Agenda item

Part of this item is restricted, minutes from the board have been sent to members and will not be published due to sensitive information.

The East Area Gangs Engagement Team works across the tri-borough to improve the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. The team offers;

·  Home and prison visits with young people who are known to or believed to be affiliated with gangs.

·  Work in partnership and attend strategy and case management meetings to continue engagement with partners.

·  Provide support to people and families involved in or at risk of gangs.

·  Collaborative visits with YOS and social care.

Since December 2018, gang and negative youth culture awareness workshops have been delivered aimed at parents and professionals who work with young people. This has included training staff at future youth zone, so they are aware of risks. The workshops run through the YOS, schools and other partner agencies and are open to all parents and professionals. To date over 50 parents and professionals which has informed parents and professionals of the lives of young people are living. 

Greg Tillett noted that commitments have been made to the IGU and highlighted the need to not lose sight of how information is shared, youth to adult transition and the 18-25 cohort if the IGU commitments are changing. It was noted officers will continue to call in on Monday’s and attend monthly meetings, the only function that will change is not having one operational base. Andy Opie reinforced that initial discussions have taken place, but further discussions need to be had to agree a tri-borough approach.

Councillor Worby stated that the biggest response from parents is that they don’t know what is happening with young people therefore there is a need to explore providing information sessions to secondary schools. Angie Fuller noted that they are exploring a train the trainers’ model to ensure teachers are trained to run information sessions. Pip Salvador-Jones invited the East Area Gangs Engagement Team to do some training with partners linked to the Young Londoners Fund network.

Jamela Ricketts provided a follow on presentation on the work delivered by Spark2Life who provide high level intensive mentoring to offenders of those who are trying to leave the offending lifestyle.

• Spark2Life are currently working within the IGU and Barking and Dagenham and Havering YOS and aim to link work together and join up work across boroughs for a wider impact across the young people. In Barking and Dagenham there are 2 staff who work with young people and young adults referred into the YOS and IGU. 
• A focus on assistance and support into education, employment and training whilst challenging the mindset to ensure the changes made are long lived.
• A key part of Spark2Life aims is to identify and train 5 clients to become future mentors to offer skills and aspiration for young people and adults.
• The referral criteria for the provision within the IGU is primarily 18-25 years, violence offenders, known to be a group or gang offender, previous convictions for violence crime and knife crime and habitual knife carriers.
• Promotional work has been done which has increased the number of referrals made into the mentoring scheme.
• Through partnership working Spark2Life started to take on additional work with a group known to offend within the borough to ensure there is significant impact as a result of their work. The programme is now at full capacity of 21 young people, 8 under 18 years and 13 who are 18 and over.
• The focus with under 18s is around crisis management, safety planning, improving behaviours and education engagement. Over 18s works on housing, employment, obtaining photo ID to open opportunities or education and training. Spark2Life also apply for funding to support young people with opportunities such as college and training courses.
• Good news stories: 1 person obtained their railway ticket so they can apply for transport jobs, CGSE? GCSE? exams have been sat, gained secure accommodation, improved school behaviour. Only 1 out of all clients have reoffended.

Shabnam Chaudhri thanked leads for the informative presentations and noted that the work being conducted is very positive, passionate and complements the work happening within both areas. This was echoed by CSP Members. Andy Opie asked what barriers are being faced where partners could support. Spark2Life highlighted the need for dedicated support to help scope and find work and employment opportunities for young. Links are being built with DWP and DABD but requires further support. Katherine Gilcreest noted that community solutions run an employment and skills element that can aid access into adult education and job shop.

Pip Salvador-Jones asked of the challenges around welfare rights and accommodation noting that the CAB have a specialist housing support which could support with the housing and accommodation challenges. Councillor Worby noted that as the solution is wider than tri-borough there needs to be a London wide housing option as neighbouring boroughs are no longer safe.

Kit Weller highlighted that safer London gangs exit, and housing reciprocal are Pan London which could provide support. Angie Fuller noted that the gang exit programme does not work for all young people as the information they need to disclose makes young people feel more at risk so reduces engagement. Lucy Satchell-Day agreed and noted that it operates same London mode and would need to be reviewed.

ACTION: Katherine Gilcreest to link in with Jamela Ricketts to discuss support with adult education and access to the Job shop.

ACTION: Pip Salvador-Jones to link in with Jamela Ricketts to discuss housing and accommodation.

ACTION: Kit Weller to feed concerns around Pan London Gang Exit programme back to correct leads.