Research Centre for Learning and Teaching

Projects

Sub 21 Evaluation

Sub 21 started as a pilot project in 2008. It followed a concern in the Wallsend area around levels of alcohol consumption among young people identified by a range of services.

Sub 21 started as a pilot project in 2008. It followed a concern in the Wallsend area around levels of alcohol consumption among young people identified by a range of services. These services worked in partnership to develop the initiative using a social marketing model. A range of methods are used to engage young people aged 12 and over. Some young people who are picked up by the police on Friday and Saturday nights are subsequently channelled into youth provision. Nevertheless, access to the project is universal, and some young people self-refer or are encouraged to join in by outreach workers. Provision is aimed at reducing levels of curb side drinking and associated levels of antisocial behaviour. The project is up front about why young people are there, and they have to sign up and become a member. They are kept engaged through an intense communication network using their mobile phones, and they are encouraged to participate in a range of 20 different activities such as nail art, skateboarding, cookery, cyber café, graffiti art clubs, kettle bells, boxing and football. Provision is offered through a range of local partners and providers. Wallsend boys club is a key partner as are the police and youth service. There is open access to all young people living, or going to school in Wallsend who are aged 12 and over.

A previous evaluation of the pilot of this project pointed to some significant changes in attitudes and behaviour among young people in the area. Since the inception of the project, suggestions have been put forward to extend it to more targeted groups, for example, young people attending accident and emergency services, as a consequence of alcohol abuse. More targeted work is still being developed at this time and funding for this is being sought.

A range of professionals and young people nominated Sub 21 to win an award from Mentor UK, which they obtained in 2011 in recognition of the innovative and valuable work that had been undertaken.

We aimed to:

• Describe the processes involved in developing and delivering such an approach
• Identify facilitators and barriers to effective practice
• Explore the benefits and challenges of partnership working
• Outline the learning that can be shared with others looking to implement a similar scheme
• Establish the outcomes generated (such as changes in attitudes to alcohol use, and behaviour, gaining skills) for young people as a result of participation.

Description of activities

We collected data to inform the evaluation by means of:

• Interviews with stakeholder group (partners)
• Interviews and focus groups with a range of young people (some who have been part of the project since inception)
• Interviews with project staff
• Survey of young people
• Observations of young peoples’ participation in activities

The survey of young people was developed by working with year 8 and 9 pupils at a Wallsend school to design the questions and acted as an advisory group.

For further information contact:
Karen Laing, Principal Investigator.
Email:
k.j.c.laing@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: 0191 208 8735