IN RAPPSODY
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
Children’s Rights and Responsibilities
Clearly there is a link between rights and responsibilities and it is about trying to have a balanced approach to this. Rights and responsibilities often go hand in hand and are linked, especially in terms of expectations of how we should behave. It can depend on who is setting these expectations..
Society? Government? Community?..Family..? School..?
Whilst children have rights, so do adults, however we do need to be aware of the context and influence of power in these relationships.
Rights can be viewed in terms of meeting a person’s basic needs; if you are denying a young person their rights in affect then you are denying them their needs.
Some people will argue that children’s rights have gone too far and the liberal approaches have resulted in labelling this field of work ‘pink and fluffy’ or the workers as ‘tree hugging do gooders...!’
The RAPP response to this would be that in the high profile cases of Victoria Climbe, Baby P and countless other child tragedies or enquiries, clearly the notion of children’s rights did not go FAR enough.
The RAPP practice is very much about a value base embedded in children’s Rights and a child centred approach and the challenge is how we communicate this in a positive way to present as adults young people can build trust with and negotiate with in developing effective working relationships with them.
"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."
-Nelson Mandella
RULES FOR ADULT WORKERS
Rules for a RAPP worker written by children and young people:
Rules for adult workers:
More Rules for Adult Workers:
Ideal Adult Workers from Young People:
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 counselor 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 Young Peoples Support Service (Y.P.S.S.)
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 client's wishes and opinions.
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 views of care leavers in Hull in 1998. The research findings were turned into 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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Consultations with children and young people.
Since RAPP started in 1997, the project has been involved in numerous pieces of City wide and national consultation work with young people. This has been an area of work the project is very interested in and is continually looking to develop alongside partners.
Some examples of this work include a consultation research project in 1998, that proved to be a catalyst in setting up the Young Peoples Support Service (Y.P.S.S.) Specific consultation work with young people who live in foster care or children's homes to find out their views on improving opportunities to read and learn, to support the Book Ahead project and work with young people with disabilities to find out their views and ideas on advocacy. More recently RAPP carried out a consultation exercise to find out the reasons why young people do not attend School in Hull which resulted in a report called ‘tell it like it is’.
Effective consultation remains a constant theme and driving force within RAPPs work, one of the main challenges is to ensure that the consultation process is grounded and a real worthwhile experience for those involved and not tokenistic gestures.
Children and young people will always tell us that, when we consult with them then it is vitally important that we ensure we feed back to them, clearly what happened and the results and impact of that piece of work.
To find out more about the project consultation work contact Craig Clark or Ian Bolton on 225855.
The RAPP casework and group work philosophy and ethos is very much about how we can listen and learn from the children and young people we have worked with in the past and continue to have contact with.
This is a continual learning process for us a project.
There are a number of established theories, approaches and techniques that inform social and youth work with children and young people. The RAPP workers are encouraged to have an genuine awareness and an understanding of these and be alive and receptive to any new innovative or creative approaches that may add value and further depth to our 'tool kit' or 'Mary Poppins bag'
Children and young people present a range of issues and often have to deal with a number of difficulties in their lives. It therefore makes perfect sense to us, that we need a range of techniques and approaches and creativity to respond to what is presented to us in an effective, meaningful way.
The key driver in this whole process is the worker and what they bring to the working relationship in terms of energy, enthusiasm, positive attitude, skills and qualities.
APPROACHES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE (Power Point Slide Show)
What makes a good participation worker?
Some one who genuinely enjoys working with children and young people and has a passion, enthusiasm and energy for the work. I believe that whether its about youth or social work or participation work, its always about approach and workers having almost an intuitive understanding of the skills, qualities and attitudes that are required to build positive, meaningful, working relationships with young children and young people.
Children and young people do some amazing things; we need to acknowledge more fully, this is often because of some amazing people who support them. In addition to this workers, should never underestimate the positive influences they can have on children and young people’s lives. The view at RAPP is that we feel privileged to be able to share in the lives of the children and young people we work with and learn from them.
What are the barriers to involving children and young people?
In my experience the barriers to Participation lie within other peoples negative and cynical attitudes towards children and young people generally, which can then result in a culture of further reluctance and obstacles to involve them. Many organisations today, involve young people in a number of ways through a participatory approach, the contradiction is that there still remain a number of agencies that don’t do this, and given their remit should do! The challenge is for us all to be much more vocal about the benefits of participation in order to effectively challenge the negative attitudes towards the whole process.
On a different note, I firmly believe that the politics of participation has a role to play as a potential barrier. If we are trying to establish participation as a way of being with children and young people and effectively working with them across a range of services then we need to be much more effective and intelligent in terms of how we lobby central government on the topic. I feel that there are a number of leading organisations in the UK, carrying out some fantastic participation work; however they appear to be in competition with other organisations engaged in similar work (especially when it comes to funding or jockeying for position) My question is who has really got the ear of the Government in terms of being an serious voice and influence that can change systems at this level. I feel we all could be much better organised as a ‘united participation or Children’s Rights force’ in order to achieve this more comprehensively.
What are the benefits?
Children and young people today, are often demonised and negatively stereotyped by the media, a participation approach can create the opportunity to turn these ideas around and develop a feel good factor and a positivity, where children and young people are not only engaged in the process but making changes in the ways in which some organisations or agencies conduct themselves. Unfortunately these stories do not always make the headlines. We have numerous examples at RAPP where the challenge has been to try and engage with 'hard to reach' groups of young people, if the workers rise to the challenge and remain tenacious, creative and genuine in their approach then the benefits for the children and young people in terms in developing confidence and improving their outlook on life, are ten fold.
What tips do you have for effective participation of children and young people?
Both from my experience and RAPPs experience in this field, my tips would be that the participation and involvement of children and young people must be genuine, have a clear focus and built upon an established value base to nurture and develop positive working relationships. Workers involved in the process must be explicitly clear as to why children and young people are to be involved, in terms of their role, the support on offer and most importantly what they are going to achieve from the piece of work.
What is effective participation?
If participation is be effective then it must include a range of the ingredients I have described above. It’s definitely not about quick wins, if we are going to challenge attitudes and cultures towards young people, then this is certainly not a process to be rushed but delivered within a patient, tenacious, and planned approach that fully acknowledges the need to learn from our mistakes along the way. It’s about having integrity with a very large helping of humility for good measure!
Craig Clark - Children’s Rights Officer/Rights and Participation Project Co-ordinator
‘He’s got a face like a Christmas Pixie’
Child Protection and Child safety
young people having a say
In 2009 Hull Safeguarding Board funded the post of a children’s participation worker, in partnership with RAPP and the Hull Youth Council. The worker (Katie Roberts) has been developing this work and has established the KEY group (Keep Empowering Youth) for children and young people.
The idea of the group is to work alongside young people in thinking through and ascertaining their views and ideas on the child protection process and the whole concept of Safeguarding.
The philosophy supporting this work is that very often in matters of Safeguarding children and young people are passive recipients in the process, as opposed to active participants.
The KEY group have carried out the following pieces of work and worked closely with the BOB group and Hull Youth Parliament; some examples of this work includes;
Members of the Key Group ready for kayaking action August 2010.
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TOOMAD is a project based in RAPP in partnership with Freedom Road creative arts and is funded by NHS Hull, which aims to support local young people who are not in education, training or employment and challenge them to think about others and give something back to the community, by raising money for their chosen local and national charities. At the same time, TOOMAD is aimed at building young peoples confidence, team work skills and using TOOMAD as a springboard to motivate young people to start to think about how they can achieve more in their lives.
TOOMAD is about a creative way of engaging with young people, having fun, and thinking of the craziest fundraising ideas that we can! Since starting the project, the groups have done many different activities from Zorbing; abseiling; dancing Michael Jackson’s thriller in the middle of Hull City centre and also climbing a mountain dressed as superheroes!
The young people have raised £1099.89 for local charities since the project started...remember this is young people raising money for other young people...fantastic...!!
If you aged between 15 and 20 years old and want to take part and get involved with TOOMAD, contact Lisa Billany at the RAPP office on 01482 225855; or email us straight off this site.
‘Imagination is more important than knowledge; knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world’
‘The value of achievement lies in the achieving’ -Albert Einstein
‘We learn by doing’ -Aristotle
‘Continuous effort-not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential’ -Winston Churchill
Editors note; Einstein, Aristotle and Churchill were all previous members of RAPP’s management committee. We would like to thank them all for their inspiration....!
Members of the RAPP staff team (and Lilly-Ian’s Dog!) conquer the three peaks in 12 hours to launch TOO MAD.
The first TOO MAD group – conquer Via Ferrata in the Lake District, dressed as super heroes
Taking on the ‘Zip’ wire!
The ‘Bikini Babes’ took part in a number of activities at Caythorpe Court near Lincoln.
Flying High at Cay Thorpe Court
The Cheeky Monkey’s group took part in activities at ‘Go Ape’ in Dalby Forest
The ‘Thriller’ TOO MAD group- pictured before dancing the Thriller routine outside Hull Trinity Church, at the top of Whitefriargate and in Queens Gardens.
The ‘Thriller’ group dancing outside Hull Trinity Church.
One of the Kelvin School ‘Zorbers’ group after he’d just rolled down a hill at 30mph.
Two young people zorbing down the hill!
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Health experts and government reports are always telling us that Hull has a number of problems with childhood health and have too many young people who are overweight and suffer with conditions such as type two diabetes.
With the support of a local health grant RAPP alongside Freedom Road Creative Arts have launched the FIGHTING FIT project from November 2010, in partnership with boxing manager and trainer Jimmy Phelan at the seconds out gym on Anlably Road in Hull.
The idea is to use boxing training as a way of getting young people off their settees, sat watching T.V. or playing computer games, to get them to be more active and get some exercise. Jimmy Phelan’s enthusiasm and expert guidance is already having a positive impact and the young people are enjoying it and working hard in the sessions.
FIGHTING FIT is also about encouraging young people to think about eating healthy foods and look after themselves through eating a good balanced diet. The young people will be taking part in workshops and different exercises on this theme.
The project will run into early 2011, when RAPP hopes to apply for further funding to keep it running.
FIGHTING FIT is for young men and women aged between 9 to 19 years old and runs every Wednesday 7 till 8pm.
Contact the RAPP office for more information.
OUTCOMES AND FEEDBACK
RAPP Case Study examples
The information below provides anonymous case work examples of the some of the work (mainly focussing on our work in Schools) the RAPP case workers become involved in through the service and how these issues have been addressed with individual young people.
Male, age 12 ‘X’
This young person was referred to RAPP from the EWO service, due to longstanding non school attendance and family issues. The young person had attended a pupil referral Unit, in the past, but then refused to attend stating he wished to move to another School.
Service offered
A meeting was held at RAPP with the young person and his parent. RAPP supported the young person’s wish to attend another School and followed this up with a home visits with the Smart Moves officer.
The RAPP worker then took the young person to the identified School and supported him at an induction meeting and whilst he sat an initial assessment.
Outcome
To date the young person is attending the ‘new’ school on a regular basis, which considering his past school attendance is a great achievement. The RAPP worker maintains regular contact with the young person to fully support his School attendance.
Female Age 14 ‘Y’
This young person was referred to RAPP due to behaviour issues in school and threat of exclusion. This was resulting in family relationship issues and a lot of pressure at home.
Service offered
One to one support offered in school to focus on a positive behaviour and attitude change with the young person.
Outcome
This young person has maintained the contact with RAPP and has been seen regularly on a one to one basis. Staff at school have commented positively about changes in behaviour with an ongoing plan for her to start college in September if this positive behaviour in school continues to improve.
Female Age 14 ‘Z’
This young person was referred to RAPP due to longstanding bullying issues in school that were resulting in non school attendance and difficulties within the family relationships.
Service offered
The young person has received one to one support, to address and deal with the bullying issues in addition to specific support to assist with a school move.
Outcome
On going support with the young person to keep building the working relationship and trust, as this young person has had support from a number of agencies in the past; RAPP are currently supporting Z decision to move schools.
Male Age 12 ‘A’
This young person was referred to RAPP due to anger outbursts in school and difficulties with bullying.
Service offered
The young person has received specific one to one support in dealing with the bullying issues. The young person has also become involved with the RAPP/Freedom Road Drama group.
Outcome
The focus has been to use the one to one support to engage the young person back into attending school and get him interested in education. The young person is now back into school and attending more regularly.
14 years old Female ‘B’
This young person was referred due to self harming when under stress from situations at home and at school. Her school attendance was very low as she would stay off school due to not wanting anybody to know that she had self harmed.
Support offered
The young person has received one to one sessions within school focusing on stress management and confidence building. There is a working arrangement with the school that the young person can contact RAPP when at school and feeling under stress. The young person is aware that this also applies to when she is at home.
Outcome
The young person is self harming much less and has gone a number of months without self harming. She has also reported that she feels much better about herself, less stressed and attendance at School has improved.
Male 14 years old ‘C’
This young person was referred to RAPP due to long term anger issues.
Support offered
Anger management one to one sessions in school.
Outcome
This young person realized that he was very angry at his Dad and once he had worked this through he was much better at handling his anger at school. He still has some behaviour issues at School and still gets into trouble at school, at times; but more for reported silly behaviour than for anger issues. He is a lot happier and content with himself.
Male 10 years old ‘D’
Support offered
The young person has received anger management support on one to one sessions in school; in addition to emotional support and confidence building. This case is quite a complex one as it was referred to RAPP via the school initially for anger management. It then became apparent that there were a number of issues to address within the family.
RAPP has acted as an advocate for this young person during various meetings.
RAPP has offered one to one meetings that have taken place with the young person after school.
Outcome
The young person’s behaviour within school has improved and school staff have stated they no longer view this as a problem.
RAPP continues to be part of a multi agency response to work alongside other agencies involved to support the young person to address the wider family issues and problems.
Male aged 11 ‘E’
Service offered
E attends offsite provision at a Secondary School due to anger problems in school. E also has reported family relationship problems at home. His father has just been diagnosed with cancer which is causing E great concern.
RAPP one to one support has been offered mainly with RAPP acting as a mentor and advocate. Specific support has been offered on the Fathers illness to try and reassure E and so he is aware of what is going on.
Outcome
On the first RAPP session in March 2010 E scored the following School 4/10, Home 6/10 and his free time 6/10. On the last RAPP session three months later, E scored as follows School 8/10, home 8/10, and free time 10/10. E also stated recently that he now feels ready to go back on to the School main site. The staff at school have fed back positively to RAPP about E‘s progress.
Female Age 14 ‘F’
This young person was referred to RAPP from the Education Welfare service for a longstanding non attendance issue; approximately 8months out of school.
Service offered
Intensive RAPP one to one support was offered in school, with the concept of RAPP acting as a positive role model to address school attendance issues. The one to one support then developed into F wanting to learn how to play the guitar.
Outcome
A contract was made with F that stated RAPP would teach her guitar, if she improved her attendance at school, F agreed to this.
Once the new school term started (Jan 2010) F had only had two days off from school, in addition to this F has obtained her bronze Arts Award for learning and playing guitar.
The school has commented about the positive change in F attendance, and the positive change in her behaviour. RAPP Support continues and F is now working towards her silver Arts Award. F has agreed to be a mentor to other young people who wish to learn to play the guitar and has got involved in other RAPP groups.
Male Age 12 ‘G’
G was referred to RAPP in relation to issues regarding to adapting to life in the care system (along with his brother) and dealing with past events in his life. There were also reported issues around School attendance, behaviour in school and interaction with other young people and teachers.
Service offered
RAPP has offered one to one support, with G and he is seen on a weekly basis. The support offered covers dealing with anger issues, behaviour and relationships with others. This work has involved close contact with his foster carer and social worker.
Outcome
At School G is learning to deal with the classroom environment better and also how he manages when teachers challenge him.
G has also built up more positive relationships within the school especially the Learning mentor and has worked hard and shown progress in dealing with his anger issues. The RAPP support continues to develop in a partnership approach with school, foster carer and the social worker.
Male age 8 ‘H’
H was referred to RAPP due to family issues and displaying aggression and anger outbursts at home and in school.
Service offered
RAPP has offered one to one support with regular meetings in school to address and offer advice and guidance relating to the family and school problems.
Outcome
Weekly visits have taken place and H engages well with RAPP. H discusses openly about family concerns and has disclosed information resulting in the child protection officer becoming involved at School. H attendance and his behaviour at school has improved; Staff at School have commented at a recent meeting how RAPP involvement with H has greatly supported him in making positive strides in his attitude to school.
Male age 13 ‘I’
This young person was referred to RAPP reportedly struggling with his emotional health, feelings and suicidal thoughts that was having an impact on his school work. An issue was reported within school; where ‘I’ felt he was being singled out/bullied by teachers so his behaviour notably deteriorated in those lessons.
Service offered
RAPP arranged for young person to have counselling sessions via YPSS whilst awaiting CAHMS referral. A close working relationship has developed with the Head of year at School to ensure understanding of what the young person was going through and also to look at his School time table. RAPP has undertaken one to one anger management work with the young person.
Outcome
The young person attended counselling sessions at YPSS with support from RAPP and is currently working with psychiatrist through CAHMS .The School issues are much improved with a notable improvement reported in work and behaviour in the previous ‘problem’ lessons. RAPP is currently arranging after school activities to help improve the relationships between I and his family.
Female age 15 ‘J’
This young person due to extremely poor school attendance, due to a combination of family issues and lack of interest and motivation to school.
Service Offered
Despite RAPP advocating on behalf of and meeting with Head of year with the young person to rearrange her time table and try and resolve any issues within school, the young person’s attendance still remained poor. A change in family circumstances meant the young person stopped attending school all together. RAPP advocated on behalf of young person to the Smart moves programme, stressing the fact that as the young person was on the gifted and talented register, she had potential to achieve given the right circumstances and support.
Outcome
RAPP and Smart moves worked together with the school to agree to the Smart move alternative education package for the young person, starting from September 2010. The young person is keen for this to happen and has attended mock exams in school.
Female age 13 ‘L’
The young person was referred to RAPP with severe bullying issues and concerns around making and keeping friends within school.
Service Offered
RAPP offered one to one support to address the bullying issues and help build the young person’s confidence. An incident in school resulted in the young person been taken out of school by her parents so as not to be permanently excluded. RAPP has supported the family in undertaking an application and appeal process to secure a new school place; Individual work and group work with RAPP continues through the self confidence group (BOOST) to help self confidence and relationship building. RAPP has also arranged counselling to help the young person come to terms with some deeper issues whilst the family go through the process of referring to CAMHS through the family GP.
Outcome
The young person is dedicating several hours a day to school work, with RAPP support at home so as not to fall behind. The young person is continuing to attend the BOOST group and learning how to interact better with her peers. RAPP is continuing to offer the family support with the planned school move.
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A snapshot of Garry’s story
My name is Garry and I am 18 years old and you are probably wondering why I am writing this.
First of all I want to tell you a little bit about my life and then I will go on to tell you where I am now, through working with RAPP and Freedom Road Creative Arts.
I had a very difficult upbringing with a lot of family problems. When I had just turned sixteen, I moved from my family home where I lived with my Dad to go and live with my Mum and her Partner. However this didn't work out and I eventually found myself, threatened with been homeless and having to move into Hostel Accommodation in Hull. I moved into Doorstep on spring bank. After a difficult period settling in where I had some problems with drugs and mixing with the wrong crowd. I was introduced to RAPP and Freedom Road by a Worker who had been supporting me whilst I lived with my Mum.
With the support of the staff at the Doorstep Hostel, RAPP (Rights and Participation Project) and Freedom Road Creative Arts (FRCA) my outlook on life and indeed my life has changed massively over the last two years. I have done so many challenging yet rewarding projects with RAPP and FRCA that have built my confidence, allowed me to discover my talents and abilities and which have led to some amazing opportunities. I have passed my level 2 NOCN in Youth Work, completed my Bronze Arts Award and I am currently doing a GCSE Drama Course.
One of the best things I have done is take part in the Humberside Police Tribune Trusts' Night Challenge, which my team won and which I also won a leadership award that then resulted in me taking part in a fantastic three week outdoor pursuit event in Ulswater in the Lake District organised by the Outward Bound Trust.
In July 2010 with the support of RAPP and Freedom Road, I also successfully applied for Operation Raleigh and I have recently spent 10 weeks from October to December helping to build Community Centre in Nicaragua and carry out some conservation work on volcan Irazu and San Lucas Island in Costa Rica. I am now back in the UK,working with RAPP and Freedom Road on various projects and planning the next chapter of my life; I feel like the sky’s the limit for me and considering where I was a few years ago, I am very excited about my future.
On returning to the UK, I have seen how the government cuts are going to leave many people without jobs; this may include staff at the RAPP project. I find this extremely sad and frustrating, when I am living proof of how successful RAPP and Freedom Road Creative Arts can be, in how they supported me.
I am certainly not on my own in this and RAPP have many, many success stories of children and young people they have worked with over the years, many of them in much worse situations than I found myself in.
RAPP and its sister project Freedom Road Creative Arts are unique Hull projects that definitely make a difference in young people’s lives.
If you take a closer look at this website and the RAPP Menu, I am confident you will see more clearly what the project offers and how it could benefit you in one way or another.
If I had not received the support when I needed it most, I believe I would have gone on a long term prison career or worse and here I am writing to you to get behind the people that helped me, there can be no better endorsement than that.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to organize a meeting with me and representatives from RAPP and Freedom Road Creative Arts.
Thanks
Garry.
I would like to thank RAPP. I am positive that it is only due to your help and advice that my son was able to stay in school and take his GCSE’s at Secondary School.
My only regret is that RAPP was not brought in earlier to help my son.
I would not hesitate in recommending RAPP to other parents. I really was at the end of my tether and it was such a relief to have someone to give me advice on how to deal with the school and to know that my son had someone to talk to about things that where bothering him’.
Thanks again
Mrs. ‘X’ Parent.
‘This is to let you know my son aged 7; ‘T’ was referred to RAPP by CAHMS. This was due to difficulties with his behaviour, specifically with very aggressive anger outbursts.
We struggled to find him the right support through his Primary School and up to now T has not responded very well to female workers.
Through RAPP he has been able to have a male worker and someone to work with him on a one to one, where he can talk confidentially and feel comfortable. This has been a big step forward for all of us especially as RAPP has got T involved in some of the groups they run.
We have battled for the right support for T for a long time and now feel we on the right road. Without RAPP and the KIDS project in Hull, we would still be desperate for help.’
Mrs. S Parent of ‘T’.
This was message was received on email sent to RAPP in March 2009;
Well I hope you remember me RAPP…you helped me a lot when I was a kid I was small blonde hair cheeky and u used to write to me in jail and send me lyrics in letters, which I still got….I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me through the years I needed it. I’m now 28 and I got out of jail and not been back since..I’m settled now with 2 kids. I live In Somerset with my Misses who I have been with for 8 years and we are doing well. I hope the all at the RAPP is good and I’m glad the RAPP is still there, because without it I wouldn’t have made it….so thank you. Mikey.
This letter was written by a year 10 pupil to her RAPP caseworker in September 2010.
I would just like to thank you for the past six months that I have been seeing you. If it wasn’t for having someone to talk to then everything will be building up inside. I know that there are people inside school who I could always talk to but I found it easier to talk to someone not necessarily inside the school on an everyday basis. I have enjoyed the meetings on good days and bad and I have enjoyed seeing a smile and getting support. The first session when you didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know who you was I found nervy but then when I got to know you I looked forward to coming again the following week. Although it’s only been 5 or 6 months I feel that I can talk to you in confidence about stuff.
N aged 15.
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‘Thank you RAPP for all your help and support. I do find life difficult at times due to what has happened in my family over the years. You are there to support me and you come up with good ideas and make me laugh. I think RAPP is really good because it is for the kids. I am now looking forward to starting college and you have helped me do this...thanks again. K aged 16. May 2009.
‘I have known RAPP for nearly 10 years. I met two of the staff aged 11, when I was living in a housing hostel with my family because we had nowhere to live. A month after this, my Mam died of a heroin over dose. I have kept in touch with the staff and pop into visit them. It’s good to know they are there. L aged 20. April 2008.
Examples of Feedback from various agencies on RAPPs Work
‘I wish there were more staff in their organisation as we could work wonders. This is service in a million and appreciated so much by our young people. Their staff are brilliant’
Feedback from Staff at Kingswood High School, May 2010
‘I write to congratulate RAPP on the successful work they have done with our school over recent months. The RAPP staff are working to change the behaviour of three of our most challenging year 5/6 boys all of whom were in danger of permanent exclusions for violence towards other pupils and aggressive attributes towards staff. Their work has been so effective that none of the three are defiant and disruptive in class anymore and although two of the young men still have some way to go to take full control of their behaviour the number of incidents and injuries to others has significantly decreased. In one case the boy’s attitude has changed so completely that he now mentors younger children with similar problems. We are delighted with the success of the RAP Project and feel that the relationships built have gone a long way to preventing these three youngsters giving up on education and becoming yet another exclusion statistic.’
Head teacher Thorpe park Primary School, December 2007
‘Thank you RAPP for all your determination and Support with some of our pupils, liaising with the staff at the House and the young people’s family which has resulted in a long term non at tender slowly but surely attending school again after a year or so.
Thank you RAPP for all your support with the lads at the Bungalow, you have been warm, engaging and very supportive towards some of our more difficult students, again making some amazing progress.
I really hope this partnership continues throughout 2010/11 and beyond at Winifred Holtby’
Feedback from Year 9 support Staff at Winfred Holtby School, July 2010
Young people gain accreditation through the RAPP and Freedom Road Creative Arts partnership.
Through May/June 2010 there has been;
24 young people complete their Bronze Arts Awards aged between 11 to 18 from this group;
2 young people have completed their NVQ level 2 youth work course
4 young people are taking part in NOCN level 2 basic introductions to youth work “Link to Learning”
4 young people taking part in GCSE drama course; all have completed the first assessment with C’s and above.
1 young person accepted for Raleigh International to go to Costa Rica in September for 3 months
These are all young people referred to Freedom Road creative arts through the RAPP project.
‘From 2008 through to 2010 RAPP has worked with our YR7 and 8 pupils. During this time we have seen a positive impact on the pupils i.e.: Understanding of their behaviour, use of coping strategies.
Sometimes our pupils are over familiar with the year support and the fact that the RAPP staff are from an outside agency encourages them to develop a more independent relationship and RAPP often extends this to support through to the families too.
RAPP are always available to offer advice and help, should we ask, and gives this in a warm friendly manner. RAPP’s networking with other agencies has been invaluable to us. Our understanding of RAPP and what is available is greatly increased due to the service working with us. We have a number of pupils who have benefited greatly from Rapp involvement at Henry Cooper School’.
Henry Cooper School Year 8 achievement support team, May 2010
‘This year RAPP has helped us to work preventatively with our harder to reach pupils who display behavioural difficulties…..RAPP began taking these children out on a one to one initially and then in small groups with the aim those feelings and issues are explored and shared together to understand negative emotions
Having dedicated professionals to see these children was a great help’
Deputy Head teacher Greenway Primary School, July2010.
‘It was great to see the work of Hull Children’s Services and the work with children and young people and the enthusiasm they have for getting involved. Of particular interest was the RAP Project and having children and young people involved in the training and recruitment of those who work with them. Thank you very much for the copies of Freedom Roads CD, which we played at our staff conference in December to rave reviews’ Your enthusiasm and contribution to the discussion really helped us to consider how CWDC can further position itself to support those who work with children, young people and families with disabilities.’
Jane Haywood Chief Executive Children’s Workforce Development Council January 2009.
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The Tenant Participation Team developed a partnership with RAPP in October 2009; in an attempt to involve young people in shaping housing service delivery. This has now developed into a young person’s service improvement group and recently a young person delivered a showcase presentation to a Tenant Participation national conference.
The input and support of the RAPP staff has been invaluable in ensuring this partnership has been a success. The staff have the skills to relate positively with what could be termed hard to reach young people and motivate them to remain involved in this group.
I look forward to working with the RAPP team in the future.
Tenant Participation Officer, July 2010
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And some examples of feedback from the RAPP Archives;
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‘I have recently had the opportunity to review the files and notes from work RAPP did with two young people from Gleneagles Children’s home.
I am very impressed with the work that has been carried out and how age appropriate the recording was. It just reminds me how fortunate we are to have RAPPs involvement and availability’
Principal Child Care Manager (Resources) Hull Social Services 1998.
‘Just a short note to thank you and the three young women you brought with you, for your input into the Social work degree at the University.
The feedback from our students on the session as always, has been very positive as they were able to see and hear firsthand the impact of how young people can be affected positively and negatively by the service they receive from social workers at critical points in their lives
The students gain great benefits from the RAPP input and always seem to enjoy listening to and meeting the young people who are as credit to themselves and your project’
Children’s Unit Co-ordinator Dips/w Lincoln University. 2001.
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‘I introduced the RAPP surgery in to Winifred Holtby School as I had experienced the positive outcomes they could achieve for young people whilst in a social care environment. The RAPP Surgery had only been in School a short time and due to the demand, we had to increase the number of RAPP workers coming in to school, to keep up with this demand. In the few months RAPP has been involved at Winfred Holtby, I have witnessed a turnaround in behaviour, attendance and general attitude of pupils who access the service. Furthermore RAPP is an affordable, value for money service and I would not hesitate in recommending the service to other Schools.’
BEST Co-ordinator Winifred Holtby School 2007.
‘ The RAPP is a brilliant organisation in partnership with Hull City Council that helps and looks after young people in need or at risk, or living in the care of the Local Authority. RAPP have made a couple of fantastic, memorable presentations for us at our conferences’
Administrator; Association of Lawyers for Children 2007.
‘I would like to pass on my thanks to the RAPP team for the excellent Buddy Scheme training recently delivered at Highlands Primary School. The training was presented just at the right level to our year 5 and 6’s and it has developed their confidence and role within the School.’
Learning Links Worker Highlands Primary School 2004.
‘We have recently had the RAP Project into School to do a wonderful assembly about bullying. This was well received by the children, parents, staff and OFSTED who were also present. Thank you’
Head teacher Newington Primary School Hull 2006.
‘Just thought I d write to you to say what a dynamic presentation/workshop RAPP and the young people did at the recent making rights stick conference In Manchester. I was very impressed and inspired by the young people. It was the best workshop I have been to for years!’
Project Co-ordinator Rights and Representation Project-Telford and Wrekin Council 2001.
‘Thank you. The RAPP team for the cracking workshop you delivered at the CROA annual conference. We had some great feedback..Folk are still raving about it now!
Children’s Rights Officers and Advocates (CROA) National Development Officer 2001.
‘We at Kinloss Garth would like to thank RAPP for all your commitment to working in partnership with us to meet the needs of one particular young person recently.
We have always found your approach to be both supportive and empowering and believe that he clearly benefitted from your obvious investment in him’
Senior Care Officer Kinloss Children’s Home Hull 2001.
‘I would like to congratulate RAPP on an innovative and responsive approach to the recognised growing need for independent advocacy and support services for children. RAPP has been a valued and pioneering member of CROA for the past five years. RAPP has been instrumental in supporting the set up of new Children’s Rights and advocacy services nationally over the past few years.
The idea of a Independent Children’s Champion Team fits with so many Government initiatives and legislation...RAPP has an excellent reputation with engaging and working positively with hard to reach groups of children and young people and seem best placed to develop this work further within a multi agency arena’
From the CROA Management Committee 2002.
‘On reading your business plan I am very impressed with the work of RAPP, I was particularly pleased to read of your work with disabled children and young people. It is clear that RAPP is making great strides in seeking to include disabled children and young people in services you offer.
Chief Executive Contact a Family for Families with Disabled Children 2002
‘We would like to thank RAPP for their positive and timely responses to three young people who have been absconding from our Children’s home.
These young people often end up in the City Centre and go into the Warren and RAPP office. The RAPP have been very supportive in working with our staff to keep the young people safe and return them back to us on as number of times’
Senior Care Officer Milne Road Children’s Home 1999.
‘I write to express our thanks to your service for your extremely valuable interventions that have been evident from the RAPP team. RAPP is a service that is highly regarded not just by our Parent Partnership Service in Hull, but other agencies that we come into contact with.
The high professional caring standards that you maintain as a service are very important to the whole community of Hull.’
Co-ordinator and Senior Parent Officer KIDS 2008.
‘What impresses me with RAPP is their flexibility, I first met them delivering training on Participation and then months later I saw them running a Rugby coaching session for 20 children at a Primary School!
I am also aware of the Projects work at Hull Prison and in Hull Royal Infirmary. They do offer a broad range of work for a small team, which I feel is very impressive.’
School Nurse 2005
Young Voices Influencing Care YVIC
RAPP has traditionally worked with groups of young people who have used their ideas and influence to effect change in services. The Rights Thing Group, RTG, was the first, who in partnership with The Warren and Hull Youth Council, were instrumental in the development of early recruitment and selection training, which led to young people being part of this process to the present day. The RTG were also instrumental in carrying out consultation exercises again in partnership with other organisations, which led to the formation of the Book Ahead project and RAPP’s disability advocate. The RTG folded in 2006 and in 2008 RAPP set up Hull’s Children in Care Council, “Young Voices Influencing Care”.
On Wednesday 14th December Hull City Council will officially launch the Pledge for Children and Young People in care. The Pledge has been put together in partnership with Hull’s Children in Care Council, YVIC, who have worked in consulting with children and young people who live in care ,over the past 18 months to make sure the Pledge meets their needs.
In 2008 a recommendation from the “Care Matters - Time for Change” agenda, suggested that each local authority was to formulate a Children in Care Council, CiCC, and their main focus would be to develop a Pledge that would be adopted and launched as a promise from the Council to LAC. In Hull the young people decided to call their CiCC Young Voices Influencing Care. As well as developing the Pledge the group also regularly deliver presentations at Fostering information days, at RAPP’s Safeguarding Training and more recently Dione and Jordan have delivered their presentations to the Corporate Parenting Group.
The Pledge will give the group a framework to carry out future consultation around how effective the council are at keeping to the promised they make.
Student Placements and Volunteering with us
If you are surfing this site as a social work or youth work student and like what you see. RAPP – Hull Youth Council (the Voice and Influence Team) Do offer placement opportunities for students.
We have had over 60 students on placement with our team since 1997 and are pleased to say that many of these students went on to volunteer with our groups when their time with us ended or have worked or continue to work with us on a sessional basis.
The voice and Influence team enjoys a positive working relationship with Hull University and Lincoln University as a placement provider and we feel that the placements with us offer students a diverse, vibrant and educational experience..!
As a staff team we really value the contribution that students make to our service and we have met and worked alongside some very skilled and talented people.
In a very similar way, we also value the impact and contribution that Volunteers can have; especially with the group work we are involved in with young people in partnership with Freedom Road Creative Arts. Much of what we try to offer would struggle to exist without the commitment and dedication of volunteer support.
If you have some time to spare and are interested in working with children and young people we would be very pleased to hear from you.
Contact Craig or Ian at the RAPP office to find out more and check out www.freedomroadcreativearts.com for volunteering opportunities.
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