Community Linking - creating a long term impact
When Link Worker Joyce became aware that a young person in her cohort had moved into an unfurnished flat after months of staying in TravelLodges, she knew she wanted to help. She made a referral to a charity called Buttle UK, which provides grants to children and young people in the UK who are living in financial hardship. Joyce provided all the information the charity required and within a few days, she was provided with funds to purchase furniture, school uniform, and other essentials the family required. The young person now had a table to work at, her own bed, and school books, making a huge difference to her wellbeing and attainment in school.
This is an example of one of the core ways in which AllChild supports the families we work with. Link Workers are based in schools and are there every day to be a trusted presence and provide or link to specialist services that help young people reach their goals.
AllChild cultivates deep knowledge of, and links within, the areas in which our families live. This gives Link Workers the ability to bring the community to each child and their families by making links to sports clubs, local and council services, community and youth centres, health and therapy organisations, and art opportunities. Between January and August 2023, Link Workers made 3,401 connections to 128 different community organisations.
Partnering for success
AllChild has partnerships with a huge number of charities, service providers, and local organisations and the benefits of these partnerships can make a tangible impact on young people’s outcomes. For example, we have developed a partnership with The Lyric in Hammersmith in a number of different ways over the years, from bursary spaces to free tickets to their shows! Alternatively, we may use the knowledge embedded within AllChild’s Communities Team to find low-cost or free music opportunities for the family. Similarly, we regularly offer art lessons and workshops from partners such as the Saatchi gallery or tickets to exhibitions from organisations such as the Science Museum.
Through community linking, young people on AllChild’s Impact Programme have learnt to swim, take acting lessons, gain cooking skills, even go on their first holidays with their families. These experiences can have incredible effects on children’s confidence, sense of wellbeing, and even attainment in school.
However, not all linking is specifically for the children we work with - some of the signposting is for their families and children’s parents and carers. One of our partners in west London is the Clement James Centre, which runs regular workshops on wellness, adult learning, and parenting.
Being able to link families and young people with opportunities local to them can be a profound part of the two-year programme and these links can ensure that families still have access to opportunities and support after the programme has come to an end. For example, alumni of the Impact Programme still receive links to free clubs or work experience opportunities.
When asked about the importance of this work, Community Project Coordinator Hannah says: ''Community linking is so important as it gives children and young people a sense of belonging and develops greater community involvement. It provides opportunities beyond our two year programme and creates a community-centred legacy which is crucial to keep our children and young people on track later in life.''
