Reflecting, tallying, planning… Ensuring our integrity in strengthening the seams of community in our youth programme

As we finalize our register for our Christmas Holiday programme (offering 44 sessions for youth), Significant Seams is also tallying up: this year we have so far delivered 159 sessions to 46 young people. In one programme 80% of attendees were either known to CAMHS, had a child protection order, at risk of exclusion, or classed ‘children in need.’ In another, an alarming percentage were known to be actively self-harming. Along the way, with the support of innovation funding, we have cultivated new alliances into being between five small organisations. Each are likely to struggle with the requirements of statutory contract requirements on their own, and yet, have ‘social’ models of delivery that enrich the impacts of programmes greatly. These organisations are great at their core remit, plus they have the trust and relationships with community that lead to exceptional outcomes for the young people they work with. 

Also emerging is trust and transparency about the challenges and often precariousness of the work in the community. In a community where a substantial majority of organisations draw on volunteer labour, financial challenges are exacerbated by social ones. Perceptions and misunderstandings, feelings and aspirations can in fact win the day in hard decisions – and in fact, logic often belies the existence of some of the most beloved projects. 

More directly affecting our work, Significant Seams has come alongside an organization expressing a keenness but practical caution about engaging with youth (Sustainable Crediton). Partnership working has enabled them to provide a youth aspect to projects without the sole weight and responsibility of safeguarding, pastoral care, and other considerations that responsible youth work brings. The approach is also supporting capacity development, providing our compatriot organisation space to grow their consideration of youth engagement, develop policies and collective agreement on ways forward, and address the inevitable, organisation-specific stumbling blocks. Their process is prompting us to reflect about ours, and find words and case studies that offer insight into our work for audiences beyond the ‘early adopters’- those who naturally ‘get-it’ and queue up to be part. Together, we have directly provided 6 events for young people and established a pathway with the Duke of Ediburgh programme at QE, and a relationship with the regional Scouts. We intend six more events.

For Significant Seams, this way of working has also downplayed ‘vulnerabilty’ and the real risk of stigma following one’s choice to engage with our support. No one wants to feel there is a flashing neon light associated with their activities that says, “I feel vulnerable,” least of all a self-conscious, wanting-to-be-world-wise teenager. Truly innovative support is integrated, and part of how a community interacts and lives. But how do we create this? How do we attract a truly integrated group of participants in activities but ensure personalised support for the more vulnerable? How is this done in a way where the needs of one aren’t perceived to distort the experience of the whole?

As a creative organisation, we are unabashed in imagining a profound culture shift – in community, in schools, in local organisations. We imagine creativity, reflection, and mutual care leading to a more considerate, trauma-informed, connected and supportive community. Our work builds from social foundations and shared interests, not from vulnerability or unfortunate circumstances. In practice though, we, and others in our sector, tend to find ourselves marginalised as those who benefit most from our approach, or perhaps have time, or make time because of need, sort of de facto shape how others see us. The organisations which take this approach can become a bit ‘stuck’ by perception, and others keen to offer creative health activities, become wary of this potential pitfall. 

Further, we’ve observed that leading ‘creative health’ organisations are often a bit maligned for speaking uncomfortable truths, daring to view the world from the perspective of someone who is struggling, rather than those in positions of power. The passion that draws participants to them also has the potential to push others away. 

In strengthening our depth of understanding of the myriad of people and systems full of good intentions in this space, we have grasped ‘glimmers’ and faced down some of our own ‘triggers,’ and helped new opportunities that meet the criteria we set for ourselves: to empower, entrust and inspire young people to become active and creative citizens who lead in ensuring their own wellbeing. In this we have also done a range of 1:1 work with young people that has helped them take bold next steps for themselves.