News and Events
I find Rainer is a perfect place to sit quietly... I have new friends, support and a safe and secure place to live.
Kym, young person.
Recent Events
Mentoring for Young People; lessons learned from a national pilot scheme for looked after children - 4 March 2008
With contributions from leading academics including Professor Mike Stein and Chris Waterman and practical evidence from a series of pilot mentoring schemes working with looked after children This important national conference offered delegates the chance to:
• Share learning on effective mentoring for young people, and
looked after children specifically.
• Hear from regional pilot providers and lessons learnt.
• Take part in a range of workshops allowing delegates to tailor
conference sessions to suit their main areas of interest and
learning needs.
• Access a new Good Practice manual examining
effective delivery models.
For a copy of the presentations from the day or to find out more about the Mentoring for Looked After Children Pilot contact Steven Perdue on 020 7840 5622
Stepping Up Youth Volunteering
Rainer's annual youth volunteering conference on 31 October offered an update on the national framework for youth action and engagement; giving delegates the chance to reflect on the national picture, explore emerging opportunities and examine some of the issues faced by volunteer involving organisations.
Government Champion for Volunteering, Baroness Neuberger, called for delegates to share their experiences on some of the current challenges and issues facing organisations and practitioners. To contribute click here. For presentations and the agenda see below:
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Tackling Exclusion through Volunteering
Richard Marsh, Head of Development and Quality, the Prince's Trust
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Accessing and Engaging Case Study
Russell Brooks, Fay Skevington, v20
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Workshops
Effective Volunteer Management, Sophie Wellings, Senior Consultant
Youth Volunteering and the Law, Mark Restall, Volunteering England
Working with Hard to Reach Groups, Ruth Morris, Rainer
South London Appropriate Adult Awards
"You perform an absolutely essential piece of work - work that is vital for public confidence in youth justice". That was the view of former YJB Chair, Rod Morgan, presenting volunteers with their awards at Rainer South London Appropriate Adult Service's Awards and Bicentenary celebrations. More than thirty volunteers were recognised for their ongoing commitment and contribution to the service. Appropriate Adults support young and vulnerable people who have been detained by police and who do not have a parent or carer present. All the AA volunteers are recruited from the local community and, working on a rota system, aim to respond to call-outs within one hour.
Turning the Tide: Rainer and Communities that Care
Recent evidence from both sides of the Atlantic suggests that we can have an impact on tackling social exclusion. This joint conference, held in the week CtC announced its move to join Rainer, examined this evidence and looked at the practical delivery of prevention and intervention work. Download the speeches here:
Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP
CtC - an evidenced based approach
Professor David Hawkins, University of Washington
Joyce Moseley, Rainer Chief Executive
A Royal Reception
Staff, service users, volunteers and supporters tasted a lunch fit for royalty on 29 November at a celebratory reception hosted by Rainer patron, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. The event was held in the state apartments at St James’ Palace to recognise the huge achievements of Rainer and the charity’s young people over the past 200 years and to thank supporters for their encouragement and help.
Prince Phillip reflected on Rainer’s humble beginnings and paid tribute to staff and volunteers, saying that without their dedication, and that of their predecessors, the charity would simply not be able to undertake such fantastic work.
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| HRH the Duke of Edinburgh with Jordon from Rainer Break Free |
“Throughout the months at Break Free I started to realise I wanted to do well, not just go there because I had to. It’s easy to give up on young people when they’re giving you a hard time. Most people give up. But young people know this and look to adults for guidance. We know straight away when you’ve given up on us. It was the staff at Break Free that helped me grow up…Now I look at myself and I’m starting to make a success of my life. I’m helping out with anger management classes and peer mentoring and I’m writing lyrics.”
Bicentenary Reception and Exhibition
Rainer celebrated its 200th anniversary with a national portrait exhibition held in the House of Lords to honour its young people and their achievements. Young people from Rainer services across the country joined Parliamentarians and third sector leaders at the event. The exhibition featured a series of twenty pictures illustrating how hard many of Rainer's young people work to get their lives on track and overcome serious obstacles.
Click Rainer Exhibition Portraits to view a selection.
200 Years Conference: the Future of Criminal Justice
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Rainer's 200th Anniversary Conference on 6 July saw delegates from across the public, private and voluntary sectors gathered to examine the future of criminal justice and debate the changing role of the voluntary sector in service delivery.
Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Under-secretary of State for Justice (pictured) gave the keynote address. He endorsed the role of the voluntary and community sector in tackling offending and providing education, training and other support services. He confirmed that the National Offender Management Service Bill should be introduced in the next parliament, but that key NOMS policies would be unveiled later this year.
Other speakers examined some of the major challenges currently facing the criminal justice system and the changes that are expected over the coming years. Speakers included Andrew Bridges, HM Chief Inspector of Probation, Adam Sampson of Shelter, David Scott, Chief Officer for London Probation and John Fassenfelt, Chairman of the Magistrates' Association's Youth Courts Committee.
My Town - Photography Exhibition
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Andrew with youth worker Marion Anslow. |
Young people from Rainer's Kent 16plus service have launched a photography exhibition looking at 'What makes my town, my town?'
The six artists teamed up with local photographer Rob Smith to spend the past few months capturing images they felt represented their homes towns.
Andrew Newby, 17, from Canterbury is pictured with youth worker Marion Anslow and his image of the local shopping centre below. Andrew said he wanted his picture to capture how busy the shopping centre gets and how central it is to people's lives.
All the young people were presented with their Bronze Skills Section Certificates forming part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
