better futures event review 2006

1. better futuresevent review2006

2. www.childrensfund.hants.org.uk

3. here’s what we hoped to achieve… • Celebrate HCF projects & highlight mainstreaming strategies • To keep existing projects and their services well-represented • HCC speaker - Children & Young People’s Plan/CYPP update • CYPP Lead to report on local progress & share good practice • 11.30 start to allow for 2pm exit + an opening agenda so that people can come for a session or a particular activity • Time to consider ‘What now?‘ and how to build effective links and maintain all the good practice from the HCF scheme • Explore the bigger picture and provide useful evaluation tools

4. questions we asked our speakers • How the best of what we do will be preserved and sustained • Participation of young people & their influence in the processes • The future for early intervention and preventive services • How we recognise and sustain the centrality of local effort via Community Voluntary Service and Community involvement. • Message of hope and commitment for the future, that what has been achieved is appreciated, and will help to grow better futures in the new structure...

5. Our 2006 celebration included 100’s of young people, enjoying & achieving…. Wicor’s Rock Challenge was a hit!

6. “… so much has been achieved, and there is still so much to do…” Dale Tomlinson Programme Manager of Hampshire Children’s Fund

7. highlights for us included • 180 guests from Hampshire Children’s Services • Intech’s interactive facilities and their auditorium • Young people receiving their celebration medals • Speakers - John Coughlan and Pam Robinson • Workshop facilitators/projects/Celebrity Panel • Wicor School’s ‘Rock Challenge’ production • Balksbury Infant School with their Circle-time • Young people from Hant’s projects and schools • Talking with and hearing young people’s views • Demonstration of joint working in Hampshire Balksbury School’s magical Circle-time!

8. “It’s great being here with you!”

9. delegate feedback • Our delegates enjoyed the event -here are some of their comments: • Circle Time was a particularly good example of quality care and education and that it was the right decision to make sure people saw it • Good to have children involved and impressed with their confidence • Some didn't get time to look at all the displays and didn't feel that the panel said anything outstanding and perhaps missed an opportunity • Sad that the ‘Wicor’ children were not able to listen to the question time -as they’d danced & then helped at circle time- they needed time to play “Good day overall-felt it was difficult over lunch-time as every one went to lunch at once leaving the children to do circle time to a very small audience. Timings revolved around John Coughlan and Pam Robinson’s schedule. The Balksbury school children loved it”

10. young people’s feedback “I loved seeing lots of children joining in and having lots of fun! I entered a competition to make a super hero - it was amusing! I liked the dance that the children made, they were having fun and I enjoyed watching it. I would love to take part again” Kirsty Morrison (Hulbert Hero, now at Crookhorn School) For me to be involved with The Children’s Fund again made me really delighted because I enjoyed helping out and making some speeches. We took part in the science exhibition, it was entertaining! Going on stage and receiving medals was a real challenge, I would like to be involved again! Tracy Ly (Hulbert Hero, now at Crookhorn School)

11. professional feedback Our delegates said they enjoyed the event and were moved by involvement of the children. A reminder of what it is all about! Some will particularly remember the young lad wandering about on stage during question-time as a highlight of the event! Hampshire County Youth Service leaders said they appreciated the effort that went into involving children and young people, enjoyed the event, however they felt that children could have been better supported in the workshops.... Wicor would have liked more preparation so children could have been more involved at question-time. Wicor pupils were pleased that their feedback had been used at question-time

12. learning points • Meeting the objectives we agreed as a team &/or Board • Plan ahead and issue concise instructions to participants • Follow up phone call to check all information received ok • Keep presentations short and control timings better • Balance workshop activities with displays and speeches • Dummy-run workshops & check delegate’s requirements • Keep question-time panel to half hour and attach I panel member per workshop group if facilitation will happen • Welcome young people and ask them for their views first • Plan event round people and not people round the event • Improve content and information for all attending • Ensure everyone gets a chance to eat, play & participate • Establish firmly roles and responsibilities with all the team

13. our celebrity panel + questions from the workshops Tom Fyfe HCYC David HarrisHBC

14. question-time • Who will continue work for 10-13 year olds ( and younger) in 2008? • Lack of information about existing groups and resources leads to extra expense and duplicated work. • How does working for your organisation affect the way you view and think of children and young people? • How is Children’s Fund going to support projects to be sustainable beyond he end of the Children’s Fund as it now stands? • How can you ensure a safe environment for young people to play and enjoy themselves outside? • Why can’t we have more than just swings in the playground? • Signposts – After 2008 what processes for alternative funding?

15. being healthy

16. questions and answers Q. Signposts – After 2008 what will the process be for alternative funding? A This is an issue for joint commissioning, as yet there is no process but multi agency groups are working on this issue… Viv West, Chair of Hampshire Children’s Fund Q. Who will work for 10-13’s (and younger) ? • Schools will continue to support young people. There will be lots of extra activities before and after school hours as extended schools develop • young people can help ensure a safe environment to play and enjoy themselves outside by looking after parks and areas, by reporting those that vandalise and by petitioning the local councils to provide facilities Glyn Wright, Advisor Personal Development Learning/Healthy Schools

17. staying safe

18. questions and answers Q. Where will small local (particularly voluntary sector groups) fit in to new arrangements? A.Children’s Service Department firmly believe that the voluntary and community sector have much to offer in the ‘Change for Children’ programme and will continue to involve them where possible - Viv West A. The police have always engaged with and worked with under 13’s and will continue to do so – I for example with Schools Liaison Officers and ‘Think Safe’. I think it’s fair to say that Children’s Fund did not fund police activity like our Schools Liaison Programme, although some activities that the police are involved in with partners were funded by Children’s Fund – SNAP Dance nights, Youth Clubs. We hope these partnerships will continue in the future - Martin Laux, Hampshire Police

19. making a positive contribution

20. involving young people Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service have realised the true benefits of involving Children and Young People within all stages of the ‘Planning and Delivery’ of our educational programmes. The time old adage of “…Children should be seen and not heard” is archaic not to mention foolish. Today’s Children are our futures and as such they must be consulted in all matters that ultimately affect them Dan Tasker Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service • Hampshire County Youth Service identified that bullying in schools is extended beyond through ‘text’ and email bullying • Effectively promoted and raised funds for Fair Trade • Debated in the House of Lords on what being European means to children & young people • Members sit on Hampshire’s Strategic Partnership • Members are trained as CAT mark assessors (Child Action Team) Darryl Sheppard, Development Youth Worker- Participation HCC Youth Service

21. achieving economic wellbeing

22. outreach for young people Within the Outreach programme at the Parliamentary Education Unit, our aim is to inform and engage students about the work of Parliament. Over the next year we will develop the programme through consultation with teachers and students to find out what information is relevant to them and then hopefully equip them with the resources to enable them to become active citizens within their school and the wider community. To find out more about the work of Parliament or to contact the Parliamentary Education Unit please visit our website at www.explore.parliament.uk This has information, games, resources about the work of Parliament as well as details of the visits programmes and any future outreach events Claire Kendall, Parliamentary Education Unit

23. measuring success • Did we achieve our objectives? • Celebrate success with young people from projects/schools? • Bring together projects & key partners with young people? • Did Question-time give young people the chance to ask questions and • influence children’s service’s plans? • What did you think? Final comments “Great Video” “Well done for finishing on time” “Great to see so many young people “New Age-New beginnings for us all!”