Hi.

I work in YMCA london as a Housing support worker.Funding seems to me a big problem. I want to increase activities install small gym ect and not getting much support for this.I am sure increase in physical health will improve mental health boredom ect.

thanks for your reply! i think you raise a good point... do you mind saying what your age ranges are that you work with? How do you feel about responsibilities of schools on physical and mental wellbeing?

Hi there Lisa or anyone else reading this!  

I am currently doing a reseach report also! However mines is only a BA degree and not a masters. I want to concentrate on diversionary youth activities and the role professionals play. For example police, Community Safety Wardens, youth workers and any others that come to mind. Are you aware of any literature that you think would be useful for this?

 I was on placement where I attended football sessions on a Thursday and Friday night, where I was told the football on a thursday was purely for learning, where there were more youth workers involved etc. Whereas Friday was solely to divert young people from crime which was requested by the police. I thought to myself, people who are unaware of the role of a youth worker would see them sitting on the sidelines speaking to young people and not doing very much (of course I knew differently) but sports coaches were employed to manage the football with the yuong people.

So alot of my research will be on partnership working and possibly anti social behaviour, youth crime, advantages of diversionary activities for everyone etc.  Can you think of any literature?

 It's getting it started is the worst part!

 Cheers

Tina

Hi Tina

I dont have any specific lit for you but my advice is just to trawl through journals (maybe start with Youth Justice http://yjj.sagepub.com/). Best way if you can is to look through e-journals or journal databases where you can type in keywords. Also visit your local YOT and local government websites to see what diversionary activities are set up for those already in trouble and for those "at risk". This gives the impression that not only are you relying on old lit but you are trying to look at current issues (also check out the government websites to see what is being discussed in parliament eg http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp)

Hope that helps

Lisa

 Hi

 The gap for me is access to funding and the lack of information from the top down. I am a full-time SYW, and feel that CEWs don't give us coal face workers the credit for the work we do, or the oppertunity to develop our work with YP as they have to work harder.

I am working on trying to address this with the development of a Youth Worker Forum, as i have the belief that part of the problem in YW is that YWs are not afforded the oppertunities to further develop and therefore it is our YP who loss out.

Only when it is profiled and CEWs need our support to dig them out of a hole are we afforded the oppertunities.

 Sorry for the moen, but... ; )

thankyou for that bert

yep it seems problems with funding is a popular one... just out of interest, do you have any particular ideas of what the extra funding would be spent on in your area of work? 

Hi Lisa,

I just realised you had replied. Thank you.

 Im currently in the middle of writing the report now and have changed my topic slightly to "An exploration of issues which influence the contraints of diversionary activities for young people." And have explored issues such as funding, social exclusion, anti-social behaviour etc.

Aiming to get it finished today. Thanks again for your help though.

Tina

Hi Lisa...

There is a shortage of equipment, for both club and street base work.

I put money into Street games and (BUS) for youth club to move around and support street games and areas which do not have Youth Work provision.

I would also like to see money go into basic equipment in club, IT, games etc, i am a present making a video with Young People looking at their lifes', i have done this before with great succes as Young People get their issues aired and following it i have found access to founding easier. check out Youtube 'Freuchie Young People' this project is now going a head, thats to the efforts of a small group of Young People, this was only six hours work to make this video.

So i would also put money into equipment which would allow Young People to use this form of medium.

Hope This Helps.

Take Care

Bert