Compiled by Phoenix Detached Youth Project 2008

In 2008 Phoenix DYP were challenged by Richard Walton from the Northern Rock Foundation to develop and design an evaluation tool that could be used in a one to one setting to evaluate distanced travelled for individual clients. As a result of this the Northern Rock Foundation funded the Project Manager’s post for three years. The star of success has evolved from an evaluation tool that the organization St Mungo’s use to measure soft outcomes for homeless clients.

The Phoenix detached youth project’s measurement of success is the young persons own self discovery by allowing them to identify for themselves the particular goals and outcomes they want to achieve.

Youth workers work with young people to identify incremental stages towards achieving their identified goals/outcomes. The aim of the star is to build up a comprehensive tailor made programme that address the needs of the individual and to use the star as visual evidence of their journey, progress and achievements. .

The young people attend on a voluntary basis and go at their own pace exploring the things that they feel they need to explore.

Firstly young people get to know youth workers from Phoenix DYP by building a relationship with them through doing ‘living it large’, individual support, or projects.

Workers then discuss with young people the benefit of using the ‘Star of success’ as part of their one to one work to support them.

The young people are invited to look at the blank star and identify the aspects of their life they need support with. Workers explain how the process of self discovery and identifying what they want out of life will help them achieve this, and that the star will take its own shape through this process.

The star is used as a visual representation with the young person to encourage them to set realistic and achievable goals so they can see the distance travelled and to highlight the areas and tasks that they need to work on to achieve their desired outcomes.

The star is a process of self discovery for an individual young person that is based around them learning to reflect upon experiences, interactions, thoughts and feelings both positive and negative to gain a greater understanding of themselves and others around them.

When young people have achieved what they have aimed for in some areas they may wish to start a new star with some different aims or transferring those goals they still need to achieve.

It’s emotional and practical support around the issues that matter to individuals

Examples of things young people we have worked with have chosen to include on their star:

• Dealing with alcohol• Homelessness• Access to son• Leaving a violent relationship• Going on Raleigh international• Debt• Mental health• Travelling independently• Staying out of prison• Rebuilding relationships with family• Work towards employment• Develop music skills to gain work

Date Meeting people I want

Going to college

Going to mental health

group

Meeting worker on a one to one

Getting a job

Other information

Aug ’09

0/10 0/10 0/10 0/10 0/10 No confidence in any areas

Oct’ 09

0/10Not ready to think about this

0/10Not ready to think about this

1/10 Attended a meeting but had to be picked up and dropped off

3/10 Met for first time byself without family

0/10 Not ready to think about this

Positive that met worker

Jan ’10

0/10Not ready to think about this

2/10Got prospectus

5/10Attending some sessions with a lot of support

5/10More reliable

0/10Not ready to think about this

Attending mental health group will have benefits on other areas

Feb ’10

0/10Not ready to think about this

6/10Visited college and agreed 1 week trial

5/10Attending some sessions with a lot of support

6/10Meeting in new places

0/10Not ready to think about this

Getting more confident

June ‘10

3/10Met other group member outside of session for first time

3/10Missed trial and not sure anymore

7/10Feel more confident but still missing some sessions

8/10 Got metro byself for first time to meet worker

3/10Thinking about getting a job and wanting to do a C.V

Made real progress . Need to discuss college

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98

Blank star

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Oct ‘09

Jan ‘10

Aug ‘09

Jun’ 10

Feb ‘10

Mental H

ealth

group

Getting a jo

b

Meting who I want

Mee

ting

wor

ker

Going to college

Young person’s star

Young Person’s view of the star of success and its process

• Only works once your youth worker has got to know you as a person• Introduced to you at the ‘right time’•Your choice to use the ‘Star of success’ on a voluntary basis•Worker can explain how the star works for your benefit•You chose what you want to work on and where you are starting from•You can visually see what you need to work on as a young person• You have the full attention of the worker to chat to without using a computer• It really shows your journey, progress and steps backwards• Good for young people who don’t feel confident with reading and writing