Progress report on Youth Focus Group  

Background:

In response to COVID- 19 the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Core (Gold) Group identified several priorities. A key priority identified was,’ the protection and reassurance of vulnerable communities.’ Within this, ’vulnerable community,’ youths were identified as requiring a distinct focus, alongside domestic abuse, street homelessness and offending behaviour. The Group’s aim was to set and monitor progress against these priorities with oversight of the CSP Silver Operational Group. It was agreed that a co-ordinated response for the COVID Youth offer (that would link into the Silver group) would be of significant benefit. The Youth Focus group was set up as a forum to coordinate a response as outlined in the Silver Group.

Youth Focus Group:

The aim of the group is to implement and ensure, a co-ordinated approach to the community safety COVID related risk to youths. In addition, to prevent and /or minimise the impact of COVID-19 on offending behaviour and youth crime by reducing the risks and vulnerabilities of youths.

The group was established on April 9^th, 2020.

 

Partnership arrangements: The Youth Focus Group has representatives from several key partner agencies. This includes: BCT staff from the Vulnerable Adolescence Service      (Transitions and homelessness) ·       Youth Services ·       West Midlands Police ·       Education Safeguarding and Early Help ·       Youth Offending Services

Initially meetings took place weekly however, with the gradual easing of lockdown, meetings are now taking place fortnightly.

 Emerging themes during COVID-19:

 During the COVID-19 lockdown the group identified emerging themes requiring a response. It was clear and evident to the group that exploiters had adjusted to COVID -19 and identified different ways to exploit children. In addition to this there has been:

• An increase in online exploitation, for children home schooled or in isolation. The global pandemic will affect educational results impacting on long term career prospects for children.
• Challenges for children living at home at times causing conflict and family breakdown.
• A reduction of children reported missing; possible short-term missing episodes increasing.
• An increase in civil disorder, anti-social and offending behaviour.
• Increased risks due to non-compliance with social distancing.
• Absence of usual monitoring/reporting mechanisms. For example, schools /colleges usual places where contextual risks/missing episodes would be reported.
• Escalation of drug distribution (local drug dealing) drug turf wars, child trafficking and during this time; children continued to be located out of area in cuckooed addresses.
• Alternative forms of transport used to traffic children around as well as child exploitation becoming more visible on public transport.

As lockdown begins to ease, the group is aware of an increase in children going missing for longer periods, physical violence erupting within local communities and parks, illegal raves and large gatherings of young people leading to anti- social behaviour. The group is also aware of the impact of lockdown on children’s mental health.

Whilst the focus in this report is on children; the group is also aware that these issues are not just specific to children but also include adults.

Progress to date:

Systems and IT Platform: The need to understand the cohort of vulnerable children and having data in one place; led to the group securing an IT platform to collate information from partner agencies to be held in one place (ECINS system).

Education based approach: Partnership work in the identification of children not in education, employment or training (NEET) led to direct work being undertaken, led by Early Help Police and supported by educational career advisors. The group reports that initial work has started by identification of children and prioritising specific impact areas based on the large number of children deemed NEET within those areas as a start.

Safer Spaces (diversion and disruption): As an action of the group identifying parks and locations of concern; detached youth work and increased Police patrol were put in place to divert and disrupt.

The group is committed to working in a joined-up way with partners looking at diversionary tactics for children.

In terms of next steps going forward; the group will provide some assistance (where relevant and appropriate) with provision for children during the summer period.

The Youth Endowment Fund was coordinated within the group by West Midlands Police Partnership, who offered support and guidance with the applications whilst ensuring they incorporated links to Contextual Safeguarding and Early Help. Each of the applications submitted complemented one another. Applications focused on mentoring, centred around violence and weapon carrying in schools, detached youth work linked to sports and a virtual & digital approach delivered online and an outreach digital platform.

The Youth Focus group reports that they will organise a workshop with these organisations once the outcome of the applications is known; to ensure that there is joined up awareness around delivery. The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) will also be invited to avoid any duplication, given the overlaps. This will enable the group to align activity with the work of the VRU and make connections with the engagement work that the OPCC is progressing.

Going forward:

Continuous assessment, response and delivery to the issues that arise from the impact of COVID-19 on youths is essential to the group. It is the group’s view that continuation of this forum will be required post COVID; with a focus on reviewing and widening the membership. The group notes the importance of having additional partners on board to continue to support the work undertaken and address any other emerging themes.

Implementation of ECINS and testing the system by looking at transfer of data to ensure it works and that it is a geographically suits Birmingham, is also a requirement of the group.

The group will continue to meet fortnightly whilst ensuing minutes of the meeting with a clear action plan, continues to be in place.