From Barriers to Breakthroughs: A Path to Independence

We delivered our Gangs, County Lines and Knife crime programme for Young People aged 18-25 within the YMCA in Somerset commissioned by Turning Point.  We consulted with the YMCA, Turning Point and Learners of how best to deliver the programmes that would achieve the best levels of engagement.

As a result the programme was delivered in the lounge area of the YMCA in an informal fashion.  Reward incentives were provided for engagement and completion of the programme, as well as providing healthy snacks and refreshments for learners.  Delivery also provided for more frequent breaks in learning, allowing for better concentration levels.

We developed a workbook with tasks and activities specifically geared towards the barriers faced by this cohort, which was informed by the YMCA and turning Point Caseworkers. Activities were specifically designed to capture attention and interest, for example one activity was to write a “rap” or “bars” to explain understanding of the concept of ambivalence.

AL attended our programme in 2019 and was 18 years of age.  He was placed in the YMCA due to becoming homeless after his mother was given a custodial sentence for involvement in County Lines, and AL was also lightly involved.

By the time AL was completing the programme, he had been in the YMCA for some weeks, and had managed to break away from the criminal organisation.  AL was interested in learning skills that would support him to achieve his goals which included living independently, gaining skills and qualifications to earn a good wage.

AL was struggling with the ambivalence of knowing he could make easy money illegitimately vs working legitimately for less money.  At the time AL was about to begin a tenancy for his own accommodation and he was worried that he would resort to crime for money because he would have new financial obligations such as rent and council tax.

AL was also smoking copious amounts of cannabis, he said he was smoking through boredom, but the cost of which significantly increased his risk of offending or becoming homeless again, and is something that was focussed on within the programme.  AL understood he needed to address this and incorporated reduction and stopping the use of cannabis on his Action Plan.

Since the Programme, AL has significantly reduced his use of cannabis, with it being something he has every now and again as opposed to everyday.  He has lived in his own accommodation for almost a year and is close to transferring to a secured tenancy.

AL also secured an apprenticeship working for Somerset Children’s Services working with 16-25 year olds leaving care, using his own lived experience to support them to live independently and make the most of educational opportunities.

He has rekindled relationships with his family, including his mother and now has a solid support network.  He says he has cut off all of his old friends, saying “let’s be honest, they weren’t friends they were just a bad influence!”

AL’s comments on what he found most beneficial from the programme was “learning critical thinking skills and understanding how to separate negative thoughts, knowing you can say no!”

AL said: “Since finishing the programme, I have used my new skills every day and now they are just a part of who I am.  I make better choices and decisions, and don’t react to my emotions.  I use my critical thinking skills to challenge by beliefs, and I now genuinely feel anything is possible.  My goals for the future are to complete my apprenticeship and continue to work with young people to support them to hold higher expectations for themselves, make better decisions and pursue their goals.”