Mission &
Purpose
'Kent Safe Schools seeks to listen, consult, engage and
support children and young people to encourage and empower them to
actively participate and positively contribute to their schools and
communities.'
Kent Safe Schools is a countywide initiative that works to
ensure both the physical and emotional well being of children and
young people through the development and delivery of services both
within school and the wider community. These services focus on
school and community issues, emotional literacy, social and
emotional development, self-esteem and restorative approaches.
Listening to and consulting with the children and young people
who will access them is vital to the development of the services
that are provided. Kent Safe Schools was one of the first
organisations within KCC to use youth panels for every post that
would involve working directly with children and young people.
Following the success of these panels our staff have organised and
facilitated youth panels for other organisations within KCC.
Kent Safe Schools employs over 80 members of staff the majority
of whom are working directly with children and young people
delivering services in schools, community projects and alternative
curriculum settings.
Where age appropriate and possible activities are peer led
encouraging children and young people to make a positive
contribution and effect change in their communities. Varying
services are delivered throughout the County, dependent on need,
commissioning and identified funding.
How we help
Research and evidence from Crime Concern, KCF, YOS and Community
Safety Partnerships shows the delivery of Kent Safe Schools
programmes assists in meeting the physical, social and emotional
needs of young people by reinforcing and enhancing protective
factors. We are able to meet the needs of these young people
through peer led processes in order to decrease bullying, combat
anti-social behaviour, strengthen emotional resilience, remove
barriers to education (e.g. attendance) and deter from youth
crime.
Awards
During its 15-year history, Kent Safe Schools has remained at
the "cutting edge" of developing young people's approaches to
reducing crime, tackling social issues and empowering young people.
It was nationally recognised in 2000 by winning the prestigious
British National Crime and Community Safety Awards and this was
followed in 2001 by being cited by Social Services Inspection and
National Audit Commission report on Kent Social Services as an
example of good project practice. |