Innovative scheme to be offered to vulnerable young people in Tameside to improve outcomes

An innovative scheme that helps prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into risky behaviours that could impact negatively on both them and their communities is coming to Tameside.

The Violence Reduction Unit will collaborate with Tameside Council and the national charity SHiFT – becoming the first area outside of London to engage with the initiative.

SHiFT aims to break the destructive cycle of young people caught up in a situation that they are struggling to control or remove themselves from. Each participant will have one intensive, high-quality, and persistent practitioner to establish a trusting professional relationship with, giving them the support they need to improve their lives.

The London borough of Greenwich has reported a marked improvement in the quality of practice and an improvement in outcomes for the young people worked with, and that practitioners are able to work more intensively and creatively with children with more complex support needs.

Tameside SHiFT will draw on its experience to develop a practice of multi-skilled professionals that will be carefully tailored to the meet the local needs of Tameside’s young people. The practice will support 27 children in the borough identified by a wide range of professionals as the most vulnerable.

The programme intends to make Tameside a beacon of excellence in Greater Manchester, with the aspiration to scale the practice further across the area, creating more opportunities for collaboration.

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Bev Hughes, said: “This initiative will build on the work our Violence Reduction Unit is already doing across the city region to engage with young people and provide interventions and opportunities.

“Ensuring young people have positive relationships with practitioners and services, and access to opportunities is vitally important to reducing serious violence.

“SHiFT has proven to be effective in improving outcomes for young people in other areas of the country, so I look forward to seeing its success in Tameside.”

Tameside Council’s Deputy Executive Leader Councillor Bill Fairfoull, who has responsibility for Children and Families, said: “By agreeing to this collaboration, Tameside will become the first area outside of London to work with SHiFT and will lead the way in creating innovative solutions to end cycles of harm.

“The tailored programme will provide outstanding support for the most vulnerable children in Tameside to transform their lives, achieve their aspirations and establish the safe and bright futures they deserve, which will benefit society as a whole.”

The initial 18-month programme will be funded by the Violence Reduction Unit, the charities the Bruno Schroder Trust and the Dulverton Trust, and from un-invested SHiFT reserves. The impact of the service will be independently evaluated.

Article Published: 24/10/2022 15:39 PM