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The time I give to my young people is quality time for them - this can mean more than words can explain for those young people who need this service.
Volunteer feedback
Rainer responds to the Youth Taskforce Action Plan
18 March 2008
Responding today to the Youth Taskforce Action Plan, Joyce Moseley, Chief Executive of Rainer, said:
"The shift in focus towards prevention and support when dealing with young people's problem behaviour is absolutely right. This plan puts flesh on the bones on what has been a more general policy shift over the past few months and shows that the government has finally moved beyond the relentless drive for more ASBOs that characterised the Respect Taskforce.
"Rainer's React service [see case study below] is a good example of how intervening early, when a young person is first showing signs of risk-taking behaviour, can be extremely effective in turning a young life around.
"React's services are voluntary and this approach has proven very successful at reaching even the most difficult young people, but we accept that in some cases there is a need to make intervention compulsory. Where this is the case, however, we must be very careful that it does not simply 'widen the net' and drag more young people into the youth justice system at an earlier stage."
Case study
Rainer React is an early intervention scheme targeting young people who are at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. It involves Rainer staff working closely with police, schools and social services to identify young people who are showing signs of risk-taking behaviour and intervening early, before they become involved in crime.
The project responds within 48 hours to a referral - something that is crucial to its success and each young person is assigned an individual Rainer React key worker, who works with them and their family. The worker may look to challenge aggression through anger management, tackle bullying and peer pressure, improve family relationships or encourage participation in communities through activities and local clubs. Young people are also given the opportunity to have a volunteer mentor to raise self-esteem and boost confidence.
React works across five London authorities and is modelled on the highly successful Rainer RAP programme, which was piloted in Essex in partnership with the police and has proven very successful. Essex police tracked the original 400 young people from the Rainer RAP pilot over a two-year period and found that none of the young people from the pilot got into trouble with the police again during this time.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. For further information please contact Rainer press officer Lucy Jackson on 020 7840 5627 or 07734 022409.
2. Rainer is the national charity for under-supported young people. We have contact with more than 18,000 young people and young adults in 115 communities across the country - including those who are at risk of family breakdown, in or leaving care, caught up in the criminal justice system, homeless, or outside education, training or employment. www.raineronline.org
