Kingston Outreach and Streetbased Team (KOAST)
Streetbased youth work aims to meet the needs of young people who cannot or do not make use of existing provision. Generally, the youth work takes place on young people’s terms and only where the young people wish to meet. Invariably, this is on the ‘street’ and includes locations such as local housing estates, bus shelters, street corners, parks, petrol filling stations, open spaces and food outlets.
Streetbased youth workers accept young people as they are and relationships between workers and young people are based on a mutual association.
Streetbased workers also seek to feed young people into some form of centre or building-based provision and ensure that young people are aware of, and make use of all the services and resources that are available to them at those centres.
The streetbased workers main role is to provide support, advice and information on a variety of topics relevant to young people. These will often include Sexual Health – (including free condom distribution) from our mobile unit the younglivin bus, Drugs & Alcohol, Employment, Training opportunities and in general will offer links or referrals to many other services available to young people within the borough and how they can get involved in Youth Service projects.
Diana Gardens
Outreach workers and a group of young people from Diana Gardens in Tolworth put together a YOF bid for a trip to Three Peaks Outdoor Pursuits where they went on the zip wire and tried the 4x4 driving experience.
“It started by chatting to the outreach youth workers. Then we got funding and went to 3 peaks, I really enjoyed that. Now we’re also trying to set up a youth club in the evening.”
“The day was really good and we gained loads of confidence on the Zip Wire.”
“I’m glad the youth team has set up a club for us and activities as it has given us something to do and also new experiences.”
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You can see some photos from the trip to Three Peaks Outdoor Pursuits in our photo album on Facebook. |