Annual Report 2013-2014

Canvey Island Youth Project
Annual Report
2013-2014
Advice, Information, Support & Counselling
for Young People 11 – 25
St Nicholas Centre, 208 Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 0JR
Tel: 01268 683431 / 01268 514792
Mobile: 07436 102825
Email: [email protected]
www.canveyislandyouthproject.org.uk
Charity Registration Number 1063643
Canvey Island Youth Project Annual Report
CHARITY DETAILS
Registered Charity Number:
1063643
Postal Address:
Canvey Island Youth Project
St Nicholas Centre
208 Long Road
Canvey Island
Essex SS7 0JR
Phone and Fax:
Mobile/Text
Internet address:
Email address:
01268 683431/01268 514792
07436 102825
www.canveyislandyouthproject.org.uk
[email protected]
Management Committee:
Sue Benson
Linda Brooks
David Palmer
Kevin Leigh
Brian Hickey
Barry Woolf
Claire Gardiner
Chairwoman
Treasurer
Volunteers:
Mary Calder
Louisa North
Claire Gardiner
Vanessa Burnett
Karen Bridge
Gary Williams
Kirsty Crerie
Richard Mallandrain
Leight Kendrick
Barbara Davis
Amy Loughlin
Nick Saxby
Zoe Viscardini
Theresa Neale
James Harrison
Shaun Vos
Staff:
Alex Dobinson
Barbara Wilkins
Tina Cozens
Bernie Saxby
Manager
Drop-in Worker
Under 18 Worker
Homeless Support
Worker
Alcohol Support
Worker
Lindsey Smith
Independent Examiner:
Neil Impey & Co, Benfleet
Bankers:
Barclays Bank, Canvey Island
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Canvey Island Youth Project
The Canvey Island Youth Project was first established by a small group of volunteers in 1992. We are
a local, community organisation which works with young people between the ages of 11 and 25. We
offer a range of services depending on the needs of the individual young person including; a drop-in,
a counselling service, a befriending service, school mentoring, educational workshops and a young
parents group. Within all these services we offer extra, specialist support for sexual health,
homelessness, debt, special needs, parents, drug and alcohol issues and family mediation. The Youth
Project volunteers and workers support young people's individual needs, whether that is a need for
food in an emergency or long term emotional support over a period of years. We do this by
providing an open welcoming and reliable source of support and taking each person as an individual
with their own unique set of circumstances and feelings. Canvey Youth Project grew out of the fact
that some young people lack the basic necessities of life which most of us take for granted;
somewhere to live, light, heat, food, clothing and work. Something else was also missing in their
lives, someone who genuinely cared about them and who was interested in how they felt and what
they were doing. We wanted to help fill that gap.
The objects of the Youth Project
 To help educate persons primarily aged between 11-25 so as to develop their physical, mental and
spiritual capacities in order that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of
society
 To relieve poverty and sickness amongst young people by establishing and developing a counselling,
advice and information service.
The aims of the Canvey Island Youth Project
 To offer advice, information and guidance on all issues which might affect young people including
drugs, poverty, benefits, debt and homelessness enabling them to make informed decisions and
take action on their own behalf.
 To offer friendship to help build their confidence and self-reliance.
 To offer practical support such as deposits to enable homeless young people to gain
accommodation and food, clothes and bedding, money for bus fares etc. The aim of this practical
support is to help the young people gain a firmer base on which to start rebuilding their lives.
 To give emotional support through counselling and offering to listen in order to help young people
gain confidence and self-belief and to deal with their problems. These problems are varied but
include drug addiction, mental health problems and family breakdown.
 To act as advocates for young people who find it hard to communicate their needs to others. We
aim to support them when dealing with other agencies for example going with them to the Councils
Housing Department or speaking on their behalf with the Benefits Agency and Job Centre.
 To offer an outreach service to reach young people who might otherwise be unable to access others
and our services.
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Chair’s Report
In planning our activities this year we have kept in
mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public
benefit. The Canvey Youth Project has during the
year offered services covering a wide range of interrelated issues affecting young people’s health and
wellbeing, including mental health, sexual health,
drugs and alcohol, housing, homelessness, benefits,
debt, employment, and domestic violence. The
Project offered a holistic and integrated approach
helping young people to address a range of inter-related personal, practical, emotional, health, social
welfare and legal needs. We have a wide age range from 11 to 25 to tackle the problems of transition.
We offered holistic support on a range of inter-related issues’. We offered a flexible, friendly, nonjudgemental service with the drop-in at the heart of our service. The Project is confidential, free and
independent. There is clear evidence and research that this approach to the needs of young people is
needed and wanted.
“For those who leave school at 16, further support is vital in the form of skills development for work
and training, management of relationships, and advice on substance misuse, debt, continuing
education, housing concerns and pregnancy and parenting. Such training and support should be
developed and located in every community, designed specifically for this age group.” Fair Society,
Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review, 2010
“[young people wanted] services to practise holistically and offer a diverse range of support to meet
young people’s mental health, emotional wellbeing and practical needs.” ListenUp! Person-centred
approaches to help young people experiencing mental health and emotional problems, Garcia,
I.,Vasiliou, C. and Penketh, K., Mental Health Foundation, 2007
“Almost three in every four young adults recognise a need for help in at least one area of life and
want greater support….The generalist/ multi-discipline/‘one stop shop’ approach…..is highly
relevant for young people who might not be sure what the problem is.” Help-seeking behaviour in
young adults, Garvey,B., Madden, M., Violi, C., Vitali, C., Spigelman, A. and Tracey, G., nfpSynergy,
2009.
“We want to promote services that provide the full range of advice, support and care that young
people need….. [Confidential drop- in centres] offering information and advice on a wide range of
health and wellbeing topics, are popular with young people and increasingly being developed.”
Young people not in education, employment or training, House of Commons Children, Schools and
Families Committee, 2010.
The Youth Project is dedicated to young people. During this year staff and volunteers have offered
both immediate and long term consistent support which has resulted in many positive outcomes for
the young people worked with. Without our brilliant and dedicated staff and volunteers this vital work
could not continue and succeed and I would like to express on behalf of the management committee
our thanks to them all.
Susan Benson, Chairwoman
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Advice and Information Drop-in Service
Our Advice, Information and Support Drop-in offers young people a range of services provided under
one roof, to help them with their social, emotional and mental health needs in a holistic way. This
includes social welfare advice, advocacy, C-Cards, personal support, and access to counselling. Young
People can be referred for a diverse
range
of
issues,
including
homelessness, benefits, drugs and
alcohol, mental health, sexual health,
behaviour,
social
skills
and
relationships. It can also help with
practical issues such as food parcels,
access to phone and internet, help
with forms, small supply of bedding,
pots pans etc.
The Drop-in is at the heart of the Project and integral to many of the services such as the under 18
service, the drug and alcohol service and homelessness service. This year the drop-in and the services
that work within it have been funded by Calor, Comic Relief, Children in Need, Getty Trust, the Smith
Mount Trust and the Big Lottery.
Details of Drop-in Clients
Total Number
Male
Female
Parents
Young Parents
Parents of Young People
Ethnic Minority
Special Needs
NEET
No of Clients
11/12
12/13
271
356
126
183
142
169
62
80
40
37
22
43
n/a
4
7
14
n/a
n/a
13/14
418
203
215
96
45
51
9
25
205
Number of Contacts
11/12
12/13
1360
1145
629
554
731
583
435
349
257
191
178
158
n/a
15
21
32
n/a
n/a
13/14
1307
606
701
451
290
161
28
46
830
“In the drop-in a young person may come in because they have been put in bed and breakfast and
have no food. Or they are pregnant and their mum doesn't want them at home any more or they
are spending more money than they have coming in. The drop-in staff will work with the young
person giving advice, information and support to develop the knowledge and skills to work on
these issues and develop their confidence to be able to tackle them. So, when a client steps into
the drop-in defeated, but steps out with a smile and a thank you, we feel we have helped develop
their confidence to tackle the world.”
Alex Dobinson, Manager.
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Number of Contacts
Contacts
662
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
517
487
392
127
Advice
Information Support
Practical Advocacy
Type of help given in drop-in
Age Range of young people helped by Drop-in
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Number
11
6
12
8
13
3
14
17
15
40
16
29
17
49
18
43
19
31
20
27
21
17
22
14
23
13
24
19
25
10
Age young people helped in drop-in
86 clients were over 25. This is 21% of our total clients. Of these 48% were parents of young
people. The remaining 52% were either clients who have used the service when they were
under 25 or new clients who have been referred by other agencies by mistake. We support
these clients in the initial instant and then refer them on to more appropriate agencies such
as Family Mosaic and Salvation Army.
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When people talk about Canvey Youth Project, the first
thing they talk about is the drop-in. The Drop-in is the heart
of the project, the other services we provide from here are
the veins that keep it pumping. As well as being a place for
our young people to come and talk confidentially in a safe
and relaxed atmosphere, they can also use our computer to
look for jobs, apply for benefits, places to rent and anything
else that would help them enrich their life. We extended
our opening times and decided to close on Saturdays. Our
new opening times are Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. This
has proved beneficial to our clients especially when there is
a lot to sort out for them.
We have had many young people making the same remarks after accessing our services and that is ‘I
felt really down when I first came in here, you lot have really helped me and made me laugh too’.
The majority of young people coming through our doors this year have been for benefits. Much of
the benefits system now is online, i.e. applications for JSA can now be filled out online and young
people also have to log in to record their job searches. Not all young people have access to computers
or phones so this is where we can support them. We have also supported food parcels and
homelessness. Some use our services on a regular basis, for using the internet or the phone when
they need it, some may come in once every few months, those that we would see regularly know that
we are here for any support they may need whenever the need arises. There has also been an increase
of young people coming in just for emotional support. Each year the drop-in becomes more
streamlined to the clients’ needs, so in response the numbers for different issues will change too.
Barbara Wilkins – Drop-in Worker
Issues helped with in drop-in
400
320
350
276 279
300
250
177 193
200
150
100
50
65
47 48 51 54 58
29 31 32 32 35 37
114 121 124
94 95 95 108
197
215
136
0
Contacts
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Other Issues young people sort help for from drop-in
No ID
Volunteering
Printing
Photocopying
Sexual threat
Christmas Present
Access Solicitor
Fleeing Violence
Bullying
Gas Canister
Pillows & Covers
Nappies
Environmental Health
Legal Issues
Pillows & Covers
Gambling
Use Fax
Help with CV
Bereavement
Stamp
Charging mobile
Custody Issues
Bills
Furniture
Nappies
Ghost in House
Employment Rights
Chlamydia Testing Kit
Tent
Shoes
I have been a client of CYP for eight years. I
believe that the services they offer are
essential to the Island, no matter what the
age. Since I have first walked through the
Yellow Door I have had problems from
homelessness to looking at prison
sentences. And CYP have always been
there, even more than my own family. This
is why I believe that CYP must never close.
Their help is just too valuable to everyone.
AB 23
Where did Drop-in Clients come from?
The majority of our clients, 93% came from Castle Point, other clients have come from;
Thurrock
Grays
Tenerife
Southend
South Woodham Ferrers
Southern England
Rochford
Rayleigh
Northern England
Maldon
London
Liverpool
Leeds
Kent
Ipswich
France
Essex Other
Brentwood
Braintree
Basildon
“Thank you for all your help and support, you’re the only
people listening to me”
J 16 and homeless.
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Homeless Support
Our work with homeless young people was supported this year with funding from the JP Getty
Foundation and the Smith Mount Trust. The homeless support service works throughout all
our services but in particular in the drop-in. It’s aim is to help young people between the ages
of 16 and 25 who need support in finding and maintaining accommodation. In particular, it
helps young people who are disadvantaged, living in poverty and are homeless or facing
homelessness. It helps these young people by offering advice, advocacy, information and
practical and emotional support on all aspects of homelessness and finding accommodation.
An example at how our homeless support can work throughout all our services is when our
worker Bernie helped a young mum who was attending our young parents group Little
Monkey’s. “I had a client whose relationship with her partner had broken down and she was left
homeless with her young children. I made an appointment for us with the local council and they agreed
she was homeless and accepted they had a duty to help her and her children. After some weeks in bed
and breakfast she was given temporary housing. She was able to bid on 2 bedroom properties and
eventually was offered a 2 bedroom house. I also helped her with her benefits. She is now settled and
her children are happy in their new school and nursery and she is currently looking for employment.”
For many years we have always been able to ensure that every homeless young person who
accessed the drop-in was able to gain accommodation before they left the drop-in that night.
This may have been rented accommodation or in non-supported shared private
accommodation, but it was always available for them that night if required. Since the changes
in benefit rules, in particular the removal of a crisis loan for rent in advance, this is no longer
the case. We do not have any night shelters in our area and those in other local towns are
usually full and do not give our young people priority. This means that on occasions we have
had to leave young people rough sleeping for up to two weeks. During the winter we have
accessed the Winter Warmer Fund to access tents so they could have some shelter. It has
emphasised the need for emergency accommodation in Castle Point.
Alex Dobinson - Manager
Amazing Support from Our community
We are blessed with an amazing and supportive community and throughout
the year we have been helped by individuals, businesses, community
groups, local organisations, schools and churches and
we would like to thank them all including Calor,
Sainsburys and Morrisons, all the local shops and
buinesses who have supported us with donations of
goods, money and help. St Georges, St Marys, St Nicholas and all the churches,
schools and individuals who have supported us by giving us food. The Masons,
Canvey Carnival, SEEVIC Students, Lions, Rotary and the local labour party who
have supported us with donations of money. All the councillors, our Local MP and other
organisations and our local PSCO, who we have worked with during the year, we are lucky to have
you around. Thank you.
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Canvey Island Youth Project Annual Report
Drop-in Outcomes and Indicators from April to September 2013
Outcomes
Increased Confidence and Self Esteem
149
Indicators
Taking part in new activities
Making Healthier & Safer Choices
Accessing employment and Education
71
93
26
Improved Social and Communication Skills
96
Able to express needs to other
Has improved Relationships
86
18
Increased Life Skills & Knowledge
177
Applies new knowledge & Understanding
Able to cope with emotions
Accessed/Maintained Accommodation
138
40
21
Improved Health and Wellbeing
293
Gained Benefits
Accessed Services
Practical Help
Reduced risk STD’s & unplanned
pregnancies
13
138
256
59
Drop-in Outcomes and Indicator form October 2013 to March 2014
Outcomes
Increased Confidence and Self Esteem
167
Indicators
Taking part in new activities
Making Healthier & Safer Choices
Accessing employment and Education
73
94
38
Improved Social and Communication Skills
112
Able to express needs to other
Has improved Relationships
93
27
Increased Life Skills & Knowledge
224
Applies new knowledge & Understanding
Able to cope with emotions
Reported increased knowledge &
Understanding
84
27
170
Improved Health and Wellbeing
438
Gained Benefits
Accessed counselling & other health
Services
Practical Help
Reduced risk STD’s & unplanned
pregnancies
Gained/Maintained accommodation
18
51
26
23
The Grand Big Lottery opening took place on 2nd October
2013 and will be a day none of us will forget. The car
park was dug up two days before, BBC TV arrived to film
a documentary, we had lots of guests and great cakes
and sandwiches, we said a thank you to Bernie Saxby for
21 years of service and a great speech from our founder
Steven Saxby which reminded us of the past and helped
us look to the future. Then just as the event was coming
to an end an old volunteer Lyn Scates, had a cardiac
arrest. See page 12 for how the team coped.
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Services
Counselling Service
Our Counselling service offers young people with emotional and mental health problems immediate
access to counselling when and where they need it.
Befriending Service
Our Befriending Service helps young people who are isolated offering them a non-judgmental
friendship which allows them to talk through issues and build their confidence and social skills.
Advice Plus
Our Advice Plus helps young people between 11 and 18 with advice, information and support on all
issues which might affect them including; family issues, bereavement, health, emotions, behaviour,
relationship and their rights and responsibilities within schools.
Details of Services
Number of clients
Total Number
Counselling
Befriending
Advice Plus
Parent Support
183
70
8
81
24
Client Details
Male
Female
Parents
Young Parents
Parents of Young People
Ethnic Minority
Special Needs
NEET
Gay/Lesbian
60
106
32
27
5
5
8
30
5
Age of Service Clients
Number
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Number
11
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
25+
4
14
16
31
34
20
10
9
6
9
2
2
5
2
3
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Issues worked with in Services
160
140
120
100
80
136
118
103
87
68
60
58
48
40
39
38
35
32
20
22
22
8
8
7
3
3
2
0
Issues
Contact Outcomes and Indicator for Services
Outcomes
Increased Confidence and Self Esteem
Improved Social and Communication
Skills
126
Indicators
Taking part in new activities & tasks
Making Healthier & Safer Choices
99
68
123
Able to express needs to other
108
Has improved Relationships
84
Increased Life Skills & Knowledge
109
Applied new knowledge & Understanding
Able to cope with emotions
85
81
Ability to manage own issues
135
Is more self-aware
Is more able to self-manage
121
65
The Grand Big Lottery opening was just coming to an end when our ex-volunteer Lyn Scates
has a cardiac arrest. All the staff behaved brilliantly particularly Lindsey Smith who gave Lyn
CPR for 10 minutes while we waited for the Ambulance. This is how Lindsey describes how
our team worked together; “There was a moment looking around at everyone when you
just know the excellence, professionalism and the ability to pull together as a team, which
was apparent in that one moment. As I looked around I noticed that everybody in a time
of crisis had by auto mode played to their strengths. Barb and Tina were delivering TLC to
a number of people in distress. Bernie was talking to them. I was administering CPR and
Alex was on the phone relaying information from the Ambulance service keeping control
and direction of the entire incident. It is moments such as this where a truly bonded expert
team show their strengths and skills.” I am glad to say after a few days in hospital Lyn was
home again, she would not have been if it were not for the actions of our team.
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Young Parent Support
We have had positive feedback from clients who have attended Little Monkeys over the last
year. There have been friendships made both with the young parents and their children.
On many occasions we have been able to help clients with accessing the appropriate benefits
to which they are entitled and spoken on their behalf when they are nervous and unsure
about their rights.
Little Monkeys is an invaluable
service for these young parents,
where they can get help with any
problems they may be facing,
whether it be housing, benefits,
education, training or finding
work, and most of all a safe
environment for their children,
where they can play and socialise
with other children which
prepares them for nursery and
school.
We look forward to carrying on supporting young families in the future.
Bernie Saxby & Barbara Davis
Brace yourself …it’s an essay time.  I just wanted to say a huge thank you
for all of your help and support these last 6 months (blimey, it’s gone fast!)
You are probably the best counsellor I have ever had. You have been kind,
understanding, patient, open minded and you have never stopped encouraging
me to think on my feet a bit more about what would be the most sensible
and rational way to overcome a situation and to see the positives in things.
As a result I honestly feel wiser and braver and stronger as a person. I will
really miss all the funny conversations we had during our weekly meetings, which
never failed to make me smile and laugh to the point I was almost on the floor
 Not to mention your brilliant sense of humour and cheerful personality. It
has been a heck of a ride, but I can honestly say I have come out the other
end much stronger and I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for
helping me find my smile again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all of
your help. I truly appreciate it.
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Counselling Client
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Canvey Island Youth Project Annual Report
Young Peoples Advice Service
Our Young Peoples Advice Service works throughout the Youth Project services, including
counselling, befriending and the drop-in and is specifically targeted at 11 to 18 years olds. It
is funded by Children in Need and aims to increase young people’s confidence and selfesteem, improve their social and communication skills, increase their life skills and knowledge
and improve their health and wellbeing.
Working within all the services allows YPAS to be very flexible and needs led. For example a
counselling client approached the Project with a cocaine and cannabis addiction. Four years
earlier they had received mentoring from the YPAS service whilst at school for peer issues,
including bullying. The client said they remembered how the Project had helped them in the
past and didn’t know where else to go. They began having counselling to help with the
behavioural aspects of withdrawal and how long the drugs stayed in the system. We were
able to include a session with Lindsey our drugs specialist which helped them to understand
the difference between a psychological craving and a physical dependency giving them the
strength to go ‘cold turkey’. As a result of the addiction the client had been suspended from
work so another part of our service was to advocate with the employer and have the
suspension altered to sick leave. After a few sessions of counselling a member of our team
represented the client at a back to work interview where they were reinstated and offered
support. The client continued with counselling to work on confidence and behaviour but
within a few weeks they were able to end sessions and had completely changed their lifestyle
by making new friends, being offered a new job and meeting a new partner.
Whilst I was mentoring in one of the schools I was approached by the head of pastoral care
of a local school who was extremely concerned about the emotional state of a pupil. He was
suffering with extreme anxiety and depression. He had already been referred to Child and
Adult Mental Health services (CAMHS) but had to wait six weeks for an appointment. I saw
him in school that same day, he was unable to make eye contact, he was physically shaking
and was unable to stop crying. However, he did open up to me and told me about his fears,
his feelings of low self-worth, his lack of confidence and trust in himself and others. The
following week his mother contacted me to say that he had been unable to attend school due
to a panic attack, I was able to see him at the Youth Project that night with his Mum who gave
me a lot of background information that was useful and the client was able to tell mum how
he was feeling. The client said he would like to come for more sessions outside of school
because the sessions were longer. After the client had his initial assessment with CAMHS they
contacted me and asked if I would continue to work with him while they waited for a
counsellor to become available. I worked with the client for 4 months using Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy which helped him to recognise and change his negative thinking
patterns. The client switched back to sessions in school and was soon taking part in new
activities. The client went for his appointment with CAMHS but found he didn’t need it. It was
a joy to see the transformation in him and to see him laugh at his old way of thinking.
This case study shows how our service can liaise with schools, home and mental health
services; we can offer swift intervention and consistency so client’s support is not withdrawn
during school holidays, absence from school or due to waiting lists.
Tina Cozens - Under 18 worker
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Alcohol Service
We received three years funding from Comic Relief to develop our work with young people
surrounding alcohol. This included outreach work, work within counselling, work within the
drop-in, educational workshops in schools and youth groups and developing the capacity of
our workers and volunteers on issues surrounding drugs and alcohol. Comic Relief funding
ended in December but the Community Safety Partnership provided us with funding to
continue the work until the end of March 2014.
Alcohol Workshops
This year we have delivered 17 alcohol awareness educational workshops and 5 drugs
awareness sessions to young people between 11 and 25. With a total of 768 young people
worked with. We also delivered three drug and alcohol training sessions to our volunteers
and other organisation.
The feedback was extremely positive by Students and Staff. So much so that I was invited to
give a session to the Staff members who felt they were missing out!
Both Schools have asked if the awareness sessions can continue and be expanded to cover
other subjects.
The most enjoyable and
rewarding sessions were
delivered to The Sunday
Club, a social meeting
point and support group
for young adults of
mixed ages with varying
degrees of physical and
mental disabilities. The
sessions involved preplanning to understand
the mixed abilities.
Active sessions designed
around key stage 1 & 2 gave a tremendous knowledge gain for the group and a great deal of
laughter experimenting with the beer goggles. Having the privilege to deliver to the group
can only leave you with a sense of achievement, happiness and a warm feeling which
returns whenever I recall the sessions.
The delivery not only gave me the opportunity to engage with a captive audience but also
gain an understanding of the local Drug and Alcohol youth culture. This has also allowed us
to promote the Project and the range of support available. The sessions will be offered to
groups, clubs and organisations across the Castle Point area, expanding to voluntary and
professional organisations in contact with the client group.
Lindsey Smith, Drug and Alcohol worker
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Another aspect of which we have benefited from the comic relief and community partnership alcohol
funding can be seen below in an account of a day in the life of the drop-in
Alcohol Work in the Drop-in
At 9.45 am we had a knock on the drop-in door. When I open it a young man in his early twenties was
waiting. He was swaying and very unsteady on his feet, he was holding a tin of Carling. I told him he
could come in but had to leave the lager outside, which he did. He said he had been drinking all
morning and could not cope with work and had walked out. He said that he was drinking up to 20
pints a day, but today it would have been more as he had not been able to sleep and had been drinking
all night. He was distraught, he said he was disguising, he hated himself, he didn’t understand how he
had got in this state, he got angry and then sad. We talked and he said he didn’t want to go on, either
he got help or he would go and shoot himself. With his agreement I rang CDAS and helped him speak
to them. They made him an appointment. It was in two weeks’ time and I was worried. I spoke to
him about how to keeping safe and agreed to get our alcohol worker to work with him while he waited
for the appointment. He called a taxi and it took him back home.
While he was in the drop-in an 18 year old girl called in. A Volunteer went outside to speak to her
and when the young man had gone they came in. She was homeless and had been to the drop-in
before. We had been working with her to find accommodation. She had come in that day for
somewhere to go and for a chat. She began to talk about how she had come to be on her own. Her
mother was an alcoholic and her child hood had been one of dysfunction and neglect because of the
alcohol. She asked if we could help her deal with what happened to in her past as it was affecting her
present. We made an appointment for her with our counsellor.
Whilst we talked, two other young people arrived, one for a food parcel, another for a C-card top up.
They stayed for tea and a chat. They talked about going out and getting blasted. Our dropped in
volunteer used the knowledge she had gained from alcohol training to speak to them about the effects
of binge drinking how they could reduce their consumption and the risks and still have a good night
out.
Whilst we chatted another young woman came in, she was being evicted from social housing because
of her behaviour and wanted some advice. She had been in before for food parcels and condoms and
had not communicated much before. Somehow this time the group of young people made her feel
more comfortable, which is not always the case. She said she felt shaky and that it was because she
needed a drink. I asked if she would like some support with her drinking, she nodded. I made a call
to CDAS and they said they would ring her in two days with an appointment. I agreed with her that
the alcohol worker would give her a call to support her until she had her appointment with CDAS.
Some of the young people stayed, others went. A 25 year old man
wanting help with form filling came in, as did a regular client, a young
man who was in supported accommodation who just came in to say
hello. More discussion flowed around the project about how alcohol
made them violent, or behave in a stupid manner, all the time our
volunteer steered them to a better understanding of the effects of
alcohol whilst I helped them with what they had come in for. Plus we
had a phone call from a local college asking for alcohol workshops! It
was definitely a comic relief alcohol day!
Alex Dobinson - Manager
16
CYP 2013-2014
Canvey Island Youth Project Annual Report
Canvey Youth Project Fundraising Committee
We have had a successful year fund raising for the project. We have had a quiz, a stall at the
Castle Point Show, participated in Canvey Carnival and had a Charity dinner at the Spice
Lounge and a volunteer who walked
around Britain and Ireland for us!
Canvey Carnival Association donated
£500 to the project and we decided to
take part in the procession. The day
was very enjoyable. We had members
of the project and Little Monkeys
parents with their children and some
Youth Project clients all dressed in
bright yellow, we even had a beautiful
little yellow dog who stole the show! It
was such a fun day we have decided to
take part again this year.
The charity dinner at The Spice Lounge was a great success. Many friends and supporters of
the Youth Project attended and with a percentage of the ticket money and the raffle we
raised over £400. So a big thank you to our new fund raising team who have come up with
new ideas and willing to give up their free time to help with the events.
One of our volunteers walked around Britain to raise
awareness for the project. It was an amazing feat. We
kept in touch with him via Facebook and he posted
photos of his journey and kept us up to date with all of
his adventures, some funny, some quite dangerous! He
started at Canvey, walked to the north of England,
travelled through Scotland to John O'Groats, then
Wales, across to Northern Ireland, down through
Southern Ireland, back across to Wales then down to
Lands’ End, from there to
London and eventually
home to Canvey. He
raised over £700. We
worked out he had
walked between 2,500 to
2,700 miles!
His trainers were hanging by a thread when he got back!
We are all so proud of you Leighton, what dedication and what an amazing achievement!
Bernie Saxby, fundraising committee
17
CYP 2013-2014
Canvey Island Youth Project Annual Report
Volunteer Report
I first started as a volunteer at Canvey Youth Project in September 2013. My instant impressions of
the project was a warm inviting atmosphere, I immediately felt part of a friendly team.
Training
After weeks of training and having the opportunity to observe how the project operates I was now
able to begin my volunteer role. I found the internal and external training given, interesting and
professionally presented. This enabled me to feel confident and clear as to what my expectations of
my role within the youth project.
Drop in
Working Friday afternoons and now Friday mornings helping to support the drop-in service has given
me a huge insight to the issues and problematic concerns that the young people of Canvey
Community are having to deal with. The drop-in is a place that the young individuals are able to seek
information and support to which I feel is a benefit for them to have the flexibility access to the
service in a warm friendly environment with immediate support.
Befriender
I am currently working with an 18 year old male who in fact lives in the Basildon area. The
befriending role gives me a chance to support and work on a 1:1 basis with another befriender as
part of the Youth Project team. This is to ensure professional boundaries and safety measures are
adhered to. The individual is able to disclose information in a confidential environment, if necessary
we are then able to act upon any needs that are essential for signposting to professionals dealing
with the relevant issues that may arise. It has been identified that this particular young man needs
support with confidence and self-esteem issues due to a bereavement with a close family member
and a best friend. He also suffers with a slight physical impairment that affects his confidence and
prevents him from socialising with people his age. As befrienders, our aim is to support with these
needs and help empower him to gain a better quality of life so that he can reach his goal of gaining
confidence and building his self-esteem. Simple agreed strategies have been put forward to start
working towards improvements for the individual.
Fundraising
Being part of the fundraising committee gives me an opportunity to be a part of what I am extremely
driven and passionate about. I believe without the fundraising events, service’s as vital as Canvey
Youth Project may find it harder to provide the needs for our Community. With this is mind I
organised a Curry night at a local restaurant on Canvey (Spice Lounge). The Youth Project team
pulled together to get tickets sold, organise raffle prices and selling raffle tickets on the night. It was
a great success, with £571.00 being raised. I found helping with this event was great for team
building, boosting moral and sharing ideas to help with up and coming future fundraising events
planned.
Food Parcels
I have found networking within the Community gives the Project opportunities. I have recently
communicated with the area manager for Gregg’s bakers, they have kindly made arrangements for
me to collect every Thursday afternoon bread and rolls to help with our food parcels that we provide
for the homeless.
Kirsty Crerie – Volunteer.
18
CYP 2013-2014
Canvey Island Youth Project Annual Report
CANVEY YOUTH PROJECT
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
For The Year Ended 31st March 2014
2014
£
Income:
Grants and donations
Fund Raising
Bank Interest
Work Shops
Van Sale
Misc Income
2013
£
69,730
1,886
67
200
£
£
60,573
1,294
6
200
600
157
108
£71,991
£62,830
Expenditure:
Salaries
Rent & Room Hire
Telephone
Post & Stationery
Expenses: Volunteers
Training & Supervision
Miscellaneous Expenses
Insurance
Subscriptions
Vehicle Running Expenses
Advertising & Promotion
Expenses: Workers
Expenses: Clients
Fund Raising Expenses
CRB Checks
Accountancy
Catering
Stone Project
Repairs & Renewals
Office Equipment
EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE
OVER INCOME
19
83,517
1,316
1,207
597
73
1,921
388
1,188
171
78,428
1,046
1,035
534
568
966
723
2,332
189
240
729
716
181
254
565
354
227
644
61
111
1,244
743
351
408
65
420
211
696
1,090
-95,606
-89,903
-23,615
-27,073
CYP 2013-2014