Projects > PALZ - Play and Learn Zone

BYDP manage and deliver the Junior youth inclusion programme (JYIP) or locally named Play And Learn Zone (PALZ) programme funded by Bradford council, across Manningham, Girlington, Heaton and Haworth road areas, working with referred young people ages 8-13 years, at risk from social exclusion and offending.
 

Junior YIPs are preventative projects, whose purpose is to reduce social exclusion. The project work with a group of up to 20 8 – 13 year olds assessed as being at high risk of offending in a neighbourhood which has been identified as a ”crime hot spot” and having a high degree of social deprivation.

The project aim is to engage the young people in a range of positive and socially inclusive activities. Academic research has underlined the importance of working with children in this age group as they transfer from primary to secondary school – a time when both attendance and attainment at school have been shown to suffer.

The PALZ project aims to:

• Demonstrate a reduction in risk factors that indicate the likelihood of a young person offending and an increase in protective factors that deter them from offending, including working with parents to improve parental guidance.

• Reduce anti-social behaviour and nuisance in a neighbourhood.

• Reduce non-school attendance among the identified group of young people; and

• Reduce youth offending rates among the identified group of young people.

Referrals are taken from education, social services, parents or workers in the community who may already be working with the individuals concerned. The project offers a number of support services:

• Engagement in positive after school youth provisions

• Holiday provision and activities

• Engage them back into mainstream activities

• One to one work and action plans

• Family support work

• Home visits

Preventative work focuses on core issues such as attitude and attendance at school, emotional and behavioural issues, family structures, involvement in anti social behaviour and friendship.

The overlying emphasis is to develop respect amongst the groups and empower them to take action for their own development and to improve their behaviour. This is done through a number of inclusive initiatives that include both educational sessions and play activities. The project works with a number of partnerships that include statutory and voluntary organisations.

If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Zirak on 01274 201240.

Click here to download our referral form.