Respect Minutes November 2006

YMCA in May 2005 were interested in taking over Wicklea. Three weeks ago the YMCA pulled out due to problems with Bristol City Council surrounding the proposed take over and also the YMCA has had to review its position in Bristol due to sourcing of future funding. The group were saddened at the outcome.

There is another party interested in taking over the management on the building and they have been to look at the premises. They have a similar brief as the YMCA and showed some interest in taking over the management a few years ago. They do seem serious in taking over and if they are going to, they want to proceed quickly. They have resources to develop the site.

It is hoped who ever takes over the lease, continues to use the building for community use through the days and for young people in the evenings and weekends. If Wicklea is lost, there would be few places left in Brislington where community activities could take place.

It is felt something needs to be done soon as it’s not yet known how the local young people feel about the YMCA pulling out, but it was a general opinion the young people will feel let down as they were convinced there were going to be changes that would be of benefit them. The Respect group would like further information and decided to discuss the future at a later date when more information is available.

It was proposed the YMCA will no longer be responsible for the Street Based Workers and a possible alternative would be Young Bristol. Trevor Jones from Young Bristol has been approached and would be happy to take over the responsibility for the Street Based Workers on the current terms and conditions. These would obviously be subject to review at a later date. It was agreed to contact Trevor Jones to see if he could attend the next meeting of the Brislington Community Partnership to discuss a possible arrangement. Alternatively, if this was too short notice an alternative date could be arranged for a discussion with the group. It was hoped this could proceed quickly to avoid a possible topee situation.
Action: David Pendle to contact Trevor Jones to meet re taking over supervision of Street Workers; possible date of meeting Friday 3rd.

It has now been around 6 months since Respect had a street-based team. Contact with local young people needs to be re-established, especially in Arnos Vale Park where large groups of 40 to 50 young people hang out on a Friday evening.

The street workers brief is to approach groups of young people to find out what they would like to see in the area as some of the young people felt they could not come to the youth club at Wicklea. Some of the groups tend to be territorial and do not feel comfortable about going to the same places as other groups.

Four interviews have now been held to recruit 3 workers. There have now been two male and two female interviewees and they have been advised they will be contacted as soon as a decision has been made. David P, Dave W and Tracey to liaise over this.
Action: David Pendle, Tracey and Dave to meet to discuss interviews and to appoint street workers.

Three of the four possible Street Workers have been police checked and there was a discussion about the validity of a CRB from an employer. It was decided the CRB check is the certificate belonging to an individual and as long as it is not more than 6 months old, it can be accepted. If it’s decided the to employ the person without a current CRB, they will then have to apply for one.

When the new Street Workers are appointed, the induction should include a meeting with the youth workers currently working at Wicklea which was not done with the last workers. Regular meetings should be organised for the future. The message system set up with the last workers was a good idea and this should be continued. A shared folder would be a good idea, planning will be down to the club-based and the street workers to organise.

Lisa Bailey will be pleased to go around with the new Street Workers on their first evening to show them the routes and areas etc.

It would be a good idea for Street Workers to carry ‘Business’ cards advertising Respect, themselves and the BCP website.

Football Project

Currently Wicklea Youth Club employs 2 football coaches from Young Bristol to provide training in the outside court. They have been well received and there are between 15 and 30 boys regularly coming each week. There is currently no more money to continue funding this activity and it was proposed Respect could take over the project, perhaps on a different night. The current cost is £20.00 an hour (£30 total per night, £120 per month) and they invoice Youth Services (Sally) for payment. The grant initially came from BYCA and this has now run out and as it is so well received it is a shame if it is to end.

It was agreed that Respect will continue to fund this project and to apply for future funding from another funder. It would also be a valuable project for the Street Workers to refer young people to. Agreed to continue with it on the same night. Future invoices to be sent to Theresa for payment.
Action: Heather to pass the relevant paperwork to the Steve re funding application. Heather to give support as needed

Heather has a contact with Trinity Centre Management Committee who has set up a Youth Forum and they will be pleased to meet with the group and tell them how they went about it and how successful it has been. They do a lot of things, a music suite, gigs etc and a range of things for young people.
Action: Heather to set up meeting with member of Trinity Centre Management Committee.

Tracey tried to get a youth forum going before, she found it hard work and the young people weren't really interested and found it a boring project. There is a lot of pressure at school around course work and they find the extra pressures of a Youth Forum are too much to take on with their schoolwork.

It may be a better way to get feedback electronically from the young people than by expecting them to attend meetings. Brislington Community Partnership website could be used for this. Street Workers and Wicklea youth club could promote the website.

Initially a couple of questions to go on the web site and also introduce the new Street Workers at the same time.

Responses to website could be referred directly to the person responsible for the forum.

Possible questions for the website forum to be brought to next meeting. Keep it simple with possible yes / no reply needed.
Action: Steve to discuss this with the person managing the BCP website.

It was felt as Wicklea isn't very stable at the moment, the young people may not be very keen to have any input. The centre needs some commitment to take Wicklea forward.
Action: Zoe to ask young people what type of thing they want.

James offered to possibly give an evening a week voluntarily to provide what assistance he could.
Action: Heather to give Zoe and James each others' contact details for them to arrange volunteering at the youth club.

There are two dispersal orders in the area. One in St Annes, from the top of the woods, Lichfield Road, Guildford Road, Ripon Road and Norwich Drive. The second looks like the whole of Broomhill, Eastwood Crescent, Jersey Road, Guernsey Road, Alison Road. It appears the youth shelter isn't included in it. The orders are for three months.

It was requested a copy was given to the new street workers.

People felt the dispersal order may not be the answer, as it just moves the problems from one place to another.

Arnos Park have started to look at youth shelters, goal posts prior to applying for funding. It was suggested they approach John Knowlson, who may be able to help. In the long term they would like a five a side area and somewhere for the toddlers, but they would need to provide provision for young people first.

Funding application has gone in for an arts event in the park, which they hope will run over two days. Aimed at young people and local community. Target date July 2007. Hopefully it will be held under temporary cover

Respect Project