Suffolk County Council

Youth Justice Services in Suffolk, and nationally, are dealing with more complex issues with young people both as victims and perpetrators; Gangs, Drugs & County Lines, Knife Crime, Grooming, Harmful Sexual Behaviour, Child Sexual Exploitation, etc. With a large geographic area of nearly 1500sqmi and limited direct resources we need to harness the power of parents, communities, VCS, social services and young people themselves.

We would like to draw together digital content and notification (push) in an engaging way that can be used to prompt young people’s thinking and discussion, bust myths, make use of simple tools to help recognise risk, make positive choices and highlight diversionary activity (music, physical activity, etc). These will be used by youth workers, parents, teachers, young people, etc.

Suffolk have had success in developing our emotional well-being hub so we know this can work. https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/infolink.page?infolinkchannel=2-1-1

We will use the digital funding, suggested £60k, to co-design with young people and youth workers to prototype stage linking in with digital design expertise. Young people can potentially engage directly with this as part of restorative justice e.g. within Referral Orders. We will work closely with our partners on the Youth Justice Board, Police, Probation, Schools, Turning Point, Catch 22, Positive Futures, NHS