Youngsters get opportunities to thrive thanks to funding

As national Youth Work Week kicks off, new funding has been agreed to continue supporting young people across Cambridge and Peterborough.

This year’s national theme – Where Futures Begin – celebrates the people and places where young people grow, belong and thrive and nothing could be more apt than the Trusted Adult Scheme.

Funded by Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston, with support from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the scheme provides young people with access to safe spaces, trusted adults and peer groups.

Run from ARU’s campuses in Cambridge and Peterborough, the scheme is the brainchild of its criminology lecturer Dr Paul Nelson. It enables young people to thrive in their communities through a range of positive activities which help develop their self-confidence and improve resilience.

By including those who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) who may be exhibiting risky behaviours, and offering positive support, the team is able to equip young people with the tools to navigate life’s challenges.

For three hours each week, Paul hosts an evening for the young people where they share a meal, take part in activities and talk to qualified staff, peer mentors and each other without fear of judgement.

Activities include street art, sports, gaming, creative arts and crafts, not to mention glitter tattoos and pizza.

One-to-one mentoring, group-based work and access to positive activities including sport, music studio sessions and creative arts are all part of the package.

The Commissioner, who is a strong advocate for early intervention with young people said: “Funding projects like the Trusted Adult Scheme (TAS) delivers on many levels offering the group new and different experiences in supported environments.

“Often young people need someone to talk to, to confide in and this trust is something which only grows when they feel safe, seen and heard within an inclusive environment.”

The Commissioner has committed more than £200,000 of Home Office grant funding to the project since its inception, securing the scheme until March 2028, following a recent successful tender process.

Paul, who has run the group at ARU’s Cambridge campus for three years while developing another at ARU Peterborough, said: “By receiving further funding for two years we can provide art sessions, music studios to record in, gaming and street art sessions alongside outdoor activities like laser tag.

“The 13 to 18-year-olds come to us needing support, guidance and encouragement – seeing them leave as matured individuals just can’t be measured.

 “Some are going on to study music design because they enjoyed their time in our recording studios and realised the options open to them. We also have teenagers working in catering and estates.

“Many of these young people have no idea what opportunities are out there so we provide a safe space allowing them to explore what they enjoy doing and effectively getting to know themselves better.”

Referrals to the scheme are made by partners in Education and Targeted Support at Cambridgeshire County Council who offer the young people the chance to develop peer relationships and prospects either in education or employment through TAS.

Student volunteers and peer leaders from ARU help lead the programme following a period of training supported by both ARU and the county council.

Many of the young people were happy to share their experiences:

“I adore how there’s so many things to do here. The staff are so nice, and I would never have done anything like this.”

“I came back because I have nice friends here.”

“If I finish with you here, can I still come to TAS?”

“I come here and I can be myself. I don’t get judged. I can be myself.”

“TAS is the first place I’ve felt listened to. It’s helped me stay out of trouble and focus on what I want to do next.”

Senior Youth Worker for TAS, Robbie Cripps said: “By doing the work we do, we create a safe space so that the young people feel they can talk to us about difficult things in their weeks and disclose things to us.

“We want everyone to feel as though they belong at TAS, and it’s very important they feel that. It’s a family environment and community that we have created.”

Robbie now works in Targeted Support at the county council with her colleague Silvana Brownstone who refers young people onto the scheme.