Kickstart Southwark

Catch22 Kickstart works with young people between the ages of 8 and 19 across Southwark. We provide fun, physical and educational activities to help reduce the risk of offending and to promote positive development.

We work with young people who have been identified as at risk of offending or involved in some way with violence, or are simply interested in getting involved in our activities. We work with the young people in their neighbourhoods and offer sessions that they are interested in, such as football, drama, music studio sessions and trips.

We work in local estate-based community centres, on sports pitches, in schools and we conduct home visits.

How we help

We provide a number of different programmes to engage young people.

Youth Inclusion Programme

The Catch22 Youth Inclusion Programme in Southwark aims to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

Youth Inclusion Programmes give young people somewhere safe to go where they can learn new skills, take part in activities with others and get help with their education and careers guidance. Positive role models – the workers and volunteer mentors – help to change young people's attitudes to education and crime.

Positive Futures

Positive Futures is the national, community-based social inclusion programme for young people.

At the heart of Positive Futures is a strong, shared commitment to reaching young people ‘where they are’, building relationships of respect and trust and supporting them to succeed. As part of Positive Futures, we have worked with drama and other artistic performers to allow young people to express themselves positively.

Talent Studio

Community Channel’s Talent Studio is a national filmmaking project, created and led by young people who want to tell positive stories about issues that matter to them.Young people from Catch22's Kickstart project in Southwark made a film called 'Tempting Fate'.

Parenting work

We provide workshops and events for parents and young people in an effort to reduce localised violence.

Involving volunteers

At Kickstart we pride ourselves on developing young people into local role models, some then become volunteers within our sessions, from there some of our young people have become staff members. Many of our current staff were once service users themselves and we believe this is one of our strongest assets.

The referral process

We get referrals from the Youth Offending Team, Social Services, local schools and other like minded not-for-profit organisations. Parents may also refer their children to our service.

Youth Inclusion Programme referrals must be evaluated by the Youth Offending Team and then a key worker is allocated to the young person.
 

The difference we make

'Catch22 Kickstart’s under 12s football provision have been well attended and enjoyed. In my role as Special Educational Needs Coordinator, teacher and football coach I have seen the pupils involved in Positive Futures and  theYouth Inclusion Programme make pleasing progress in the classroom, the playground and on the football pitch.

'The pupils value and take pride in their participation in the provision. Their weekly commitment to training and attending matches has reaped rewards both on and off the pitch. It is evident that the majority of the pupils are taking more responsibility for their actions and they can see that hard work pays off, most of the pupils play for the school team who became Southwark Champions this year.

'The opportunity provided by Catch22 Kickstart has been invaluable to our pupils.'

Robin Spencer, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, teacher, and football coach Surrey Square Junior School.