top of page

Peer-to-peer engagement in youth justice

Katy leads her local council’s peer-to-peer engagement programme, Streetbase. She describes for us how their patrols have made a difference during the pandemic.

Peer-to-peer engagement in youth justice
Streetbase

Sep 2, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales: Friday 10 April 2020, our first Streetbase COVID-19 patrol. I was full of excitement to be out of the house, cleared as a ‘critical worker’; but also filled with anxiety as I prepped myself with PPE, digital surveys and a strict two-metre minimum distance. Before heading out to each patrol, Streetbase works closely with our Anti-Social Behaviour team, local police officers and Early Help team. This allowed us to gauge the whereabouts of young people often seen outside during lockdown and of young people who may be missing due to being groomed.


Over the next three months of socially-distanced patrols, we encountered the most vulnerable, at-risk and hopeless young people. They were vulnerable to family breakdowns due to lockdown, at-risk of being groomed, to keep a roof over their family’s head during the pandemic and hopeless in the system that has worked against them and their trauma. The training each Streetbase Lead goes through, including safeguarding and adolescent at-risk training, enabled us to provide quality support with confidence.


The first of our patrols asked the young people about their understanding of COVID-19 and the restrictions put in place to keep everyone safe. Not many knew of the social restrictions or found guidance hard to understand and follow. For Streetbase, we clearly had an important role to play in making this vital information accessible to young people on the streets of Waltham Forest.


Another important role we took on during this time was supporting young people through their anger, discontent and secondary trauma caused by the murder of George Floyd. In response, Streetbase created a new survey based on police interactions during COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. This survey was a chance for young people to tell us about their experiences with police, their thoughts on how police should engage with young people and how they wish to be supported by the authorities.


The survey showed us that there is still a real need for trust to be built up between young people and the police and that we need to build awareness and support for young people wishing to complain following their interaction with the police. We also saw how passionate young people are about the Black Lives Matter movement, demonstrated by the actions they are taking to raise awareness and educate one another about systemic racism and social injustice.


17 patrols, 100+ survey responses and three months later, Streetbase has helped more young people to feel safe in their local area and supported young people who are at risk of joining gangs. We hope to continue to be at the forefront of change that young people want to see in their community and act as the bridge of communication, providing all those we engage with on the street vital access to information.


Streetbase is run by Waltham Forest Young Advisors and Youth Independent Advisory Group. These organisations come together with others to form the Youth Ambassadors Network at the Youth Justice Board and offer expertise, advice and support to the youth justice system.

1 view0 comments
Planner 5D- Interior design app

Planner 5D- Interior design app

Flipkart Online Shopping App

Flipkart Online Shopping App

World population to reach 8 billion this year, as the growth rate slows

July 12, 2022 at 6:57:56 AM

15 November 2022 is predicted to be the day that the global population reaches eight billion. The projection is revealed in the UN’s World Population Prospects 2022 report, which also shows that India is on course to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.

World population to reach 8 billion this year, as the growth rate slows

WHO: Nearly one billion people have a mental disorder

June 22, 2022 at 7:20:50 AM

Nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from some form of mental disorder, according to the latest UN data – a staggering figure that is even more worrying if you consider that it includes around one in seven teenagers.

WHO: Nearly one billion people have a mental disorder

What can the UN do? Check the top 5 questions answered

April 6, 2022 at 10:51:48 AM

The current war in Ukraine, following the Russian invasion, has sparked all sorts of questions about the United Nations, particularly the role of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Secretary-General.

What can the UN do? Check the top 5 questions answered

Ukraine: UN’s Guterres joins call for Bucha war crimes probe

April 6, 2022 at 8:22:29 AM

UN chief António Guterres on Tuesday added his voice to the growing international calls for a war crimes investigation into the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

Ukraine: UN’s Guterres joins call for Bucha war crimes probe

Recent terrorist attacks in Israel undermine ‘prospects for peace’: Guterres

March 31, 2022 at 8:29:57 AM

Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday night condemned recent terrorist attacks in Israel that have claimed the lives of at least 11 Israeli citizens.

Recent terrorist attacks in Israel undermine ‘prospects for peace’: Guterres

China's BYD ceases to produce gasoline-powered vehicles

4/4/22, 7:00 AM

Chinese auto manufacturer BYD announced Sunday that it has already ceased the production of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles starting from March.

China's BYD ceases to produce gasoline-powered vehicles

Performance-oriented all-new ŠKODA SLAVIA 1.5 TSI Launched creates a segment of its own

3/27/22, 10:42 AM

All new ŠKODA SLAVIA 1.5 TSI starts at ₹ 16.19 lacs

Performance-oriented all-new ŠKODA SLAVIA 1.5 TSI Launched creates a segment of its own

CARS24 Raises $450 Million, Nearly Doubles Its Valuation To $1.84 Billion

9/25/21, 6:16 AM

CARS24, India’s leading e-commerce platform for pre-owned vehicles, announced today the closing of a $450M round of funding including a $340M Series F equity round alongside $110M debt from diversified financial institutions.

CARS24 Raises $450 Million, Nearly Doubles Its Valuation To $1.84 Billion

Tata Motors launches the ‘XPRES’ brand for fleet customers

7/18/21, 6:13 PM

Tata Motors, one of India’s leading automobile manufacturers, today announced the launch of a new brand ‘XPRES,’ exclusively for fleet customers.

Tata Motors launches the ‘XPRES’ brand for fleet customers

Audi India announces curated ownership plans for Audi e-tron and Audi e-tron Sportback customers

7/18/21, 5:56 PM

Special Service Plans, Extended Warranty and Buyback for a hassle-free ownership experience

Audi India announces curated ownership plans for Audi e-tron and Audi e-tron Sportback customers

TikTok hits 1 billion global active users

9/28/21, 8:56 AM

TikTok mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok hits 1 billion global active users

FACT CHECK: Crypto is increasingly being used for criminal activity and is a haven for illicit finance

6/23/21, 6:11 AM

Because cryptocurrency is still new, we are often asked about the biggest myths surrounding it. It’s common for a new market or product to confuse people until they get familiar with it. Think about Airbnb: the idea of staying in a stranger’s home seemed crazy until it didn’t.

FACT CHECK: Crypto is increasingly being used for criminal activity and is a haven for illicit finance

PUBG: NEW STATE surpasses 17 Million Google play store PRE-REGISTRATIONS following its recent ALPHA TEST

6/19/21, 4:40 AM

KRAFTON, Inc. to open pre-registration for the game on Apple’s App Store in Q3 2021

PUBG: NEW STATE surpasses 17 Million Google play store PRE-REGISTRATIONS following its recent ALPHA TEST
bottom of page