Cambridge
YISP is a project for children aged between 5 and 13 who are at risk of either being excluded from school, committing crime or being involved in anti social behaviour.
YISP is committed to producing positive changes to the lives and environment of these young people. Each one works alongside a friendly and supportive member of staff who sets up a dedicated support plan in partnership with the young person, their family, school and other relevant organisations. Together over 3-6 months they work on this plan, targeting specific problems and needs such as getting into trouble in their neighbourhood, a poor school attendance or low self-esteem.
This is achieved through:
- Individual and group sessions both in and out of school
- Working closely with other agencies
- Providing low level parenting support
- Making referrals to other services where there is a higher need
Some of the activities encourage the young people to take on responsibilities such as organising their own mini-projects. YISP also helps the young person access positive activities like local youth groups and sports clubs.
Projects Cambridge YISP has run include:
- Weekly football coaching sessions, open to current and ex-clients as well as their siblings
- Family cooking sessions
- Team work and fire training days at the Fire Station
- Summer residential to Grafham Water
- YMCA gym sessions
- Bird box making
In 2009-2010, Cambridge YISP worked with 70 young people and supported 116 siblings and 94 parents.
One of the young people said:
"Before I came to the YISP I used to thump people a lot. Now I talk to them. It’s much better like that"
One of the parents said:
“Can I say that you have done great job with my son, he is like changed person now, much more positive and well behaved”
For further information please contact the Cambridge YISP coordinator
From left to right: Gianni Fella, Pekka Tuutti, Trudy Newman-Hart, Lara Brettell, Sarah Beaumont, Jo Lans
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