Overview

This page presents findings from Driffield Youth Action, who produced a series of reports having engaged with secondary school age children attending youth sessions.

A summary of key points from the reports are available in the bulleted list directly below, whilst detail about one specific project can be viewed further down the page.

• Family issues faced by young people: There are various family issues that affect the young people in the area, such as single parents, poor mental health, neglect, low income, self-harm, and parental absence.
  
• Educational challenges and opportunities: Some of the educational challenges that the young people face, include anxiety, exam pressure, alternative provision, and bullying, not feeling supported in school. The youth club provides sessions to boost confidence, promote inclusion and encourage life skills. This is achieved by providing opportunities such as a variety of youth sessions, SkillWise, Lifestyle, and trips.
  
• Diet and substance use: There are reports of unhealthy dietary habits and substance use among the young people, such as ready meals, energy drinks, vaping, alcohol, and drugs. To counter this there are healthy cooking activities and smoothie nights that the youth club organises.
  
• Mental health issues and support: Mental health issues that the young people struggle with, include anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders. However the youth club has recently secured funding to help support young people’s needs, this includes, wellbeing sessions to help with emotional support and coping strategies, counselling, and staff have had training in mental health first aid.
  
• Healthy relationships and sexual health: Issues relating to healthy relationships and sexual health that the young people face, include rape, inappropriate relationships, bullying, and teen pregnancy. It also reports some of the sessions that the youth club arranges, such as Cornerhouse, Health Bus, and Drugs and Alcohol Misuse.
  
• Transport and funding issues: Transport and funding issues that affect the young people’s access to the youth club, such as living in rural areas, lack of transport, and inability to pay the weekly fee.

Specific project: Driffield Active Fridays Club

This insight, presents findings from a youth worker from the Driffield Youth Action, who engaged with secondary school age children who attend the weekly Driffield Active Fridays Club, during the spring of 2023. The engagement involved semi-structured interviews conducted by Youth Action staff, and describes the issues, needs, and support for young people.

Key findings

• Family issues affecting children: some children face neglect, poverty, and parental mental health problems, which lead them to spend time on their own.
• Education and drug use: some children do not want to go to school due to anxiety, and that they use drugs, especially cannabis, due to peer pressure, poor mental health, and curiosity.
• Safety: young people do not feel safe in town due to bullying.
• Vaping: the insight recorded that 90% of the young people they talked to (11+ years) are vaping as it is seen as a trend and in some cases, parents are buying vapes for them.
• Free fruit initiative at the club: free fruit is offered at the club and is proving popular, with children enjoying making smoothies.

Related links and information

• Driffield Youth Action on Facebook
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council: Active Fridays proving a success in Driffield

Proforma document

The original proforma document submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Health and Care Committee for this piece of work can be viewed and downloaded below. In addition to the ‘Type of Engagement’ section on the proforma, Driffield Youth Action would also like to add “surveys, focus groups, and conversations”.