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B.O.B (BOG OFF BULLIES) ANTI BULLYING

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INFO FOR PARENTS, CARERS & PROFESSIONSALS

In response to a sharp increase in bullying referrals in 1998, RAPP developed an anti bullying support and campaign group for children and young people, who called themselves The Bully Beat Crew.

The group were supported by Hull Youth Council, the Warren and the Community Anti Bullying project (CABP) met on a weekly basis for 2 years, with over 150 young people accessing the group over this time.

The Bully Beat Crew wrote an anti bullying song that was later recorded on to CD called “move your feet to the bully beat”. The song was then included on a Hull youth council video called silence is Golden, especially for Bullies, to raise awareness about bullying.

The young people from the Bully Beat Crew, also met with the Director of Education in Hull to ask questions about was been done to tackle bullying in Hull Schools. The Bully Beat Crew actively supported a Hull youth Council event called “Bullying get it Sorted “ in 2000.

The BOB group was established in May 2003, again in response to RAPP receiving a high number of bullying referrals.

The group continues to meet every two weeks and is supported by staff from CABP. Four years on and the BOB group is still going strong, with new members continuing to be referred to the group. The young people at the BOB group have carried out a range of work over this time including; supporting the development of Hull youth councils Anti bullying charter at a conference in 2004 and influencing and shaping RAPP’s on going anti bullying training and work with young people.

This site is aimed at tackling the problem of bullying and dedicated to work of the young people from Bully Beat Crew and BOB.

BOB GROUP AIMS:

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BOB, THE STORY FROM YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHAT IS BOB?
This is what Children and young people have said:

"I CAN DEAL WITH BULLYING ALOT BETTER NOW"

"IT HELPS BUILD UP YOUR CONFIDENCE"

"IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BULLYING THE BOB GROUP IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME."

"IT'S A GOOD LAUGH AND WE LEARN THINGS."

 

BOB’S CHARTER FOR ACTION (written by the BOB group)

BOB'S BEEN BUSY
The children and young people at the BOB group have been involved in range of anti bullying work over the last four years, this includes:

BOB'S LETTER
Bullies Beware; You're in for a scare......
Dear Bully,

We Would like you to try and think about how bullying makes us feel.

People get hurt. It really hurts being hit and being called names. You act so big and hard, do you do it to look cool in front of your friends?

You cause us upset. It makes us feel scared, it makes us feel angry, it makes us feel frightened, it makes us feel out of control.

We want you to stop and think about what you do because one day it might happen to you!

 

Watch The Bog Off Bullies video
(may take a few seconds to load)

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ANTI-BULLYING ADVICE FROM THE BOB GROUP

Bullying Includes:

The bullies will have worked out what buttons to push to make you upset.
They may make remarks about:

What not to do:

 

BOBS ANTI BULLYING ADVICE:
Don't see red think instead and be smart don't start.

TO GET YOUR FREE ANTI BULLYING ADVICE PACK FROM BOB:
(written alongside young people and staff from RAPP
and the community anti bullying project)
Contact RAPP on 01482-225855


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DEALING WITH THE BULLYING

ADVICE FOR PARENTS, CARERS & PROFESSIONALS

Talking to the School about the bullying problem:

  1. Phone for an appointment with the class teacher or Head of year.
  2. Try to stay calm- even if you are angry and upset. Remember you are asking for help.
  3. At the appointment, be clear and specific about the bullying and about what your child
    says has been going on. Give dates, places and names of the other Children involved.
  4. Make a note of what action the School intends to take. What are they going to do to
    tackle the bullying.
  5. Ask if there is anything you can do to support the schools plan.
  6. Keep a diary of any bullying incidents that occur following the meeting.
  7. Ask for a named teacher to stay in regular contact with you and your child and agree another
    time to meet to check on how things are going in a few weeks time.

If you are still not happy with the school's response.
Make an appointment to meet the Head Teacher and request if the class teacher or head of year can be present at this meeting.
The focus of this meeting again should be to highlight the bullying problem and agree a plan to tackle it.

If you are still not happy.....
Contact the parent Governor at the school either by telephone or in writing and explain clearly to them what you have tried to do so far and ask them for their support.

If you are still not happy.....
Write to the chair of Governors explaining your concerns and again be clear and specific about what you like to happen.

Where can you get support and advice to make sure that you and your child are listened to throughout this process and you get the help you need.

www.anti-bullyingalliance.org
www.kidscape.org.uk
www.bullying.co.uk


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TOP TIPS FOR TEACHERS
WRITTEN BY THE BOB GROUP

• TAKE US SERIOUSLY
• BE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE
• KEEP INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL
• DO SOMETHING, GET BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY
• TALK IT THROUGH
• SET TIME ASIDE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK ON WHATS HAPPENING
• DEAL WITH THE WHOLE ISSUE/PROBLEM
• INVOLVE EVERYBODY AND GIVE ADVICE TO BOTH YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARENTS
• TAKE TIME OUT TO LISTEN
• DON’T MAKE IT OBVIOUS SOMETHING IS WRONG

BOB'S RULES FOR SCHOOLS:

WATCH THE BOB VIDEO - "SILENCE OR NO SILENCE"
(may take a few seconds to load)

 

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POEMS WRITTEN BY THE BOB GROUP

When I was young people would snarl and call
because I was the odd one out of them all,
but no body knew at all,
I would put on a brave face to my mother and father
and say that everything was okay.
But every morning the dreaded feeling would stay inside me through the whole day
Just in case the bullies saw me and took all my money off me
I could not tell anybody because if I did they said they'd get me again
For six whole years this went on and now those days are gone.

(By a BOB member who wishes to remain anonymous)

I hate my life
I hate my life
Bullies are so horrible to me
They hit you and kick you
They call you names
They're horrible
They do it to feel hard
They do it because their friends do
I want to die
I really do
They egg you and kick you
They make up stories that you have said and turn the words around
I hate school
I hate walking home at night
I hate leaving my home in the morning
I feel like i'm sitting on a time bomb and i'm waiting
I hate my life

(By BOB member who wishes to remain anonymous)

IT
It’s there
And won’t go away
No matter what I do
No matter what I say

Its there
All the time
My life doesn’t feel
Like its mine

They hate
Kick, bite and spit
What did I do
To deserve it?

Its there
Like a big black cloud

I’ve got to be strong
And got to stand proud…….help!

(By BOB member who wishes to remain anonymous)

BULLYING WEEK
I worried about it all day
Saturday and Sunday
About what they where
Going to do to me
On Monday

Monday came without much fuss
The name calling started on the bus
The punching and poking on the way into class
I prayed for the day to Pass

Tuesday and P.E.
Why are they having a go at me?
The kick me hard and throw me in the Mud
They make me feel like I am no good

Wednesday and I hate maths
They make up stories and have lots of laughs
Thursday dinner time took my quid
They said go home…so I did

Friday I told the teacher everything today
She said ignore them and just walk away

They threatened to get me for being a grass
I am so glad this week has passed

I worried about it all day
Saturday and Sunday
About what they are going to do to me
On…….Monday…..

(By BOB member who wishes to remain anonymous)

Bullies don’t belong in this world…
Its not only the guys ..its also the girls

Bullies make the world a horrible place
Because of your size, colour or even your face

If they stopped to realize
They are just like me

We can live as one big happy family.

STOP BULLYING

BOB; Blast Off Bullies

(By BOB member who wishes to remain anonymous)


Click here for Lindsay's Story (Powerpoint Slideshow)
 
Click the arrow to listen to:
"Move your feet to the bully beat" by The Bully Beat Crew.
This song was written and recorded by children and young people from the Bully Beat Crew supported by RAPP, the Warren and Hull Youth Council.

The Rights and Participation Project (RAPP) is a three-way partnership between Hull Social Services, Save the Children Fund and The Warren (a young peoples resource centre in Hull). RAPP provides a Children's Rights Service for Hull and offers independent advice, support and advocacy to young people aged between nine and twenty-one living in the Hull area.

Since RAPP began in April 1997 the project has worked with a number of children and young people who have experienced difficulties with bullying at school and in other places. Bullying can be a very difficult problem to crack and sort out but most people agree that bullying is wrong and can really hurt children and young people to the point where they don’t know what to do next!

Craig Clark, Hull Children’s Rights Officer, had the idea of writing a rap song about bullying alongside children and young people. Some questionnaires were then drawn up with three main questions:

1: Bullying is wrong because...
2: Bullying makes you feel...
3: My ideas to stop bullying would be....

These questions were then sent out to eight young people RAPP had recently worked with around bullying issues and one to Hull Youth Council. All but one of these questionaires were returned and contains some brilliant ideas and answers. These young people were then invited to a meeting with the idea of writing the words for the Rapp from the answers on the questionnaires. With help from Craig and Carole Lowthorpe (one of the young peoples parents) the first draft for the song was put together. The group then met each Thursday afternoon for six weeks and was joined by other mad keen rappers from the RAP Project and Hull Youth Council. After many hours of blood, sweat and tears in the sweltering Warren Studio, the track was recorded thanks to the expertise, persistence and patience of Dave Peche (Warren Volunteer) and it sounded ace.... The seeds had been sown!!

On the 4th August 1999 the track was re-mixed and recorded onto CD by master-mixer and talented technician Dean Marshall at the Digital Hit Factory in Hull.... and the bully beat crew were buzzing!!

Big thankyous and credit where it’s most definitely due, for the lyrics; Craig Clark, Carole Lowthorpe and the Bully Beat Crew, for your great ideas, to Liam, Emma, Toni , Mark and Tanya . For your great ideas and musical magic, to lead vocalists Vicci and Kenny, the ‘move your feet to the bully beat crew’ - the backing singers Jamie and Thomas, Luke, Jane, Craig, Wayne, Philip, Darren , Jade and Georgia. Dave (brilliant) Peche for the original bully mix and arrangement (Warren Studio).

To Craig Clark (the peoples poet?), Hull Children’s Rights Officer: to Jeanne Nicolini, Nickie Johnson and Ruth Drake (Hull Youth Council Heroines!); to crazy conductor Carole Lowthorpe, to Dean Marshall for the remix.

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WHY DO CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE BULLY?
(Written by children & young people from the BOB group.)

• Because they think it is big and hard
• Because they think it is clever
• Because they want attention
• Because they are jealous
• Because they think it is fun
• Because of peer pressure
• To impress their mates
• Because they have issues at home
• Because they are cowards
• Because they are getting bullied themselves
• Because they think it is the right think to do


Why Do Children and Young People Get Bullied?

• Because they are different
• Because of their height and weight
• Because of their Race/Nationality
• Because of their clothes
• Because of their accent
• Because of their religion
• Because of their disability
• Because of their background
• Because of who they are friends with
• Because of their popularity
• Because they are swots
• Because they’re re shy



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NEED SUPPORT?
RAPP is here to listen to you, hear your voice and respect your view.

...are you in care or leaving care?...are you being bullied?...problems at home?...difficulties at school?...want to make a complaint? ...feel like running away?...are things doing your head in?

RAPP offers independent advice, support and advocacy to children and young people aged 9-21 in need or at risk living in Hull.

RAPP is about making sure children and young people are listened to and have a say in decisions that affect their lives.

Contact RAPP and get things sorted...

• Find out about your rights.
• Make sure things are explained properly.
• Having a say in decisions that affect you.
• Have your views and ideas taken seriously.
• Get the right support for you.

Because children and young people matter
and when we listen it matters to them.

When you feel like you’re talking to the wall and no one is listening...
- give the RAPP team a call

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?

The United nations (a big group of countries) and the UK government have agreed that children & young people have certain rights. These rights are written as articles in the UN convention on the rights of the child.

Click here to download child friendly version:
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pdfs/NCD-poster_e.pdf

Children, young people and adults have rights and responsibilities.
RAPP IS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LISTENED TO!

HULL CHILDREN RIGHTS OFFICER & ADVOCATES ARE BASED AT RAPP -
WHAT DO THEY DO?
They're someone independent to work alongside you and for you to make sure what you are saying is listened to and taken seriously by other adults and professionals. THEY WORK ON YOUR BEHALF TO GET THINGS SORTED OUT.

CONFIDENTIALITY - WHAT IS IT?
What you talk to RAPP about is "PRIVATE" between you and the RAPP workers. We only pass things on with your permission or if you are in danger or at risk. The RAPP workers will always try to talk to you first before we pass any information on.

ADVOCACY - WHAT IS IT?
Advocacy is about support for YOU, it's about having someone on your side and in your corner to help you get your views across and take part in decisions that affect your life.

GETTING THE RIGHT SUPPORT- WHAT’S ALL THAT ABOUT?
This is about you getting to know the RAPP workers and us getting to know you. It’s about finding out what we can do to support and advise you in the best way and listening to any problems you might be having.

IN 2003 RAPP’S ‘Children’s Champion’ business plan was highlighted by the Department of Health, the children and young people’s unit and the Children’s Rights Officers and Advocates Association as a model of good practice.

The national report ‘Building a culture of participation’ produced by the DfES and the National Children’s Bureau in 2004 identified RAPP as one of 29 of the UK’s leading Children’s Rights Services.

RAPP is highlighted as a model of good practice on the SCIE website.

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ABOUT RAPP

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INFO FOR PARENTS, CARERS & PROFESSIONALS.

R.A.P.P. STANDS FOR: RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATION PROJECT.
RAPP was established in 1997 following pioneering work in Hull City centre with children and young people at risk.

Supported by Save the Children until 2003, RAPP continues to be a partnership project between the founding partners Hull Social Services (now Hull Children’s services) and The Warren Young people’s Resource Centre. RAPP also receives support form Connexions Humber, Hull Children's Fund and the Safeguarding Children's Board.

WHAT DOES RAPP DO?
RAPP is a service for children and young people in need or at risk aged between 9 & 21 living in the Hull area. RAPP offers independent advice, support and advocacy to ensure children and young people are listened to in decisions that affect their lives.
RAPP is about responding to children and young people’s issues in a child centered way. The RAPP case workers aim to develop effective working relationships with young people and offer positive advice, support and advocacy.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CONTACT RAPP?
We send the young person a RAPP information pack.We then follow this up with a letter within one week. The letter is then followed by a telephone call to try and arrange a time to meet the young person.

THE FIRST MEETING WITH RAPP
When we meet with a young person for the first time we explain clearly:

WHAT ELSE DOES RAPP DO?
RAPP works with Hull Children’s services and a range of other agencies to make sure young people’s views and ideas are listened to and can help shape and develop services for young people in the future.
RAPP runs various groups and projects with young people around drama, anti-bullying support and raising awareness about offending (HMP RAPP). RAPP offers training and workshops delivered by young people to a range of professionals and agencies. RAPP runs a number of drop in advice surgeries for young people in Schools across Hull. RAPP is an active partner and supporter of Hulls Youth Parliament and the Hull Coalition.

 


MISSION STATEMENT:

To actively promote and advocate children and young peoples rights.
•
To build on children and young people’s capacity to take part in important decisions regarding their lives.
•
To create opportunities across services to enable children and young people to feel valued, listened to and included.

Key Objectives:

To provide independent advocacy, advice and support to children and young
people in need or at risk aged between 9 - 21 years old living in the Hull area.

To strengthen existing services for children and young people at risk of falling
through existing support systems and to re-introduce children and young people
to these services.

To promote an awareness and understanding of children’s rights and participation
in existing provision through:

• Developing and delivering positive, user friendly processes and advocacy.
• Promoting child centered practice and policy developments through creative consultations with children and young people.
• Actively listening and responding to children and young people through offering
a need led children’s rights casework service.
• Utilising a participatory approach to integrating children’s views into service
planning, delivery and evaluation.

RAPP Philosophy:

RAPP asserts that all children and young people have value and have rights.
These rights include:

The right to be treated with respect.
•
The right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
•
The right to be protected from harm.
•
The right to an education.
•
The right to be listened to, and taken seriously about things that are
important to them.


In working alongside young people to try
and make these rights a reality we aim to:

1.Work in an open, honest, flexible and approachable way.
2. Be non-judgemental and not patronising to children and young people.
3. Be willing to listen and to learn from our mistakes to develop our service.
4. Treat children and young people with respect and as individuals with their
own specific needs.
5. Promote and provide a responsive and creative children and young people’s
rights service.
6. Design, deliver and facilitate training programmes alongside children and
young people for other professionals.
7 .Work with children and young people to promote their views on issues of
importance to them.
8 .Sharing practice experience in multi-agency arenas in order to influence
policy and service development.
9. Working positively with other agencies to ensure young people are heard in the
planning and reviewing of services.
10. Carrying out short-term focused pieces of development work in partnership
with other agencies.
11. Consulting with children and young people to promote their views and experiences
at a local and national level.

We believe children and young people
are the best people to tell us about their lives.

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INTRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
The RAPP story for children and young people.

To cut a long story short….

RAPP was started 10 years ago in the Warren (a young people’s resource centre for 16 to 25 year olds in based in Queens Gardens) after working with a gang of young people (called the YAP group; Young and Proud) in the City Centre.

These young people were having loads of problems and felt they were not being listened to, fobbed off and fed up of being passed from one place to another.

RAPP was then set up in April 1997 (by the Warren, Hull Social Services and Save the Children) to work at making sure children and young people were listened to and got the right support when they needed it.

RAPP is about making sure children and young people are listened to. Have a say in decisions and are treated fairly.

This is what you can expect when you contact RAPP.



THE RAPP CODE
RAPP workers will...

Treat you with respect, listen to what you say & take notice of your views and ideas.
•
Do our best to get you sorted - if we cannot help we might know someone who can.
•
Never give in - we will keep working with you as long as you want to work with us.
•
Be honest and upfront with you - we have open files and you get to see what we write and how we are trying to help you.
•
Ask what you think of the RAPP Project – your views and ideas are important and we are willing to listen and learn from young people.

MEET THE RAPP TEAM
Who’s who…

Craig Clark - Hull Children’s Rights Officer/ Project co-ordinator
Lisa Chapman - Project Administrator
Post currently vacant - Children’s rights caseworker
Post currently vacant - Children’s rights caseworker disabilities
Katie Roberts - Health Advocate/Creative RAPP
Iain Thompson (Northern Drama & Education) - Creative RAPP worker
Ian Bolton - Development worker/Creative RAPP
Chris Lennie - Connexions Advocate/H.M.P. Manager
Cindy Brogan - Young peoples trainer/Peer Mentor
Peter Brook - H.M.P. Mentor
Emma Gamble - H.M.P Connexions P.A.
Christine Charlton - RAPP Case worker (BEST Team)

 

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TRAINING INFORMATION FOR PROFESSIONALS

Since its inception in 1997, RAPP has had a remit to deliver training to professionals in the health and social care field.

This training has been developed from what the RAPP team has learnt from the issues presented by children and young people accessing the RAPP service.

The main focus of the training has been to promote children’s rights, participation and a child centered approach. However in the past RAPP has delivered training on various subjects such as child protection, anti bullying and solvent misuse.

RAPP works very closely with children’s services in delivering training on the social workers foundation course and offers a training programme once a month to professionals through the Hull Safe Guarding Children’s Board.

The majority of RAPP’s training is co-delivered alongside children and young people as part of the TLC (Talk, Listen, Change) project.

TRAINING COSTS:

RAPP charges a fee for its training programmes and the training offered can be tailored to meet agencies needs and requirements.

ANTI BULLYING TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR PROFESSIONALS:

RAPP and the Community Anti bullying Project (CABP) have designed and developed a two day training the trainers course aimed at raising awareness of bullying and tackling it more effectively.

The need for this training was identified by Children’s services anti bullying focus group, led by the (Children’s services complaints manager) following a high number of complaints received by children and young people living in care, about bullying difficulties.

The training programme supported by Children services training section and led by Craig Clark and Mary Dornan has been rolled out over the last two years to identified trainers in residential care in Children’s services.

This work has been recognised by the Anti Bullying Alliance as good practice and incorporates the experiences, views and ideas of Children and young people who access anti bullying support from RAPP and CABP.

BUDDY SCHEMES/MEDIATION SCHEMES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS:

Over the last five years the RAP Project has designed programmes on Buddy and mediation schemes in three Hull Primary Schools, these include Highlands Primary, Bude Park Primary and Cleeve Primary.

This training involves RAPP working closely with nominated year 5 and year 6 pupils and training them as playground buddy’s or mediators, with a key focus on tackling bullying and strengthening friendships, over a four to five week period in School.

RAPP also carried out specific work over a three week period in Southcoates Primary School to develop their School Council.

IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON RAPP’S TRAINING PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING COSTS AND AVAILABILITY CONTACT CRAIG CLARK Tel.01482-225855

WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE OFFENDING OR AT RISK OF OFFENDING?
CONTACT CHRIS LENNIE AT HUMBER MENTORING PROJECT Tel.01482-225855

EXAMPLES OF SOME ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED RAPP TRAINING

Hull City Council Children’s Services
Orange Grove Private Fostering agency
Association of Lawyers for Children
Connexions Humber
Sheffield City Council children’s services
Leeds City Council Children’s services
Hull College
Hull University
Lincoln University
Kingswood High School
Royal Pediatricians conference (York)
Designated Teachers (for Looked After Children) Hull Schools
Hull Fostering Service
Highlands Primary School
Bude Park Primary School
Cleave Primary School
Southcoates Primary School


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TRAINING INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

At RAPP we believe children and young people are the best people to tell us about their lives. Our Training is delivered by RAPP staff alongside young people who have a story to tell and have experienced many different things in their lives. We feel this is one of the best and most powerful ways to get people to remember training courses and learn new things.


 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED AND SUPPORT RAPP TRAINING PROGRAMMES, CONTACT CRAIG CLARK ON: 01482-225855

Here are just some of the films and presentations we use on our training:

Watch the "Telling Lives" Video
(may take a few seconds to load)

Click here for Lucy's Story (Power point presentation)


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MAKING A REFERRAL TO RAPP:
REFERRAL INFO FOR PARENTS, CARERS & PROFESSIONALS.

Thinking about making a referral to RAPP?

Contact the RAPP Project if the children and young people you are working with:

RAPP incorporates the Hull Children’s Rights Service, offers independent advice and advocacy to children and young people in need and at risk aged between 9 & 21 living in Hull. For information contact Tel: 01482-225855

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE THE YOUNG PERSON’S PERMISSION BEFORE MAKING REFERRALS TO RAPP.

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE CAN SELF-REFER TO RAPP.

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WHAT CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE SAY:

We want to know if we made any difference.
This is what children & young people have said who have used the RAPP service.

“I could just talk without any pressure about telling others. I felt that I was talking casually with a mate that I could trust”

“There was support there when I needed it”.

“They spoke to me about things I can do”.

“They were good to talk to.”

“They listened to me and they helped me get through it all and for that I am truly grateful to the people who work at RAPP!”

“Nice people and listened to the child and parents”.

“There was always someone to talk to”.

“Very helpful and very pleasant people”.

“Because they talk to you and help you at school”.

“Getting all the stress out and also feeling better after talking to you”.

“RAPP listened to me and made other people listen to me at school as well. They also helped me gain confidence at school when I was being bullied.”

“The people are nice and helpful and whenever you wanted to talk to someone all you have to do is ring and they be there.”

“going on trips and having people to talk to, having a life and making new friends, RAPP was very helpful and I wish I can come every day”.

“Helped me go back into school when I didn’t want to go”.

“I found out stuff about myself”.

“I enjoyed the arts and drama at half term and need more things like that to do”.

“The advice and help given by the team. They go out of their way to make things possible”.

“Craig Clark is really down to earth and tell you the truth if any thing can be done and you can look at what they write down about you.”

“He listened to me!!!!”.

“I thought Craig was brill and friendly and very helpful in giving me ideas for school bullies”.

“I was treated with respect and not frowned upon”.

“I felt they were there for me, they were kind and listened to me without interrupting me, they made me feel safer and that being bullied wasn’t something to feel ashamed about”.

“they always kept me informed with what was going on, they got things sorted out for me.”

“I was able to talk and be listened to”.

“it’s helpful to know you’ve got somewhere to turn when you need help and the best thing is they care”.

“RAPP was on my side and gave me a lot of help”.

“I enjoyed going to the meetings and making video’s”.

“They talk to you on the same level”.

“If RAPP hadn’t of got involved the problem would still exist”.

‘The things I went in for, was help to appeal to change Schools from one Secondary School to another. This happened for me. There was a lot of support for me and my Mum as well’

‘The RAPP office is a very happy place…it’s a right laugh’

‘ RAPP is the only place I would go in Hull for advice’

‘They helped me sort out my complaint’

‘I was home less, they talked to housing on my behalf and got it sorted’

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LATEST NEWS

News just in from the world of the RAPP:

6 February 2008:

Due to the increased demand on the RAPP service, RAPP is running pop-in/advice surgeries for children, young people and their families on the following dates:
21 February, 6 March and 8 April. Contact RAPP on 225855 for further information.

RAPP also runs similar surgeries on a fortnightly basis at Wheeler Street Primary School, Kingswood High School and Winifred Holtby. If you are a teacher, Headteacher or School Support Worker and would like RAPP to carry out a similar service at your School, contact Craig Clark on 01482-225855 OR contact the Schools directly and ask them if it's working!

The fifth Hull Youth Parliament took place, on February 26th at the Guildhall , with over 120 young people from across the city of Hull taking part. The day was once again a great success, with young people coming up with some brilliant ideas on the issue of 'health', that were then voted into actions in the Council Chamber.

The Youth Parliament is a credit to the young people of Hull and its supporting agencies Hull Youth Council, The Warren, Children's Fund and RAPP, to name a few.

Want to get involved or find out more? Contact Hull Youth Council on 01482 585297



●
How busy is the RAPP?
 
From our statistics we believe that on average we receive 20 - 25 new referrals each month. The main referring issues are: anger management, school and family issues, and anti-bullying support. Through running our weekly groups, casework, training and school pop-in surgeries we estimate as a team of workers, we have contact with around 200 young people each week.

In addition to this, the Humber Mentoring Project (HMP) project has contact with around 120 young people each week through running its programmes in schools and other organisations across the region.

You could say that.....that's a lot of output for a small but perfectly formed machine......and yes we would agree with you!

It's all well and good talking about numbers, but what do we actually do that makes any difference to these children and young people's lives? Well, the answer to that is we consistently evaluate what we do and ask young people and professionals who we work with...did we make any difference?

We have put together a file that covers all our group and casework activity in terms of outcomes and focuses on over 40 casework examples of our work.

This file is available for viewing at any time. In addition, if you are a representative of an agency and interested in working in partnership with RAPP, please get in touch.

21 January 2008:

RAPP’s annual Christmas Panto was held at the Freedom Centre with the drama group performing their original renditions of Cinderella, Aladdin and Snow White to an audience of over 100 parents, carers and professionals.

Well done to all the young people who took part and the creative RAPP staff and Northern Drama Education, who work tirelessly with this group.

The Freedom Road song for Wilberforce CD has raised £2,000 for the Milton Margi school for the Blind in Sierra Leone. FREEDOM ROAD remain the only in-care group in the country (that we know about)... Simon Cowell are you reading this?

The word on the grapevine is that Freedom Road may visit Sierra Leone in 2008……Watch this space!

●

With financial support from YOF and capital funds, RAPP consulted with over 100 local children and young people across the City and RAPP’s BOB group to design an anti-bullying plastic advice card.

The young people’s designs were put together by local company Sheik Design and 10 000 will soon be sent out across the Hull Schools. The plan is to attend secondary school assemblies and perform a anti-bullying drama play, before handing out the cards.

●

Staff changes
We have recently bidden fond farewells to James Sykes and Dawn Binns after long and distinguished service to the RAPP Project. Both James and Dawn have moved on to bigger and better things outside of Hull and their contribution to RAPP’s service and development has been phenomenal. We will miss you! Best wishes in your future careers...

We also bid farewell to Mel Sims following a six month stint with RAPP in developing the Health Advocate role. A big thanks to Mel for all her hard work.

A big welcome to Katie Roberts as our part-time Health Advocate, Katie will be working two days at RAPP in continuing to develop this role.

Student placements at RAPP
Did you know that over 50% of students who come on a placement with RAPP, then stay at the project? For example Saq Ahmed and Sue Overton completed their placement with us last summer and are continuing to work at the project on a sessional basis. This month we say goodbye to Tracey and Wayne - thanks for all your great work and best wishes for the future! A big welcome to Wendy and Sabrina who have just started their placement at RAPP and will be with us until June this year.

●

The HMP Project continues to go from strength the strength, with Peter Brook being made into a local media star just before Christmas, with appearances on TV, Radio and in the press.

''Brookie' has been asked to appear on T.V. on a Channel Five reality show called 'Banged up with Blunket'. The show will be televised in early May and involves 10 young offenders being mentored by 10 rehabilitated ex-offenders in a real prison situation. The young offenders then have to go before a parole board that includes David Blunket MP.

GOOD LUCK BROOKIE!

Keep it going Chris, Brookie and Emma!

We feel HMP is a cracking example of a local joint initiative between Connexions Humber, RAPP and The Warren, and in our view remains the only Yorkshire based project taking the anti-gun and knife message into schools in the region.

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CONTACT

email: info@rapp-hull.co.uk

tel: 01482-225855

fax: 01482-225945

RAPP, The Warren, 47-49 Queens Dock Avenue, Hull, HU13DR.

Click here for a Map

 

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CREATIVE RAPP

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Info for parents, carers and professionals:

MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose and aims of the group is to positively facilitate the use of the creative arts in order to engage with children and young people who present  as  in need, at risk or may live in care.

To develop and maintain a nurturing, supportive and responsive group environment where children and young people feel safe to express themselves and gain self confidence.

To support children and young people to develop life skills that are transferable in other areas of their life, in order to promote emotional well being and further life opportunities.

Project Background
The Project has evolved and developed from the Platform Project, established as a partnership between Arts in Health, RAPP, and Hull Social Services in January 2002. The Platform Project was aimed exclusively at “looked after” children and young people, the funding ceased in 2006. Since this time RAPP has dedicated time and effort to ensure that the provision continued, mainly in response to the demand from young people who have consistently informed RAPP that they would like to “do drama and music”.

The project has being kept alive through small amounts of funding from various local sources. This funding has been accessed by the workers facilitating the group, who have also accessed several venues across the City in order for the group to run.

1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project offers and facilitates a city wide drama and arts group. This breaks down into two, two hour sessions per week of drama and other creative arts forms, such as dance and song writing that are accessed by around thirty young people on a regular basis. The Project offers a taxi service for children and young people to be transported to and from the group.

2. TARGET GROUP
Children and young People aged between 9 and 18 years old who present as at risk, in need or live in care in Hull.  

3. OUTCOMES
The outcomes are measured through regular evaluation’s with the young people and with their parents, carers and professionals.

The evidence from these evaluations highlight that the group offers a safe place for children and young people to meet and express themselves. These young people can present changeable and challenging behaviour, often due to ongoing issues in their lives. The group offers a stable and consistent platform for them and also a place that provides a sense of belonging and a community feel.

There a number of case work examples where children and young people accessing the group, will often seek out and value the support of staff and RAPP in addressing sensitive issues in their lives. Added to this many young people have been able to access other projects or activities RAPP and its partner agencies run across the city.

  • Further evidence from the evaluations highlight that the group plays a key role in developing young people’s confidence and life skills. This is evidenced through; the number of young people who have accessed the group and then returned to help facilitate in a peer mentoring role with younger group members, young people using the group as a springboard to improve their educational attainment and young people performing live to local an national audiences of between fifty and two hundred people.
  • Many parents have highlighted through evaluations that the group offers vital provision for young people whose families are of low income and therefore cannot afford to attend privately run drama or arts groups.
  • Further concrete tangible outcomes would be evidenced by the range of work the group have been involved in such as; The release of a 3 track CD for the Wilberforce 07 Celebrations which has received national recognition and an invite to perform in the House of Commons; A recent production of Grease the Musical which was performed by 30 young people at Northern Academy of Performing Arts; the creation of several short films, some of which have been shown on the Big Screen and the development of training material when young people have used Drama to deliver awareness sessions to a range of professionals locally and around the country.

PROJECT REFERENCES:
From Parents and Carers

  • ‘The group has helped young people I look after to socialise outside of the family unit. It also helped them to realise her potential strengths and weaknesses.
  • ‘She comes home a very happy child and enjoys talking to the older girls in the group who are positive role models for her.’
  • ‘He appears a lot happier at school and during the past few months and she has established some fairly stable friendships with friends at school and outside school.
  • ‘I have seen many children starting RAPP and in particular the drama group with little or no confidence and self esteem, and with the help from the staff they have achieved so much’
  •  ‘She has made a lot of new friends and I feel her behaviour has improved as she is more understanding of other people’s needs’
  • ‘I think this group brings a lot of fun and joy into their lives. Keep up the good work, the kids love it

And from young people:

"WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE SESSIONS ON DRAMA AND DANCE. IT’S REALLY GOOD MEETING UP AND DOING THESE GROUPS. WE MAKE LOADS OF NEW FRIENDS"

"IT’S LIKE A BIG FAMILY AND I FEEL REALLY PART OF SOMETHING. I DON’T GET TO SEE SOME PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE GROUP HELP ME FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT IT"

" DOING PERFORMANCES AND SINGING IN FRONT OF CROWDS, IS A REAL BUZZ"

"PERFORMING IS THE BEST BIT. IT GIVES ME LOADS OF CONFIDENCE AND MAKES ME HAPPY"

For more information contact:
Ian Bolton: ian.bolton@hullcc.gov.uk Tel.07921-800617
or Iain Thompson (Northern Drama and Education): Tel.0780-3908782.

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WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT ?
A young persons guide:

The Freedom Road Creative RAPP project uses drama, Dance, and Song writing as a way of giving children and young people in need or in care in the city a chance to have fun, make new friends, learn new skills and become more confident about themselves.

Who comes to the group? "Some of us are in care and some of us live at home with our parents. We meet every week to put together drama and musical theatre performances. The last one we did was Grease to an audience of 200 people."

How does the project help us in our lives? "Doing drama and dance has helped me make more friends at school because I feel better about myself and I get involved a lot more. It also gives me somewhere to express myself too."

What else do we do? "Some of us are in a band called FREEDOM ROAD. We recorded a CD this year that raised over £2,000 for the Milton Margai School in freetown Sierra Leone. We have also just sang in the House of Commons at the request of John Prescott."

When do we meet? " We meet twice a week on a Monday and Tuesday night 5pm until 7pm, we sometimes meet at other times if we are rehearsing for a performance."

What is P2S? "Some of us also work with RAPP, Hull Childrens Services and Hull Children's Fund on a panel called P2S. This is a group of young people who meet once meet a month to make decisions on applications from young people, requesting money and support for their hobbies and stuff like that".

For further information on Platform To Success please call:
01482-615250 or email platform2success@hullcc.gov.uk

For further information on Freedom Road and the creative side of RAPP please call: Ian Bolton on 01482-225855 or email Ian.bolton@hullcc.gov.uk.


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WHAT WE HAVE DONE

Watch the "Super Park Rangers" Video
(may take a few seconds to load)




Click the arrow to listen to: "Song for Wilberforce"


Click the arrow to listen to: "SILVER SKY "


Click the arrow to listen to: "WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET "Road

The idea for these songs arose from my efforts to compose some original prayers for an Interfaith Prayerbook for the Wilberforce 2007 celebrations. As I was working on this particular piece it became evident that this was not a prayer to be recited or a meditation to be read, or a song to be sung.

I was able to interest Ian Bolton and the RAPP group in setting the words I had to music, and with the help of lain Thompson of NDE, they took what would have been a decent little ditty and turned it into something sublime. The result is this CD, so don’t just read about it: LISTEN TO IT!
- Rev. Tom McCready, Hull Unitarian Church

This project was supported by The Leonard Chamberlain Trust at Hull Unitarian Church. R I P F.

RAPP offers a children’s rights and advocacy service responding to children and young people in need or at risk, aged 9 to 21 and living in the Hull area.The RAPP team often use the creative arts to support young people in building their confidence and provide a positive and safe way in which to express their feelings. With funding from Positive Activities For Young People. Freedom Road were given the opportunity to record their songs at Fairview Studios.

The two accompanying tracks on this CD are further evidence of the unique creative and musical talents of “Freedom Road”: Cindy, Ben, Sami, Sarah, Becky. Ellie, Jess, Shaunna, Chiq, Michelle and Sophie.

With thanks to Tom McCready, Sarah Naughton, Dawn Binns Kay Bolton, Lisa Chapman.The Warren, Jeff Willis. Hull Youth Service, Ruth Drake, Geoff Wilson, Dan Foster, Craig Clark (the man) for the inspiration, all the parents, carers and people who have supported the project, and any organisation who has contributed to the production of the CD.

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OUR POLICIES

The R.O.S.H. Procedure ('Risk of Significant Harm') - Young persons version

What is the ROSH? And how does it affect me?

ROSH stands for RISK OF SIGNIFICANT HARM. This is what the workers in RAPP will use if they think that YOU (or another young person you have told us about) might be at risk or maybe likely to suffer significant harm.

What does “Significant Harm” mean to the workers at RAPP?

This means as a team of workers we are really worried about your safety, health and protection and BY LAW we have to take action to try and help and support you.

How will you know if the RAPP workers are using the ROSH?

The workers will explain clearly, to you what is happening and what might happen.

BUT….. There might be a time when your RAPP caseworker has serious worries or concerns about you, but cannot contact you to let you know they are going to use the ROSH…. For example; if you are reported as missing and your family or friends are worried about you, we might use the ROSH to ring the police and/or social services.

Who will the RAPP workers talk to?

If the RAPP workers feel you are at risk or in danger, then the worker will have to talk to Craig Clark (the RAPP Co-ordinator) about it.
The RAPP worker may also need to contact other people who need to know about the situation you are in – like the police, social worker, your parents or carers.
The RAPP workers will FULLY EXPLAIN all this to you and support you through what is going on.



RAPP Confidentiality Policy - Young persons version

What is RAPP’s CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY? And how does it affect me?

Another way to describe confidentiality is about KEEPING THINGS PRIVATE.

Confidentiality is about keeping things private between you and the RAPP WORKERS.

GIVING INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER SERVICES.

No information will be shared with anyone outside of RAPP without your PERMISSION or if there are EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. In these situations only, RAPP may have to break confidentiality.

EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES means when you are at risk of serious harm or are in immediate danger.
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES could be: When you have run away from home/foster carers/children’s home etc. We will contact someone to let them know we have seen you and spoken to you.
Sometimes these circumstances may happen when you are not in control of your own safety, for example, after an accident, high drug/solvent abuse or drug overdose.
GIVING INFORMATION TO THE POLICE
If the police or any other organisation asks RAPP for information about you and any child protection issues or alleged crimes, then we CANNOT LIE to them, but we would always try to speak to YOU first.

.........YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO TELL US THINGS ABOUT YOU.

RAPP CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY = “keeping things private that you tell us”

WHEN WE WILL TELL OTHERS?
•YOU ASK US TO.
•YOU ARE IN DANGER.
•YOU ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS HARM.
•IF YOU’VE RUN AWAY WE WILL SAY WE HAVE SEEN YOU.


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COMPLAINTS

RAPP works alongside the Children’s Services Complaints Manager to support young people in making complaints about Children’s services. It is RAPP’s job to advocate on your behalf and work with you to ensure your complaint is listened to and taken seriously. The Complaints manager will look into your complaint and help get things sorted out.

If you have a complaint or compliment about the service you have received from RAPP, Please tell us.

We want to know about the things we are doing well, so we can do them even better! And we need to know about what is not working well, or going wrong…so we can try and put it right.

Download Complaints Poster.pdf
Download Complaints Leaflet.pub

 

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LINKS

www.hullcc.gov.uk

www.humbermentoringproject.co.uk

www.connexions-humber.co.uk

www.hullyouthcouncil.co.uk

www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

www.croa.org.uk

www.nspcc.org.uk

www.savethechildren.org.uk

www.scie.org.uk

 

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IN RAPPSODY

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CHILDREN’S RIGHTS OPEN LETTER
Looking at Children’s Rights from a different point of view:

Dear Adult,

I am a child or young person,

A decade ago the UN Convention decided, on my behalf, that as well as my human rights, I have rights as a child.  These include my right to play, to an education, a safe place to live and a right to have a voice and a say in decisions that affect me.

Just like your human rights my rights are laid down in international law; because of this they are not dependant on the colour of my skin, my attitude, my sexuality, gender or whether or not you deem me responsible.

Please support me and those who work with me to ensure that my rights are protected and not violated.

Thank you


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RULES FOR ADULTS WORKERS
 Rules for a Rapp worker written by children and young people:

  1. Explain what RAPP is all about.
  2. Always listen to us and try to understand us.
  3. Stick with us no matter what and not side with others.
  4. Never give in, have an attitude that never gives up on young people.
  5. Be able to take verbal abuse and have a laugh with us, have a sense of humour and a friendly smile.
  6. To explain what happens next when you ask our opinions on things.

Rules for adult workers:

  1. Try and understand young people’s fashions and music.
  2. Accept us for what we are and what we are into.
  3. Not think all young people are troublemakers and yobs because we are not.
  4. Not ‘Fob’ us off to get rid of us and pass us on to someone else!
  5. Don’t use big fancy words we can’t understand.
  6. Be all ‘friendly’ with other adults in our lives but not very friendly with us.
  7. Accept that your not always right.
  8. Be someone we can rely on and trust.

More Rules for Adult Workers:

  • Not making decisions for us, but with us! 
  • Help me say what I want, not what you want.
  • Not doing things on my behalf without asking.
  • Should not talk to other people about me if I don’t want them to.
  • Should tell us more about what’s going on.
  • More laughs and fewer lectures. 

Ideal Adult Workers from Young People:

  1. We would like to be worked with as an equal and not just like another statistic.
  2. Adults need to know not to put young people down and give them praise and encouragement.
  3. Should treat us with respect, to gain respect you’ve got to give respect.
  4. Adults are not there to judge us so don’t.
  5. Don’t be patronising with understanding if you don’t understand.
  6. To be honest with us and not lie to us.
  7. Don’t pretend every thing is ok.
  8. More laughs and less lectures!

Top 10 Rules for Teachers:

Below are the Top Ten attributes and qualities children and young people feel teachers should possess.

10/    Teachers must be laid back

9/      Have a good personality

8/      Be able to relate to young people

7/      Make lessons fun and interesting

6/      Listen to young people

5/      Treat everyone fairly and equally

4/      Be friendly

3/      Be helpful

2/      Have a sense of humour

1/      Teachers should understand

Research undertaken by the RAP Project. The information presented here summarises the results of 200 interviews’ carried out between June and August 2003 and represent the views of children and young and are not the views of the RAPP Project. For further information contact: RAPP, Queens Dock Chambers, 47/49 Queens Dock Avenue, Hull, HU1 3DR.

Rules for social workers written by young people:

This is my idea of what a Social Worker’s role is and what should be done by them when working with clients. They are sort of a counsellor and this is my breakdown of what should be done.

This list was written by Mark a care leaver who worked with RAPP as a peer researcher in 1998, on a project that looked into the views of care leavers and resulted in a report called 'Which way now' which proved to be a major influence in the development of the YPSS. 

C:Care
Show their clients that they do care and that they are not just another number on their list.
O:Organise
a Proper programme so clients know what is expected of them.
U:Understand
To try and understand the client’s problems and let the client know they understand in a Positive manner.
N:Neutral
If there is more than one person involved not to take sides and adopt a neutral attitude.
S :Say
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
E:Educate
This is a very important part to educate clients into a new lifestyle and not expect them to be street wise.
L:Listen
To the needs of their clients and not push their opinions on to them.
L:Learn
To Learn that every client has different way of sorting out their problems and dealing with them.
O:Observe
To look at what needs to be done.
R:Respect
To respect clients wishes and opinions.

 
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HOW TO TREAT YOUNG PEOPLE:

Don’t stereotype us, don’t label us.
Don’t deny our right to be heard.
Let us be ourselves.
Believe in us.
Allow us to make mistakes.
Don’t tell us what to do.
Don’t tell us what’s best for us.
Don’t exclude us from our society.
Support us in being active members of our community.
Let us make decisions.
Don’t threaten us with violence.
Don’t abuse us.
Support us with our education.
Listen to our opinions.
Encourage us to make up our own minds.
Don’t make us pay for our education.
Don’t pressure us to live in poor housing .
Don’t deny us our choices.
Give us decent jobs.
Support us in developing our skills.
Build our self confidence.
Don’t throw us on the scrapheap.
Respect .O.K. 

Written by Young people accessing the Warren

 

LISTEN 

Ears are to listen, not to ignore

Why should I talk to them any more?

All I want is for my voice to be heard

I wish for them to listen, so my opinion can be shared

When they talk to me, they make me feel small

When I talk to them, it’s like talking to a wall

They wind me up and make me shout

And then say sort your attitude out

I haven’t got an attitude, it’s just the way I am

I can’t say anything, but everyone else can. 

 

 Which way now? 

I was walking along
On my own
When suddenly I heard a groan
I turned around
But there was no-one there.
Then I felt a breeze through my hair
I turned back round to find three paths of stone
And then again I
Heard a groan.
But there was
Nobody in sight.
Then I started
Then to get a fright.
I looked up and saw a sign.
Asking which path
Was going to be mine
I was confused
I didn’t know which one to choose.
Any of them
I could win or lose.
Shall I go back?
Or carry on.
I know I’m frightened
But I have to be strong.
I thought
 Long and hard
To choose a path.
And I choose the right path
Now I’m having a laugh. 


Both these poems were written by Colleen, aged 16. Colleen worked with RAPP with three other care leavers, on a research project, into the view’s of care leavers in Hull in 1998. The research findings were turned in to a report called ‘Which Way now?” and proved to be a major influence in the development of the Young Peoples Support Service; Y.P.S.S.


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A RAPP IDEA FOR THE WORKERS TOOL KIT
Vital tools of the trade:

The worker
Themselves the most important resource of all, positive attitude, active, listening, being approachable, honest, committed to young people, non judgmental, not patronising, flexible, active, enthusiastic, sense of humour and a willingness to learn from young people and share control.

The Screwdriver
For clarity and explaining skills, each turn of the screwdriver should try to make the picture clearer of how you are working with and alongside young people. The screwdriver can also be used to make fine adjustments to the plan as agreed with the young person.

A Saw
For an honest up front approach that cuts both ways. Young people have rights but so do adults. To cut through the issues and concerns and chop them into manageable chunks with young people to challenge and address and work through aiming at small victories.

A Shifting Spanner
For regular adjustments, alterations and checking of the joint plan. Tightening and loosening off the nuts and bolts as the young person directs. For a universal, flexible and enabling approach.

A Drill
To aim and hit a child centred approach to bore holes into and highlight negative practice to make room for children’s rights and participation within the walls and fabric of childcare practice until it becomes an Integral DIY skill for all workers.

A Tape Measure
For measuring up, reflecting and reviewing on how the situation went or how the plan progressed.  For regular monitoring and checking details alongside the young person to be accurate about the next step to move things forward.  Keep handy for continual sizing up of how effective your service or project is from young people’s views and perspectives.

Written by Craig Clark.



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