiday scheme and it has surpassed my expectations in a positive way. I have learnt to keep a cool head at all times, to have a balance of your personal emotions and professional ones. I have become more understanding to the young people’s dialogue and I have increased my team working skills with staff that have different levels of qualification

Aaliyah Brown, 25th July - 5th August – Undertaking a Social Care qualification

“I like to help younger people with games and stuff like that. Make sure they are ok and how they are feeling - because I know how they are feeling in their face expressions. I like mixing with different people - like the staff - basically I help them where they want me”

Sian Mosley, various days across summer – Volunteer during term time disability project

“I have been working as a volunteer for 16 years - following my own attendance at the youth clubs. This has helped my observational skills and I have become more aware of others. It took me a long while to pick up on safeguarding issues - training and watching other staff has been a great help in this area. Working here has improved my communication skills; working with the staff and young people.”

Daniel Smith, various days across summer – Volunteer at 2 term time disability projects

“I have had fun here - only two people have been rude to me. They didn’t listen to me. Staff have been friendly and kind and I have had regular support. Do you know what - I wish this wouldn’t end! I found it easy with the “Red” week as they were younger and they listened to me.”

Tristan Hunt, volunteered for 2 weeks, attended 3rd week – Volunteer at 1 term time disability project

“My relationships have grown with young people and I haven’t had this experience before. My experience has grown for teaching the young people music. Also organisation in the lesson plan. I have been more tolerant towards the young people. I would like to do this next year and I would like to be a member of your staff”

Tomas Kiraly, 5 days across the 1st week and attended as a young person during the 2nd week

Parent feedback

All parents and carers were asked to complete a Feedback questionnaire. We had opportunities each week so parents/carers could come in and complete the form.

Questions included related to the following:

 The raise in cost for the scheme  Times and days of the scheme  Visible changes in child’s behaviour  Would you use the project again?

We also gained some “any other comments” feedback from parents about how they felt about the whole week and a parents feedback shared via PIP. (Please take some time to see appendix B for these and a graphical breakdown of parents and carers feedback).

Partnerships

Working with our partners continues to be a key part of our delivery and we feel lucky to have built very good relationships with our various groups over the years - within and outside of the Council. These relationships help pool skills and resources, use funding from outside sources and offer the children and young people a positive and challenging experience.

Bensham Manor School Use of their facilities and equipment to support the delivery of the summer scheme as well as sharing the skills and knowledge of their staff team.

Croydon Care Solutions Travel training opportunities for young people/meeting parents to encourage further travel training opportunities for their child – reducing the need for Council transport and boosting independence.

CPFC Foundation This partnership has been in place for 2 years and has grown to

include term time delivery within disability youth projects.

Pinewood & Frylands Use of their equipment/facilities and staff to support the delivery of Scout Camps adventure and outdoor education.

Activities Outcomes

Adventureprovided Playground The adventure playground is always an integral part of our day. Offering physical activity and an outlet to expend their energy. From experience children and young people with challenging behaviour, who took part in this activity in the morning, were calmer and more focussed for the rest of the day. As the weather was so good alternative “quieter” activities were also set up in the adventure playground area which allowed young people to make choices about what they wanted to do. Boccia and art projects occurred away from the main apparatus and as the area is secure it gave staff the knowledge that children and young people were safe.

Multi Sports-including Box Office partner Again this formed part of the daily morning and sessions. afternoon routine. Many inclusive sports were offered from badminton, tennis, boccia, basketball, and cricket which encouraged team work, leadership and improved children and young people’s fitness. The option of using two MUGA’s and sports hall meant sports activities could run simultaneously.

Music, Arts and Crafts These daily activities gave the groups the opportunity to express themselves artistically. These included group music sessions, decorating wooden insect houses, nail art, sensory activities & painting These activities increased fine motor skills and focus as well as giving staff the opportunity to have 1:1 and small group conversations.

Football Coaching Every morning Crystal Palace Foundation coaches attended and worked with our groups to encourage participation, increase fitness, work as part of a team and improve skill level. These sessions were always lively, competitive and well attended and each participant received a certificate with the ‘most improved’ & ‘team player’ receiving medals.

Sensory room Although the sensory room was out of action this year we still had the use of a classroom that we turned into a sensory area. Having a number of children and young people with sensory and behavioural needs there was still a daily requirement for a ‘chill out’ area and soft play room. This helped us in managing behaviour and incidents that occurred.

Forest and Adventure Project These popular activities were offered by our staff and our partnership with our colleagues from Pinewood and Frylands Scout Camps. Every child, young person & adult across the 3 weeks was given the option to take part and learn how to make a fire through friction fire lighting, use hand tools such as a saw and bill hook, whittle a stick and cook a marshmallow over the fire. They also took part in, archery, assault courses, crate stacking and kayaking, which all became adapted to suit everyone’s abilities. These activities gave everyone confidence, increased self-esteem, team work skills and a chance to be out in green open spaces within the borough.

Cycling This activity, within the schools grounds, gave young people with disabilities the chance to learn how to ride a bike or improve their existing skills. Many thought they could not achieve such things but this pushed them to accomplish a goal they may not have thought possible. This resulted in an increase in self-esteem and self- confidence as well as improved road safety sense when using a bike. A Bensham Manor deputy head even gave up his time to support the delivery of this.

Animazing Animazing is a company that brings along many different animals for the education and enjoyment of the children and young people. Participant interaction is used to educate and face fears when they got to hold and learn about such animals as snakes, lizards, spiders, African bull frog and insects

Specialist Team-drama and film making Across both weeks children and young people were given the opportunity to participate and express themselves in creative and positive ways. Croydon’s EISS Specialist Team supported by the Disability Youth Team were adept at creating a safe imaginative environment with outcomes showing increased confidence and the creation of a silent movie that was screened to parents at the end of the 2nd week.

Cooking Across all 3 weeks the children, young people and adults worked on valuable life skills by creating healthy snacks and meals. During the 3rd week our young adults worked in small groups & budgeted a 3 course meal-including starter, main and dessert- that was eaten together with their peers. Croydon Challenge Our young adult group took up the Croydon Challenge competition. Working in small groups, with staff support, they travelled by public transport from Waddon hub to central Croydon. Here they completed challenges and answered questions about their borough and learned about new leisure and entertainment opportunities they could access independently or with friends.

Conclusion

A majority of our first week’s 7-12 year old attendees were new to the scheme and the youth project as a whole. It took a number of days for them to settle into new surroundings and the routine of the sessions.

There were moments where challenging behaviour of certain individuals needed 1:1 sometimes 2:1 interventions to de-escalate incidents and calm situations. Staff’s previous training in Team Teach aided in these mediations but it was recognised by the staff that this training should be re-visited on a regular basis across the whole team.

The second week also saw many new members to our group but overall showed a decrease in unique participants attending. This was attributed to a number of our regular attendees being on family holidays at the time of the scheme and some attending the National Citizen Service across the summer break.

Having the arts & crafts and sensory rooms adjacent to the adventure playground this year allowed for freedom of movement between activities and the opportunity in the good weather to work outside on various art projects.

Communication with parents and carers is very important to us and aids in the smooth delivery of the schemes and along with young people’s feedback, shapes our service for the future.

69 parents across the Red and Blue Scheme weeks answered the parental feedback forms. One question that we were particularly interested to gain comments about was the raise in costs of the scheme this year. Professionals referring to the scheme had commented that the increase in scheme costs to £15 per day (£2.15 per hr) was putting some family’s off- despite the reassurances from the Youth Project Team that any family experiencing hardship could either make a reduced contribution or pay no fee at all.

 4 parents thought the price was too much  54 thought it was good value for money  6 would be prepared to pay more  5 did not comment.

During the schemes pick up and drop off times, a number of parents and carers reflected the need for the service to run for more than one week during the summer. Staff fed back on a regular basis that this would be something that our team would not be able to deliver across the summer break. This is linked to us working with three different age groups over a 3 week period and the need for many of the Youth Project staff, who also work in schools, needing to have a break before school terms begin again.

Across the weeks the children, young people and adults showed an increase in confidence and self-esteem, they conquered fears, learnt new skills and made new friends. This was achieved through socialising with others, taking part in new fun and challenging activities and being supported by a positive and experienced staff team that adapted things on a constant basis to suit individual’s needs and wants.

The success of the summer scheme has again seen a rise in new members beginning to attend the term time youth clubs in the various venues around the borough.

Appendix A: Young people’s feedback

How did you feel about the holiday scheme? (Please Tick)

Happy Ok Sad

Please can you say why?

What did you enjoy doing the most? (please circle as many as you like)

Music Woods Trip Animals Drama + Filming Adventure Playground

Sports + Cycling Arts + Games Consoles Cooking Crafts Learning new things

What else did you like? ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What mark would you give the holiday scheme out of 10 (please tick) And say how it could be improved. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

It could be improved if………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

What new skills have you learnt while attending the project? (Please circle as many as you like)

Confidence Team work Making friends

Socialising Independence Creative skills Sharing

Life Skills

Forest Sport Learning and trying Talking + School Skills New things Listening

Problem Musical Expressing my Solving Skills Feelings and interests Kayaking

Drama + Acting Filming

What else have you learnt? ......

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………

Appendix A (cont): Questionnaire Results

7-12 year old week (Red Scheme)

1. How many young people attended on each day.

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 Monday Tueday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2. How did you feel about the holiday scheme?

Sad 0% Ok 16%

Happy How did you feel about the 84% project?

3. What did you enjoy doing the most?

Learning New Things Woods Trip 8% Cooking Music 12% 11% 7%

Games Consoles 5% Animals Arts + Crafts 10% 10% Sports + Adventure Cycling Drama + Filming Playground 13% 6% 18% What did you enjoy

4. What mark would you give the holiday scheme?

30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Ten Nine Eight Seven Six Five Four Three Two One

5. What new skills have you learnt?

What new skills have you learnt? 40 30 20 10 0

13-18 year old week (Blue Scheme)

1. How many young people attended on each day?

45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 Monday Tueday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2. How did you feel about the holiday scheme?

Ok Sad 11% 0%

Happy How did you feel about the 89% project?

3. What did you enjoy doing the most?

Games Consoles Cooking Learning New Music 2% 1% Things 7% Arts + Crafts 2% 12% Woods Trip 16%

Sports + Cycling Animals 19% 11% Adventure What did you enjoy doing ? Playground 23% Drama + Filming 7%

4. What mark would you give the holiday scheme?

Three Two 0% 0% Four 0% Six One 3% Five 5% 8% Seven 5%

Eight 11% Ten 60% Nine What mark would you give 8% the project?

5. What new skills have you learnt?

What new skills have you learnt? 25 20 15 10 5 0

18-25 year old (Green Scheme)

1. How many young people attended on each day?

20 15 10 5 0 Monday Tueday Wednesday Thursday

2. How did you feel about the holiday scheme?

Ok Sad 0% 0%

How did you feel about the Happy 100%

3. What did you enjoy doing the most?

Learning New Music Things 10% 19% Woods Trip 12%

Cooking Croydon Challenge 19% 24% Arts + Crafts Sports + Cycling What did you enjoy doing? 2% 14%

4. What mark would you give the holiday scheme?

FourTwo One Five 0% 0% 0% 0% Three Seven 9% 0% Six Eight 9% 0% Nine 9%

Ten 73%

What mark would you give the

4. What new skills have you learnt?

What new skills have you learnt? 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Appendix B: Questionnaire - Parent Results Week 1: 7-12 year olds

1. How did you feel the time and days of the scheme fitted in around your week?

2. What was your overall impression of how your young person viewed the scheme?

Satisfactory Poor 17% 0%

Excellent 83%

3. Was there any visible change in the behaviour of your child after they had spent time on the holiday scheme?

None Yes 33% 30%

Some 37%

4. Would you consider using this project again?

No Possibly 0% 0%

Yes 100%

5. We have raised the cost this year to £15 per day (£2.15 per hour), which goes towards paying for term time and other holiday projects throughout the year. With this is mind do you think the cost per day was…

Didn't comment Too Much 16% 3%

Would be prepared to pay more 3%

Good Value 78%

Week 2: 13-18 year olds

1. How did you feel the time and days of the scheme fitted in around your week?

Satisfactory Poor 12% 0%

Excellent 88%

2. What was your overall impression of how your young person viewed the scheme?

Poor No Comment Satisfactory 0% 6% 12%

Excellent 82%

3. Was there any visible change in the behaviour of your child after they had spent time on the holiday scheme?

Not Sure 3%

None 24% Yes 41%

Some 32%

4. Would you consider using this project again?

No 0% Possibly 3%

Yes 97%

5. We have raised the cost this year to £15 per day (£2.15 per hour), which goes towards paying for term time and other holiday projects throughout the year. With this is mind do you think the cost per day was…

Would be prepared Too Much to pay more 8% 15%

Good Value 77%

Parent’s additional comments Red Scheme 7-12 year olds. 25t h- 29th July

“Thank you for all your support with my child at the scheme. He really enjoyed the activities.”

“I felt the things you done with the children was great. It would be nice to have more than one week.”

“Very professional, very well run, everyone friendly, lots of staff helpers, always on the ball, could not wish for better. All the staff are great and they have been so nice to me and helped me so much and gave my son so many great memories. Thanks you ever so much.”

“Thank you very much for all the positive input from your staff.”

“I wish the scheme could go on longer than 1 week. Great value, gives me time to ‘re- charge’ and enjoy my other children.”

“Please keep this service going as very much valued, from a happy parent.”

“Staff are very good. I feel relaxed that my children are being looked after by great people. Who know about special needs kids and can deal with them in a fun safe way.”

“I commend the entire staff and set up. They’re very well organised and ensure that the children utilise the opportunity they have effectively.”

Blue Scheme 13-18 year olds. 1st - 5th August

“She had a big boost to her confidence and self-esteem and loved meeting and socialising with new people.”

“My daughter came home very happy and positive and looked forward to the next day.”

“A great social occasion. Plenty of physical activities. Plenty of fun. A big thank you to the team. Very well planned and organised.”

“It encouraged social interaction, pushed his boundaries to try new activities and good physical activity. Increased independence.”

“Very good value for money, times fab. She gets to spend time with friends which she doesn’t when on school holiday breaks. Family are very happy.”

“This year’s scheme has been, as ever, a splendid punctuation to what can be a very long school holiday. Obviously it provides respite for parents but more importantly it gives the young people the opportunity for varied and stimulating activities and social interaction.(The latter is particularly valuable: children with special needs are often isolated). The dedication and care of the staff cannot be faulted. All in all it’s a godsend and I can’t rate it too highly.”

Feedback shared via Jane Poulter - Parent Forum Development Worker for PIP - from a parent PIP referred to our scheme -

Dear Paul,

I thought yourself and your staff would appreciate the following feedback about the Bensham holiday scheme.

“Also the Holiday scheme that A attended was fantastic, at Bensham Manor School, 25th July to 29th July. Could not fault it, staff brilliant, they were a1 ++++++++, excellent and brilliant in every aspect, so well organised, and all the staff deserve a medal for what they do, they were all soooo nice as well. They all do such a brilliant and excellent job, and if it was not for yourselfs, I would not of even known about it. Thank you soooo very much, you have done so much for me and my son, and what you do you all deserve a medal.

Activities were very good. A enjoyed it sooooo much they went canoeing, they done team building activities, built a fire in the forest, toasted marsh mellows. He loved football, table tennis, and everything that he done there, he very much enjoyed the whole week there, and wanted to carry on going, and he said he was tired, but still had energy for lots of other things when he came home.

A also received two certificates to say he was skilled and above merit, in all activities, and he was sooooo proud of them, and he was sooooo proud to receive a medal from Crystal Palace foundation for above merit skills in all activities, and only three people received a medal and A was one of them, I was soooo proud of him.”

Such a great job that everyone has done, and yes that's fine to pass onto Paul fennel and George, I cannot thank them enough for everything they done, it has created a lot of good memories for A and I, help me have a break, they done such a fantastic job, A still talks about it now, especially getting the certificates and medal, Luke Stevens was so nice, helpful, so well organised, I cannot praise them all enough, I assume none of them don't get paid, without people like them, A would miss out, I thank them all soooo very much for all that they done for A and I, and Without the services that you have provided and information that you have provided, I would be lost”