Mentoring and one to one
Mentoring and one to one Children and young people aged up to 25 are provided with a programme of tailored mentoring and one to one work, with each young person accessing between 1 and 8 hours of support each week depending on need. Work with each young person is specifically designed to build on their strengths, interests and passions and to overcome marginalisation and barriers to opportunities. We achieve this by working with young people to create new opportunities that are specifically designed to be inclusive and accessible.We adapt to young people’s needs rather than expecting them to adapt to traditional and mainstream approaches. By this we means we provide support at times that fit with young people’s needs rather than a 9-5 approach.We make no assumptions about their starting point – for example we don’t assume that they can read, we don’t assume they have internet access at home, we don’t assume that they know how to navigate the city and we don’t assume that they have the skills or confidence to always articulate their needs.
Our workers understand the culture and community that young people are from – we don’t judge and we really listen, hear and respond to what they are telling us.We provide workers with the necessary structures, support and resources to be flexible, responsive and meet need. A young person wants to explore their gender identity through music? We find a vocal coach who specialises in voice and identity. A young person has a flair for film? We find them work experience with a BBC documentary maker. A young person has mental health issues and a mistrust of support services? We sit with them and meet with different therapists until the young person finds a qualified, experienced and skilled professional who they feel understands their needs and culture. We then fund the work with the therapist. A young person is struggling with their benefit claim? A worker goes with them to the benefit office for every appointment to ensure they receive their full entitlement – we work with them to complete paperwork, make phone calls and use real life experiences such as these to build confidence and life skills – even role playing phone calls to make sure the young person is comfortable and confident with what they want and need to say.
The individualised nature of CYF’s mentoring and one to one work means that it is incredible varied and difficult to capture in its entirety.The above are just some examples of the work delivered.
Community leaders
We know from experience that young people from our community can play a critical role in driving forward social change. Community leaders builds on our mentoring, one to one, group and project work. The aim is to use the individualised approach applied to our other areas of work to build young people’s leadership skills and create a new generation of leaders with lived experience, insights and energy. We want to build a more diverse group of leaders across society.
Community Leaders provides young individuals with the tools and support needed to manage, fund, and deliver projects that directly address issues impacting their community. By tailoring the approach to the individualised needs of participants, the program ensures that each aspiring leader receives guidance specific to their goals and challenges. Enabling young people to run their own projects fosters a sense of ownership, responsibility, and agency, instilling confidence and leadership skills. As with all our work, Community Leaders uses an asset-based approach to youth work, focusing on the strengths, skills, and potential within each young person. By recognising and building upon these assets, the program promotes a positive and empowering environment. This approach values the inherent strengths within the community and emphasises collaboration, fostering a sense of pride and resilience among the participants. These projects often address issues that are personally relevant to the participants, creating a more meaningful and authentic impact on their communities.
Project and small group work
A dynamic and impactful program that harnesses the power of high-end, arts-based group projects to empower young people. Annually, CYF delivers a series of these projects, providing a platform for young individuals to collaborate, learn, and express themselves while addressing social issues that are significant to them.
The essence of this initiative lies in the development of technical, creative, social, and life skills among young participants. By engaging in arts-based projects, these young individuals not only enhance their artistic abilities but also develop a broader skill set that extends to communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
The projects are designed to encourage participants to use the arts as a medium to explore and address social issues that impact their lives. This approach not only fosters creativity but also empowers young people to become agents of social change. Through artistic expression, they have a unique opportunity to amplify their voices, bringing attention to issues that matter to them and their communities.
The resulting pieces of work are not only high-impact but also reflect the authentic voices and perspectives of the young participants. This emphasis on collaboration ensures that the projects have a meaningful and lasting impact, with young people feeling a strong sense of ownership and being heard.
Examples of CYF’s project work can be seen on our project page, including our hit underground film The Chase, a feature length film scripted, acted and shot by young people, shot on location across the city and depicting real life experiences of young people growing up in inner-city Nottingham. The Chase has over 6 million views on YouTube.
School Activity Group: Nottingham CYF’s School Activity Group collaborates with local schools to identify children and young people who would most benefit from a diverse range of engaging and enriching experiences aimed at fostering positive development and enhancing school engagement.
The School Activity Group offers an extensive program encompassing weekly, bi-weekly, and school holiday activities. These activities are carefully curated to provide a wide variety of experiences, ensuring that each participant can find something that resonates with their interests and passions. The range of activities is impressive and includes ice skating, camping, beach trips, Forest Schools, bowling, swimming, visits to landmarks like Anfield Football Stadium, Escape Rooms, rock climbing, team-building games, cycling in Derbyshire, tobogganing, cooking, cinema trips, trampolining, music sessions, and drama school, among many others.
This comprehensive approach to positive activities serves multiple purposes in supporting young people’s positive development and school engagement including:
Diverse Skill Development: Participating in a wide array of activities allows young individuals to develop various skills, both tangible and intangible. From physical activities like rock climbing to creative pursuits like drama and music sessions, participants gain a well-rounded skill set that contributes to their personal growth.
Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: Successfully navigating and participating in diverse activities boosts confidence and self-esteem among young individuals. Experiencing success in different areas fosters a positive self-image and a belief in their abilities.
Social Engagement and Team Building: Group activities such as team-building games and camping trips promote social interaction and the development of interpersonal skills. Participants learn to collaborate, communicate effectively, and build positive relationships with their peers.
Increased School Engagement: By creating a positive and engaging environment outside of the classroom, Nottingham CYF’s School Activity Group indirectly contributes to increased school engagement. Young people are more likely to be motivated and focused on their education when they have positive experiences and a sense of belonging outside of academic settings.
Broadened Horizons: Exposure to a variety of activities introduces young individuals to new experiences and perspectives, broadening their horizons. This can positively influence their outlook on life, instilling a sense of curiosity and open-mindedness.
Sense of Belonging: Participating in a group that shares common interests and engages in various activities fosters a sense of belonging among young people. Feeling connected to a community contributes to emotional well-being and resilience.
Crisis Response
Whilst a key aim of CYF’s work is to avert crisis, some young people are already at crisis point when they first engage with us or reach crisis point during their time with us. For these young people we provide a responsive, intensive intervention. Examples include homelessness, mental health crisis, involvement in the criminal justice system, immigration issues, school exclusion and food poverty.
Family Support
CYF takes a wholistic approach to Family Support, working closely with families to assess their needs and then developing interventions specifically tailored to meet those needs. While the specifics of our work with each family vary, our package of support typically includes a combination of the following services:
Health and Wellness: Promoting physical and mental well-being is an integral element of our work. This may involve facilitating access to healthcare services, providing nutrition education, organising wellness activities, and offering support for managing existing conditions.
Financial Management: We assist families in budgeting, addressing debts, and accessing their full benefit entitlements to achieve financial stability.
Therapeutic Intervention: Provision of free, high-quality, long-term therapeutic intervention, including talking and creative therapy, delivered by highly experienced and fully qualified therapists.
Education and Skill-Building: Empowering families with knowledge and skills for long-term stability and resilience. We offer educational workshops, training programs, and vocational support to help family members develop job skills, improve literacy, and pursue educational opportunities.
Service Access: We collaborate with families and partners to overcome barriers to support, including accessing mental health services, homeless services, and substance dependency support. Our advocacy efforts ensure families’ rights and interests are represented within various systems.
Social Isolation: We facilitate opportunities for families to connect with peers, participate in community events, and access social networks for mutual support. Supporting access to opportunities such as school holiday activities, family activities, sports, and local leisure facilities combat social isolation.
Crisis Intervention: Supporting families in times of crisis from bereavement to homelessness to food poverty.
Parenting Support: For families with complex needs, we offer specialist and individualised parenting support to equip parents with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective parenting. Each family receives between 1 to 6 hours of support per week, depending on their level of need. For instance, a family in crisis may initially access 6 hours of support, which may reduce to 2 hours once the crisis is managed. Our support is long-term, with families accessing our services for a minimum of 1 year. At Nottingham CYF, we are committed to walking alongside families on their journey towards stability, resilience, and empowerment.