The Jitty
Young People’s Outcomes
1st July, Derby
• Youth Portal for the Young People of Leicestershire.
• To help Young People make informed decisions at key moments in their lives.
• To be run by Young People.
• Started by Oadby & Wigston Borough Council.
• 2005 Leicestershire Youth Service take up project management.
• Started after a consultation with Young People, 3 members as editors and on the chat forum. 300 hits a month.
• Won a National Award, Wavemakers.
• Group of 40 young people run the site from around Leicestershire.
• Over 1000 registered members on the chat forum
• 20,000 “hits” a month.
What Makes The Jitty Work?
• Ran by young people, not for them
• Varying degrees of involvement
• The process is transparent
• Accessibility
• Peer Support
• Anonymity (from other users not youth workers)
• Staff mixing IT and Youth Worker approach
• Inappropriate behaviour is challenged, and worked with
• Ongoing support from the County Council Youth Service
What do people get out of it?
• Greater understanding of others
• Help and support
• Empathy
• New opportunities
• English language and poetry
• ICT (24 hour tech support)
• Teamwork
• Being professional
• Greater understanding of others
• Confidence / not as shy
• Kept me busy
• Can see other people’s view points
Internet – The Benefits
• Once again – accessibility
• Flexible
• Able to monitor what goes on
• Leads to interaction between varied demographics
• Stops image-based stereotypes (and others)
• Open all hours
• ‘Social networking with a conscience’
• Young people own what they post
• Secure
Successes
• Diversity – different groups of people
• Police Authority Consultation
• Wavemakers award
• Residentials
• Days out such as Go karting and Laser quest
• Interviews with: Footballers, New Found Glory, Rare
• Jittymon Cards designed by young people with internet safety tips that are actually useful
• Poetry book: all of the poems were written by young people
Thank You For Listening