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Case Study 20

Peninsula Programme

WP Practitioner: Carolyn Stoakes, Co-ordinator Strand 5a Community Outreach, Peninsula Programme

Case Study: Reaching young people and key influencers, e.g. parents, teachers, careers advisers, community workers, health professions, etc.

 

Issue

The background and context for the case-study: Work with young people needs to be supplemented by work with their parents, friends, neighbours and other key influencers if it is to be fully effective. Reaching young people from the target group and also engaging their key influencers eg parents, teachers, careers advisers, youth workers, etc has been the primary focus of this strand of activity in a co-ordinated Aimhigher programme in Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset. Whilst some young people will be reached through school based interventions, others may not. The role of key influencers is critical for some young people in their decision whether or not to consider HE. These key influencers may not be reached through other activity strands.

 

What did you do?

The Community Outreach strand was established as a key strand in the Peninsula Partnership to address the audiences mentioned above. The strand operates in five main geographical areas that have been identified for intensive Aimhigher interventions through indicators of disadvantage. In each area the strand is co-ordinated by a colleague working in a Further Education College.

Each area delivers a minimum of 5 activities per year engaging with one or more of the target audiences. Communication is facilitated between the geographical areas by contact between the co-ordinators as required (email and telephone), plus termly face to face meetings as well as attendance at other Aimhigher working groups and ASGs.

Common documentation is used for developing and evaluating activities so that consistency is established across all five areas despite their geographical dispersion and different needs. Each area can thus respond to local priorities while also remaining focused on the overall aims and objectives of the Aimhigher programme in the Peninsula. A newsletter ‘Take Five’ has been established to publicise the strand and its activities to a wider audience.

The range of activities undertaken by Strand 5a has been very varied. Examples include:

Whilst some activities have been targeted at young people, others have involved parents and youth and community workers. Many of the most successful activities involved a range of audiences including cross-generational family learning. Venues have been equally varied including youth and community centres, FE colleges and HEIs, shopping centres, health centres and outdoor locations.

Progression to HE has been highlighted in a number of ways eg by use of locally designed informational materials but the most significant has been the use of Student Ambassadors. Wherever possible Student Ambassadors from the communities in question have been used and this has been a particular success.

 

What were the strengths of this approach?

The strand has been able to engage with a variety of audiences in different ways which are appropriate to their particular circumstances. The common documentation and effective communication between strand co-ordinators have ensured that all activities undertaken were consistent with the aims of the strand but were also suited to the particular characteristics of each geographical area. A key feature of the strand has been working with existing groups eg community groups building on their experience of the target audience and their networking strengths. The Community Outreach strand has also drawn on the expertise of other strands in the Peninsula to develop successful activities and also to avoid duplication or over concentration on one particular group. In particular there has been close liaison with the Student Resource strand to ensure that Student Ambassadors were available to support the activities undertaken.

 

What were the drawbacks of this approach?

The main drawbacks relate to the time taken to ensure effective consultation with all partners, particularly on activities where there are a number of different agencies involved, who may have slightly different agendas which need to be synthesised to ensure they are consistent with overall WP objectives. The ground laying time has however been worthwhile and has enabled us to provide a focused but responsive programme for local communities.

Tips for success:

 

What lessons have you learned that will enable you to improve your practice?

 

Contact Details

Carolyn Stoakes, PCAD, Peninsula Programme

 

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