PCC children and young people's services

 12th August 2024

                                                                                            

 

 

PCC FUNDED SCHEMES TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE BENEFIT THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE

 

 

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott says three schemes aimed at keeping young people safe have triumphed across the county, helping thousands of children and teenagers in the last year.

 

The PCC funded the Collaborate Digital schools programme, which teaches people about healthy relationships and how to keep themselves safe online, as well as two projects to teach youngsters about the dangers and realities of county lines, gangs and knives.

 

Collaborate Digital has visited 41 schools and engaged with nearly 5500 children, aged between 9 and 14 years old.*

 

Pupils take part in assemblies and some are encouraged to make podcasts, to encourage other young people to protect themselves. These podcasts are then shared with their peers, to spread the safety message further. Issues discussed include secure passwords, appropriate behaviour and bullying.

 

Children who’ve taken part, have loved the scheme:

 

“The podcast making was very enjoyable and now I have a greater understanding of social media.”

Y8, Gravesend Grammar School

“I will now pick three random words for my password.” Y7, Barton Manor School, Canterbury

 

 

And teachers concur. Katrina Nolan from Shorne Primary School in Gravesend said,

“The children have been so engaged – it has been absolutely brilliant, they are absolutely raving about it. I think it really brought home to them some of the realities of their online safety, and I think they understand that really well.”

 

Mark Matthews, who runs the project says,

“Kent’s young people have been so creative!  The podcasts they’ve made have been brilliant and are such a great way to get a preventative public health message out about the risks they face in their online life.”

 

As well as the online safety projects, the PCC funds a bespoke scheme to support vulnerable children and young people who’re at risk of criminal exploitation and county lines.  The charity Catch22 develops programmes tailored to the individual’s needs, as well as working with relatives, to help the young people cope and even recover, as far as possible, from the impact of exploitation. 

 

Over the course of last year, they helped 169 children and young people in Kent and Medway, 60% of whom had complex needs. Already 18 are back in education and 24 have left the service quoting positive outcomes.** 100% of those supported said they felt more confident in their ability to make positive changes in their life as a result of the guidance they received.

 

Klare Meyer for Catch 22 says,  “We are delighted with the outcomes that we have seen over the last year. The parameters of child criminal exploitation are forever changing and as such we are always learning to ensure that we keep up with this fast-paced environment. The situations our young people face is complex and, factoring in the impact of Covid over the past 4 years, and more recently the cost-of-living crisis, it has been a particularly tough time for children and young people, so we are extremely proud of the work that is being done to support this younger generation.  The team are all dedicated to their work and the lives of the young people we support which is reflected in the results we have seen.”

 

 

The PCC also funds a series of diversionary and preventative school sessions, delivered by St. Giles Trust, which focus on county lines and knife crime. St Giles Trust uses practitioners with real-life experience of the practitioners, more than 5200 children from primary age to those in secondary school and pupil referral units benefited from these workshops and presentations.***

 

Matthew Scott says,

“I’m so proud we can fund and support these organisations, who contribute such valuable messaging in our schools and to our youngsters.

 

Catch 22 works with some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the county and their support is making a huge difference, not just to the young people themselves but to their families and communities as well.

 

The St. Giles Trust’s school sessions also deal with the devastating impact county lines, gangs and knife crime can have on young lives. Their ‘lived experience’ workshops leave no-one in any doubt of the reality.

 

Collaborate Digital has been a resounding success and I have seen for myself how much the children engage and enjoy the sessions and putting together their own ‘positive message’ podcasts.

 

Protecting children and young people is one of the most important commitments in my Police and Crime Plan and I’m delighted to see the positive results our services are providing.”

 

*Collaborate Digital’s Annual Report for Kent PCC.

** Catch22’s Annual Report for Kent PCC.

*** St. Giles Trust Annual Report for Kent PCC.

 

Watch Collaborate Digital’s End of Year video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_2aGNxDrX4

 

 

ENDS