Award for Swindon YOT
Youth offending team scoops national media award
A CREATIVE partnership of young offenders and the Swindon Advertiser has been recognised by the Government’s Youth Justice Board as the best media coverage involving a Youth Offending Team in 2008.
Swindon Youth Offending Team is one of 157 similar teams in England and Wales and was judged to have the most effective campaign for its work in getting three articles printed dealing with the issues of anti-social behaviour and youth experiences of the youth justice system.
The three articles were the result of collaboration with the Swindon Advertiser which agreed to publish the views of young offenders into issues as diverse as Anti Social Behaviour Orders, accessibility to drugs and alcohol, and how young people perceive and deal with their personal relationships, particularly with adults.
The award was made by Polly Toynbee, political and social commentator, and Frances Done, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, at the Annual Youth Justice Convention in Harrogate.
Receiving the Award on behalf of the Yot was Kevin Leaning (Head of Service) Matt Bywater (Operational manager) and Blair Staynings (Business Manager).
John Gilbert, Director of Children Services in Swindon, said “The competition for this national Award is intense and I am delighted that Swindon has been chosen deservedly as the 2008 winner. The accolade belongs to the young people and staff of the Youth Offending Team who put in so much effort over several months into the published articles.”
Cllr Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Children Services, said: “This Award reflects just how much effort the Council puts into securing meaningful partnerships in order to engage public opinion and help make Swindon a safer place in which to work or live.
"The Youth Offending Team already has an excellent reputation for its work in bringing down youth crime and anti-social behaviour, and the staff are to be congratulated once again.”
Frances Done, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, said: "I was extremely impressed with the creativity behind Swindon YOT's winning entry at the Youth Justice Board annual convention.
"It was inspiring to see their young people challenge the public's assumptions of them through articles in the local paper and it came as no surprise to learn that the YOT won following a unanimous judges decision."