Network Ryde @ 147

Our full timetable has been continuing to run with a full timetable of drop ins, Short Breaks sessions and

wellbeing sessions as well as the monthly “Meet the Experts” sessions. We are regularly having 20-25

young people in for the drop-in sessions with several new young people registering with us. We have

kept in the enhanced cleaning after and in between sessions as well as hand sanitizer throughout the

building. Due to a member of staff leaving at the start of January we have temporarily cancelled the

Home Ed sessions as this was the session with the lowest attendance and we have had to cancel one

drop in session due to a lack of staff. All the staff are working additional hours at the moment to cover

the gaps to ensure that we continue to offer as many sessions as we are able to.

In December we had 70 young people attend at least one session with Network Ryde and we offered 21

sessions.

In January we had 82 young people attend at least one session with Network Ryde and we offered 30

sessions.

Up until February 19^th we have had 81 young people attend at least one session with Network Ryde and

we offered 24 sessions.

We also have Space 4 U, Paragon and Idol Mind attend monthly drop in sessions.

We are continuing with the weekly Instagram quiz as this continues to have a good following and

sharing our activities through our social media accounts.

We will continue to have the flexibility in the timetable to adapt should Covid restrictions change and

we will continue to ensure we monitor any young people who test positive for Covid and support the

Track and Trace process. As a staff team we are all double vaccinated and we have lateral flow tests in

the centre should any young person or staff member present with symptoms.

Safeguarding

We continue to have a high level of safeguarding incidents since the last committee meeting. We have

attended an Initial Child Protection Conference, 3 Child In Need Meetings, 1 Team Around Family

Meeting and supported a young person to complete their Police Video Recorded Interview. I attend

weekly safeguarding meetings with Ryde Academy and we also shared concerns with the LADO

regarding a teacher and their comments.

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We have had a range of safeguarding incidents including self-harm, family violence and drug and alcohol

issues as well as some anti-social behaviour within the Network Ryde neighbourhood.

Network Ryde @ the Allotment and the Ryde Academy Allotment Sessions

We are currently running two different allotment sessions. We are running a general Network Ryde

Allotment session, which takes place on a Saturday morning 10am - 12pm. We have small numbers of

young people at this session however the young people use it towards their DofE Volunteering. The

Saturday morning session will stay in place until the clocks change and revert back to a Friday after

school session.

Ryde Academy VRU Allotment Sessions

Sessions continue to run every Wednesday morning throughout term time. We have 4 young people

attending the session. The young people are currently playing with the layout, and making good use of

the tiller and looking at what they would like to grow. The VRU funding ends in March but as last year

we continue to run this session until the end of the academic year so that the young people get to spend

the whole year at the plot.

Duke of Edinburgh

We have 3 day walks planned for the February half term as part of the expedition training for the young

people completing their Bronze Awards. We have provisional dates throughout the year for expeditions

for both Bronze and Silver practice and assessed expeditions. We are also looking at options for our Gold

group’s expeditions. We are looking at using an Approved Activity Provider to support with the Gold

expeditions as we do not have the capacity within the staff team to support with the Gold Expedition.

This is the end of the first full financial year where we have paid for young people to complete their

Award. We have paid for 51 spaces in 21/22 however we have had a group of young people from Christ

The King all sign up and then not even start their Awards. We are looking at an agreement to put in

place that looks at repaying the sign up cost if a young person does not wish to continue with the

Award.

Bronze - 33 young people working towards their Award.

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Silver - 15 young people working towards their Award.

Gold - 7 young people working towards their Award.

Ryde Academy DofE Alternative Provision Group

We have a group of 4 young people who are working with Phil every week on their Bronze Award. They

are currently working on their Skill and Volunteering section and have created some fantastic pieces of

woodwork for the plot and are looking at restoring a bench for the grassy area. After the Easter Break

the group will work on their Physical section as well as their expedition section. The young people are

really enjoying their sessions and very excited about the camping element of the expedition.

Kickstart

The scheme is almost officially ended. Young people have to be referred for any remaining placements

by the 1^st March and be in placement by 31^st March. We have a remaining vacancy here at Network

Ryde for a Youth Support Worker - this was initially filled in January however the young person decided

to take another placement.

As a Gateway Representive, Ryde Town Council was approved to support the smaller employers to

access the scheme. Under our umbrella, we have supported 14 employers within Ryde and had 52

placements originally approved by the DWP. However, due to COVID restrictions within the businesses,

33 placements were available for the young people to apply to. With 19 placements being started, we

have achieved a 58% fill.

Unfortunately, a couple of placements did not manage to make the full 6-month placements, but we

have also seen 9 young people fully completing their placements, as well as at least 3 of them going into

further employment with their placement employers.

As of the 5th December 2021, nationally around 311,200 jobs have been approved for funding and

around 112,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people. The scheme has now closed for new

applications as of the 17^th December 2021, so these figures are subject to adjustments.

Jobs

Cumulative

Location

Made

Jobs

Available

Started

Scotland

16780

9730

58%

Wales

11300

5330

47%

East

13420

6860

51%

Midlands

East of

17380

8010

46%

England

London

49100

23920

49%

North

9290

5310

57%

East

North

28110

14180

50%

West

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South

25180

12030

48%

East

South

14870

6940

47%

West

19900

10490

53%

Midlands

Yorkshire

and The

17840

9020

51%

Humber

Short Breaks

We are running weekly Short Breaks sessions with funding from the Isle of Wight Council - Kaiya is

leading and running these sessions. We have approximately 4 young people attending these weekly and

these young people do not access any other sessions with us. We have just been successful in applying

for funding for Short Breaks for 22/23 for £2708.00 with an application in for the equipment grant for a

further £419.

Future Plans

PCC Safer Communities Fund - I submitted an application for £107k for 3 years funding for Network

Ryde Mentors in January. We do not find out about this application until April with the funding starting

in July should we be successful

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