We asked young people participating in CashBack projects to share their views on the programme. They told us what makes the biggest difference for them, and what they would like to see in the future.
Young people are involved in every stage of the CashBack programme – from sharing day-to-day feedback with our partner organisations to taking part in funding decisions and programme evaluation.
Recently, we asked 12 CashBack-funded projects to gather small groups of young participants to hear their views on the programme. This is one step in ensuring that young people’s voices are heard, and inform future support programmes for young people most at risk of involvement with the justice system.
69 young people ultimately took part, and here we share some of the key themes that emerged:
What made the biggest difference?
Support that makes them feel safe and respected make the biggest difference to participants:
- It gives you the time and space to talk it over and you know it’s confidential and it can take the weight off you and then that also further helps concentrate on the course.
- A safe place…because, like, your friends that support you and help you, and also coach helps you.
- I feel like I can tell the [staff] team anything and they will try and help me around the struggles I have been having.
The range of CashBack activities
CashBack has a good range of activities:
- There is multiple projects that all target something different, which ensures there is something for everyone.
- Sounds like there’s loads and [the staff team] took me out to meet the team at [another CashBack project].
Benefits of taking part
Building confidence and social connections allows participants to access learning and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise:
- Talk to people, actually have a conversation with people. Erm, actually just go to a group at all! Well this was the very first group I came to and it makes more confident to go to other ones.
- Being able to get up and go out – before the support from the Family Outreach Worker I felt completely isolated. Learning and rediscovering myself as a person and just as a parent as I felt totally lost in that process with my child.
- I have had counselling sessions, employment opportunities (CSCS card) and I am now taking part in LEAP (Abstinence programme) to try and stop my addiction. I don’t believe without [CashBack support] I would’ve taken these massive steps in my life to try and get away from addiction and criminality.
Ideas for the future
Participants would like to see:
- Intensive support have no time limits
…I think at the same time, like, some people can find it difficult to trust, like, their worker and right, [you know] how the time actually comes to being able to trust them and then, like, it could be only a few sessions that you got left, and you’ve not really got anywhere, and it could be like a waste of time. - More support for social services to better understand children and families’ lives
I think there has to be more of yous [CashBack support workers] because…there’s a lot of people that, like, don’t like working the social work way either…but I ken that yous, like, really help me. And I think you’ve helped quite a lot of other people as well, so there has to be more of yous pretty much. - More anger management support
Two distinct recommendations made by families was the need for services which specifically deal with anger and wellbeing services for young people. [Staff member summarising a discussion] - More hands-on work experience for older participants
It would be good to have other options…that would be good for when we get home [from a secure setting]; wellbeing, budgeting, life skills.
Thank you to the staff who facilitated the sessions, and the young people who took part – your views will inform future support programmes.
