Tree planting project

A group of children in care were given the opportunity to plant trees as part of a nature conservation project.

Why?

Access to nature is linked to well-being. In 2021 98% of young people in Hertfordshire aged 11-18 said they spent some time in nature every week. This is a Bright Spot of Practice.

The day planting trees enabled young people to take part in outdoor activities and to be a volunteer.

What?

    • A local nature conservation project invited Hertfordshire’s children services to be part of a project planning trees. This was an unexpected offer but after the success of the day staff are planning to offer more sessions to young people.
    • During a half term holiday 13 young people aged 12-18 spent the day working at the centre, They came from various placements – foster carer and independent sector placements. 4 young people from residential placements were supported by their key workers.
    • The opportunity was open to all children in care and over 40 young people expressed an interest.
    • The young people worked with staff from the centre to prepare the area, and to dig and plant their tree.
    • In addition to planting their tree they had the chance to learn about other nature conservation schemes, explore paths through the woods and play in the stream.
    • All the young people enjoyed the day- despite the weather – especially the toasted marshmallows to round off the day.

Plans are being made for a nature walk at Easter and to plant more trees

What?

    • A local nature conservation project invited Hertfordshire’s children services to be part of a project planning trees. This was an unexpected offer but after the success of the day staff are planning to offer more sessions to young people.
    • During a half term holiday 13 young people aged 12-18 spent the day working at the centre, They came from various placements – foster carer and independent sector placements. 4 young people from residential placements were supported by their key workers.
    • The opportunity was open to all children in care and over 40 young people expressed an interest.
    • The young people worked with staff from the centre to prepare the area, and to dig and plant their tree.
    • In addition to planting their tree they had the chance to learn about other nature conservation schemes, explore paths through the woods and play in the stream.
    • All the young people enjoyed the day- despite the weather – especially the toasted marshmallows to round off the day.

Plans are being made for a nature walk at Easter and to plant more trees

 

‘It moved the young people out of their comfort zone and into something new’ 

Participation worker

Webinar: What matters to children in care and care leavers’ well-being: learning from the Bright Spots Programme

The webinar discusses:

+ The key well-being indicators that are important for children and young people in care and care leavers.

+ The factors that are associated with very high well-being and low well-being for children and young people in care and care leavers.

+ The changes local authorities who have taken part in the Bright Spots Programme have made.

What matters to children in care and care leavers’ well-being: learning from the Bright Spots programme

Watch the webinar here:

An accessible allotment to improve mental health

Why?

Having access to the natural world and the opportunity to take part in hobbies and activities can reduce stress and build resilience. Gardening has benefits for mental health and enhancing well-being.

The LA developed the allotment project to address these multiple factors highlighted in their Bright Spots reports.

What?

The allotment can be used by all looked after children and care leavers. It is rent free with all the additional materials and plants raised through fund raising or
provided by the local community.

The local authority offers an educational award in horticulture. The allotment has raised beds for those in wheelchairs. It is accessible for all.

It’s a lovely space. It’s a wonderful place.

Leaving care team leader

It’s a place to go where you can socialise – where you can learn. It’s a community allotment so it offers young people the opportunity to meet other people and learn from them.

Leaving care team leader
What’s next?

Future developments planned include a therapeutic mental health group that will take place at the allotment and a ‘shed project’ to help young people learn to make things from wood and pallets.

Setting up a five-aside football team to combat loneliness

Why?

The care leavers survey has shown that loneliness contributes to low well-being. Encouraging young people to join in group activities can combat loneliness and help them to feel part of the community

What?

The LA got together a group of care leavers to discuss the survey findings. Young people wanted more activities where they could get together in a group. The football team was set up as a response.

Some of the staff have started on a voluntary basis a five-a-side football team that meets once a week. Kids have to get there themselves but we’ve funded it…the idea would be for that football group to carry on, on it’s own without the staff there, that would be the ultimate aim. We haven’t achieved it yet.

Pathway Team Leader
Impact

The local authority has shown that it has listened to what young people are
saying and has taken action as a result.

Whilst the group is not yet able to meet without staff, it is building a sense of community between young people and allowing them to have fun.

What’s next?

At present the team is run by the staff on a voluntary basis. The aim is for the group to get to a stage where it can continue without the staff there.

How are we going to help this young person to …
develop their own social network or community
network?

Pathway Team Leader

Care leavers commissioning new supported living accommodation

Why?

The Bright Spots survey shows that young people need to feel safe and settled where they live, and that where they live should be right for them. Care leavers who feel unsettled are more likely to have low well-being.

What?

Isle of Wight Council asked senior managers to provide more suitable accommodation for care leavers. Young people were involved in the commissioning process.

That was a massive piece of work…starting a tender process inviting potential providers to get involved…There were questions that young people wrote that were included in the application form. When providers came to an information session it was co-hosted by young people…[they helped with] the scoring of applications at every stage, making sure it was fit for purpose…That took over a year to do. It was done in the right way and the result been the best outcome for our young people.

Participation worker
Impact

This piece of work demonstrates that it is possible to involve young people in complex decision-making. For those young people involved they felt listened to and increased confidence.

It blew their mind that they were able to have an input into something at a strategic level.

Participation worker

Future survey findings will show if the accommodation is more suitable and whether young people report feeling safer and more settled.

Children and young people are involved in all sorts of aspects of how we commission services and evaluate services.

Commissioning Manager