Coming to a street near you
Based in the “Hut” (just off Ladbroke Grove), YAA works across North Kensington, delivering street-based, targeted group work and projects for young people. We believe in empowering young people to challenge the social economic and political marginalisation that they may face.
Our aim is to combat social exclusion by developing the knowledge, self-esteem, and confidence of young people and their communities in order for them to move from dependence to interdependence. We do this by building trusting and empathetic relationships with young people, utilising an appreciative inquiry approach that builds on young people’s strengths, rather than categorising them according to their deficits.
Over the past year, our activities have included outreach and detached street work sessions on estates, and in youth hotspots around North Kensington and targeted project work including a Grenfell Girl’s group that meets weekly at the Curve, Travellers girls and boys group work at KAA, twice-weekly football coaching at the Westway and the provision of a safe space drop-in. We work in partnership with other local providers to provide a young mum’s group, drug cessation project, and a disability project.
Vision
Youth Action Alliance supports the personal and social development (their values, beliefs, ideas and skills) of the young people living in North Kensington, enabling them to increase their resilience and skills in the present, and promote their ambitions for the future.
LEARN ABOUT OUR OBJECTIVES or send us a noteOver the past six months
we have worked with
7
Young people attended a 12 day International residential in Slovenia
79
People including 15 young families have accessed our Family & Health Programmes
19
Partner organisations
1800
Members of the community participated in our annual festival
38
Young Travellers took part in the Stable Way Summer Holiday Programme
218
Different young people have participated in our programmes
About Us
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Our Objectives
Our Objectives
1. Partnerships
To form partnerships with likeminded organisations in order to deliver the highest quality work to our chosen user group.
2. Community projects
To provide projects aimed at increasing young people’s involvement in their communities and encourage their self-awareness as citizens.
3. Challenging Activities
To provide a programme of challenging and educational activities during the school holidays in response to the young people’s needs.
4. Residentials
To provide residentials, which have clear educational, aims and which improve the skills and self-esteem of individuals and increase their abilities in groups through experiential learning.
5. Fitness
To provide projects aimed at improving young people’s fitness and health.
6. Economic support
To provide activities to improve young people’s economic chances in partnership with relevant organisations.
7. Diversionary activities
To work with other agencies to provide diversionary activities for young people at risk of offending.
8. Drop-In Facility
To provide a drop-in facility, which will allow young people to socialise and explore the issues of concern to them.
9. Happiness
To provide a service that holds a young person’s happiness as its core reason for its existence.
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Theory of Change
Conditions
Local context
Kensington & Chelsea is the smallest London borough, and one of the most densely populated areas in the country. It has areas of both great a ffluence and of poverty: income inequality is higher here than any other borough by a considerable margin. YAA is based in the Golborne ward, North Kensington which according to the most recent Index of Multiple Deprivation, ranks amongst the top 10% of deprived areas overall with above average poverty rates, knife crime, child poverty, and receipt of out-of-work benefi ts (London’s Poverty Profi le 2017). There has been an increase in serious youth violence over the past year, with knife crime up in K&C by 36%. The Home O ffice designated the Borough as an Emerging Gang Youth Violence Borough (EGYV) in 2015. K&C has the second highest percentage of Arabic speaking residents in the UK (at nearly 3%, Census 2011), 75% of secondary school students are BAME, and 51% have a first language other than English. The Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 has had a major impact on the North Kensington community - according to health service estimates more than 11,000 people are likely to be left su ffering mental health problems in the wake of the fire, and it could be years before the true mental health toll will be revealed.
Policy Context
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014–2020 (pdf). Be active and healthy, with positive physical and mental wellbeing. Achieve full potential in all areas of learning and development. Be safe and protected from harm. Have economic security and opportunity. Be connected, respected, and contributing to their world.
What needs to be in place for change to occur?
Co-ordinated partnerships across North Kensington, shared resources, shared expertise. Avoidance of duplication.
Youth Action Alliance supports the personal and social development (their values, beliefs, ideas and skills) of the young people living in North Kensington, enabling them to increase their resilience and skills in the present, and promote their ambitions for the future.
Rationale
Our programmes build on:
- Improving Health & Well-being – by connecting, being active, taking notice, learning & giving
- Coordinated local partnerships o ffering a broader range of services more effectively
- An asset-based approach which builds trusted, empathetic and positive relationships
- Co-produced with young people
- A Needs Led Service & Evidence Based Practice
- Provides access to safe spaces
Inputs
- Access to safe space
- Voluntary engagement and trusted, relationships
- Regular activities and opportunities for social action and volunteering
- Mentoring
- Information & Guidance
- Needs led support
- Co-designed and co- produced
- Skill development
- Bridge & support to other services
Activities
- Universal drop-in youth club
- Targeted work - girls, travellers, young people with experience of YJS, young parents
- Enterprise opportunities
- Events
- Sports
- Performing Arts
- Residentials
- Youth Voice
- Holiday Provision
- International
- Work in Schools
Outputs
Weekly (36 weeks p.a.)
- 18 hours Enterprise Programme
- 6 Hours Girls Work - Travellers & Curve Group
- 6 hours Football Coaching & Training
- 6 Hours Detached & Outreach
- 2 Hours Dance
- North Kensington Community & Youth Festival & associated workshops
- 12 Day International residential
- Travellers Summer Provision
- Brent PLayscheme
In Partnership
- GAP Night
- Bleinham Hot Cafe
- Exhale Family Fitness
- MOM young parents
Intermediate Outcomes
Knowledge & Skills
- Self-awareness & emotional intelligence
- Social & communication skills
- Empathy & understanding of other people
- Acquired knowledge, planning & problem solving
Attitudes & Capabilities
- Increased aspiration, confi dence & agency
- Increased independence, resilience & determination
- Informed attitude to risk
- More positive about people from di fferent backgrounds
Social Behaviours
- Engaged in more positive activities, more often.
- Increased willingness to take action to help others
- Improved decision making,voice & advocacy
- Democratic engagement
Community
- Needs identifi ed early & access to support services
- Increased social capital
- Increased sense of belonging & community cohesion
Outcomes
Future & Ambition
- Skilled & equipped to earn and learn
Safety & Security
- Safe and secure in the modern world including digital
Community & Environment
- Active in their communities and civil society
- Democratic engagement & their views respected
Health & Happy Lives
- Positive health and well-being
- Happy and confi dent in their future
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The Team
The Team
We have a team of nine part time experienced youth workers with a range of skills from market trading, sports, performing arts, to enterprise and street work, led by our senior manager Tania Moore.
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The Board
The Board
Youth Action Alliance is managed and supported by a board of seven Trustees (who live or work locally) with extensive youth and community work expertise.
