Targeted youth support: multi-agency club targeted at disadvantaged areas

'Hot Squad' is a multi-agency club for young people targeted at disadvantaged areas with a programme tailored to meet the specific issues of each area. The club has been successfully piloted in three schools in Worcester. It will be rolled out as a full programme from September 2006.

Managed by the fire service, Hot Squad involves agencies such as anti-drugs and car crime groups, the police, the health service and the youth offending team, and addresses issues such as fire, home, water and road safety, healthy eating, crime, stranger danger, anti-social behaviour and low attainment.

While still early days, Hot Squad is already proving a great success. It's pushed up demand for our free fire alarm installation service, particularly in deprived areas, and contributed to a massive reduction in fire related deaths and accidents in the area.

Gill Pinder, Education Liason Officer, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescure Service

Why change was needed

There are a number of deprived estates in Hereford and Worcester with many issues related to disadvantage and low income. Many of the young people in these areas do not receive basic information about potentially life-saving skills at home. There's a strong need for safety education. This demand fits neatly into the Fire and Rescue Service's Community Safety Strategy, which particularly targets young people.

Action taken

The inspiration for the Hot Squad pilot came from a similar initiative run by the West Midlands fire and rescue service. Hot Squad goes to schools and runs over the course of half a term one session a week   with groups of up to 40 young people divided into four watches or gorups. The young people are normally at key stage2 - the idea is to 'catch' younger children to prevent later problems.

Family members are reporting that they are talking about issues with their children that they'd never even considered before all prompted by the pilot. Hot Squad is also encouraging and improving multi-agency working and linking initiatives for young people, as well as proving a really good way to contact and support deprived communities and at-risk young people. 

The emphasis is on participation; practical tasks, involving boats, car wrecks and specialist equipment; fun; education and discipline.

Each Hot Squad is, and will be, tailored to the needs of the vulnerable young people and the communities in the areas it visits. The fire service, other relevant agencies, as well as classroom assistants and teachers, run the club. It is proving hugely popular with young people and their parents.

Results

The response to the Hot Squad pilot has been very positive and demand for the roll-out is strong from young people, parents, communities and schools. The club supports the Hereford and Worcester safety education programme in mainstream schools which has led to a massive reduction in fire related deaths and accidents in the area. 

Click to read more good practice case studies related to the targeted youth support change process.