rcvys annual report 2014
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Support, Train, RepresentSupport, Train, RepresentSupport, Train, Represent
Annual Report
2013 - 2014
RCVYS Chairman’s Comments
2013 to 2014 has been one of the most challenging for children’s services on a national
basis, with no central government strategy on youth work and the huge cuts being
passed down to local authorities has forced local decision makers to have to make
some very difficult choices; With over a million young people unemployed we seem to
be at a real transition in our support to children and young people. With the statutory
services having to commit more and more of their resources to the most at risk families
and government targets, it is leaving a huge hole in the delivery of preventative services
for children and young people. Increasing numbers of young people are becoming
obese, self-harming and taking huge risks with their sexual behaviour, with little or no
investment providing a safety net. I always believe that voluntary and community
services are like the fence at the top of the cliff, although what we seem to be
resourcing is just the ambulance at the bottom collecting those that have fallen.
As you can see from the membership of RCVYS, we have a wide range of services that
are community-based and committed to the people of Reading. We need to continue
to support these groups to enable them to grow and develop, to provide them with
funding to support their core work, and provide an infrastructure that empowers
services to all children and young people.
I do hope you read the Annual Report and take note of the great work we have been
involved in, and the commitment from our volunteers who add so much value to the
work of RCVYS. I would also like to extend my thanks to Ben, our Development Worker,
who is only part time and does the work of many, and Ali, our Admin Support Worker,
who continues to support the Executive and manage the paperwork of RCVYS. We also
need to recognise the commitment that Reading Borough Council make in ensuring the
grant to fund our work continues, without which, there would be no RCVYS. Finally, to
all the members of the RCVYS Executive and our Representatives who attend meetings
and support projects in their own time and using their own resources - we thank you
and appreciate the efforts you all make in ensuring the children and young people of
Reading get the best possible service we can provide.
David Seward - RCVYS Chairman
• At our RCVYS Members Meeting in January 2014, 20 people joined
together to explore different sources of support to promote and
encourage positive emotional wellbeing and mental health for
children, young people and families in Reading. The meeting heard
from Reading Youth Cabinet around their concerns, and then
helped to identify gaps and solutions in the mental health support.
These were then reported back to Service Managers, and into the
CAMHS Review.
Such was the demand at this meeting, RCVYS has since managed to
arranged to host a full version of the well regarded Youth Mental
Health First Aid Training for Voluntary Sector organisations in
Reading.
• This year, the RCVYS Mailing
List has disseminated over 131
pieces of news and information
to its members and the wider
VCF Sector this year.
• Between 1st April 2013 and 31st
March 2014, the RCVYS
Website has received 680
Unique Visits, with 464 First
Time Visits and 216 Returning
Visits.
Sharing information and support from the RCVYS
Development Worker
• RCVYS has started a mini-network of Parent and Toddler Groups
in Reading. Initial research undertaken by the Family Information
Service indicated that there are at least 60 different Voluntary
Sector Parent and Toddler
groups in Reading. RCVYS
has hosted 3 termly lunches
over the last year, and has
so far connected with over
20 groups. So far the groups
have shared experiences of
working with Children’s
Centres, health services for
young families, and even
had a workshop on using
music and rhyme!
• Working with Reading Voluntary Action, RCVYS helped to bring
together 13 Voluntary Sector organisations to be listed as
significant partners in Reading’s Big Lottery Fulfilling Lives bid.
This bid got through to the second round, but was ultimately
unsuccessful.
“The benefit of having RCVYS and its Development Worker
is that I know that I am unlikely to miss anything that’s
relevant to our work with children and young people in the
Reading area.
The information that is collated, shared, and sometimes
created is really helpful, not to mention a real timesaver.
I know that if I need support or information about a
particular topic, or need a contact, RCVYS will be able to
point me in the right direction, or will know someone who
can.” Kevin Woods - ARCADE - Drug Education for Life
Parent and Toddler Group Leaders
at our first Get Together
• In 2013/14, RCVYS enabled a further 12 people from 10 different
organisations to be trained to deliver the West of Berkshire LSCBs
Universal Safeguarding Children Training. This further increases
the Voluntary Sector’s ability to train staff and volunteers to keep
children safe in Reading.
• In 2013/14, RCVYS delivered 2 more Designated Persons
Safeguarding Training courses. 17 people from 13 different
organisations now have the skills to effectively manage
safeguarding disclosures and allegations within their organisation.
• In 2013/14, RCVYS worked in partnership with Reading Voluntary
Action and Barnabas Fellowship of Churches to deliver 8 interactive
workshops to support Voluntary Sector Groups in Reading to
implement the new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) process
into their organisations. 127 different individuals attended these
workshops and now feel confident in their new responsibilities.
“The discussions were very good, with excellent
delivery - very approachable and clear. It will improve
practice at our organisation.”
Course attendee on Designated Persons Safeguarding Training
Training Opportunities
Learners at an Informal Youthwork Training Workshop
“RCVYS have provided me with valuable and insightful
training programs on topics such as mental health,
disability awareness and preventing sexual
exploitation.
These courses empower the participants to have a
better understanding of the issues, and support young
people’s needs in this modern world. The courses have
been of an exceptionally high standard.”
Sara Kopp - Let’s Grow (part of The Mustard Tree Foundation)
• In 2013/14, RCVYS was successful in a funding bid to deliver a
further round of youthwork-related training courses for the
Voluntary Sector in Reading. Through this funding:
• 34 people from 15 different organisations have passed their
Emergency Paediatric First Aid qualification and have the
capacity to deal with first aid incidents in their organisation.
• So far, 7 organisations have applied to the RCVYS Training
Bursary for 31 people to attend training courses to meet
specific needs in their organisation. 8 of these people are
studying for accredited qualifications.
• RCVYS has held 2 Informal Youthwork Training Workshops:
• 26 people attended a workshop on Working with
young people engaging in sexually risky behaviour.
Before the workshop, 50% did not feel confident to
deal with this subject with their young people. After
the workshop, 100% of attendees felt confident to do
so.
• 21 people attended a workshop on Working with
young people with emotional and behaviour
difficulties. Before the workshop, 47% did not feel
confident to deal with this subject with their young
people. After the workshop, 100% of attendees felt
confident to do so.
• During 2013/14, RCVYS has enabled Reading’s Voluntary Sector to
have their say in the following official consultations:
• Reading Parenting Review for Reading Borough Council
• Early Help Strategy for Reading Borough Council
• Family Hubs Consultation for Reading Borough Council
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy
for Reading Borough Council
• Berkshire-wide Sexual Health Services for Public Health
• Berkshire Child and
Adolescent Mental
Health Services
(CAMHS) Review for
the Clinical
Commissioning
Groups
• Two Management
Restructures for
Reading Borough
Council
• RCVYS Representatives have served on 12 committees, groups,
meetings and forums, and ensured that the views and voice of the
Voluntary Sector were heard at the very highest levels in Reading
and across Berkshire.
• The RCVYS Development Worker was selected to be the Local
Strategic Partnership (LSP) Board Champion for Breaking the Cycle
of Poverty and to lead on that work for the LSP.
Representing collective views
• RCVYS worked in partnership with Healthwatch Reading, and
Reading Family Forum to enable Voluntary Sector Groups, Schools
and Parents the opportunity to share their views on CAMHS
Services in Reading. These views were both fed back directly to
CAMHS, and into the Berkshire-wide Review.
• As part of a Department of Health (DH) visit to South Reading,
RCVYS and Reading Voluntary Action were invited to give a
presentation to some of the Executive Board for the DH, including
the Permanent Secretary of the DH, and the government’s Chief
Medical Officer, on how Reading’s Voluntary Sector supports
Health outcomes in Reading.
“There is a good level of communication between the
local authority and RCVYS, who have pushed for an
open dialogue. Being part of RCVYS enables us to
ensure that our voices are heard, and that we are
represented.”
Ruth Pearse - Parenting Special Children
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Consultation Voluntary Sector
Focus Group
RCVYS would like to thank the staff, Officers
and Councillors at Reading Borough Council for
their continuing financial support.
RCVYS 34 Parkside Road, Reading, Berkshire. RG30 2DD
Tel: 07872 958501
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @RCVYS
www.rcvys.org.uk
RCVYS would also like to acknowledge its appreciation
and thanks to the following people for their service to
the Voluntary, Community and Faith sector this last year,
as members of staff, and volunteering as RCVYS Exec
Members and RCVYS Representatives.
Bernadette Adams
Vince Barton
Alyson Brickley
Ben Cross
Jackie Curtis
Ali Dent
Mike Edwards
Rachel Green
Lyn Griffiths
Mary Jacobs
Jill Lake
Cathy Lamsdale
Leslie Macdonald
Karen Ross
David Seward
Alison Steedman
Helen Taylor
Natausha Van Vliet