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 Kent Safe Schools seeks to listen to, consult,
engage and support children and young people to encourage and
empower them to actively participate and positively contribute
to their schools and communities.
This countywide organisation was initiated in 1994 and currently
operates as part of the
KCC
Attendance and Behaviour Service. The total annual income of
the service is approximately £1.7 million. Of this, just under 15
per cent is received from KCC Community Safety Partnership, the
remainder is provided by key partners in the commissioning of
services.
Specifically, Kent Safe Schools delivers services in a flexible
framework of activity that is regularly adapted to suit identified
need. The framework includes youth action groups, primary
intervention groups, peer mentoring, anti-bullying activities,
transitional activities, diversionary activities, positive
activities, work based learning and partnership working.
It is forecast that through delivery of these services, Kent
Safe Schools Project Officers will provide support to in excess of
6500 children and young people in over 200 schools and
community/youth groups.
A whopping 88.7 per cent of schools agree that Kent Safe Schools
has a significant benefit to self-esteem and over 70 percent
reported an improvement in health and emotional wellbeing. A recent
London Education Research Network (LERN) evaluation shows a 79 per
cent return stating improved relationship between the school and
the young person. Young people involved in Kent Safe Schools
projects have won over 20 Triangle Awards for their contribution to
the local community.
The project has targeted areas with high levels of 'Not in
Education, Employment or Training' young people ensuring that they
are directly delivering projects in these hotspot localities. At
present there are established, successful projects in Thanet,
Maidstone and Dover.
Overall attendance on community programmes for young people not
in education, employment or training and
Youth Offending Service referrals in these areas is 78.5 per
cent with a positive progression into college or work rate of 77.78
per cent.
Kent Safe Schools was nationally recognised in 2000 when it won
the prestigious British National Crime and Community Safety Awards
and this was followed in 2001 by being cited by a Social Services
Inspection and National Audit Commission report as an example of
good project practice.
Two peer mentors (trained by Kent Safe Schools) at Swanley
Technology College received the Diana Princess of Wales Award. This
award recognises outstanding contributions by young people in
tackling bullying, and supporting young people in the
community. |