Spark2Life Pilot Evaluation – London Borough of Wandsworth

Below is a detailed evaluation of the pilot of the Spark2Life Educational Programme - a new Educational Initiative piloted in the London Borough of Wandsworth in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, between the months of February and July 2007 (At present, we are still working in the borough of Wandsworth.).

During our successful pilot scheme in the London Borough of Wandsworth, Spark2Life worked with and supported the work of:

• Wandsworth Education Authority.
• Youth Offending Team (YOT)
• Youth Inclusion Project (YIP)
• Secondary schools in the Borough of Wandsworth:
•     - Elliot School
•     - Frances Barber
•     - Earnest Bevin
•     - Graveny
•     - John Paul II
•     - Southfields Community College
•     - Chestnut Grove
•     - Salesian College
•     - YMCA Skills Academy

 

Currently Spark2Life are working with various Secondary Schools and PRU’s (People Referral Units) in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

Amongst other achieved objectives, Dez Brown and the Spark2Life Educational Programme have assisted the aforementioned Wandsworth Secondary Schools and Waltham Forest Schools in obtaining the evidence required to achieve the National Healthy School status.

The main Spark2Life Lesson topics that were chosen by the majority of schools and services such as YOT, and YIP, were:

Topic 1: CHOICES

• React or Respond?                                              
• Unity not Uniformity                               
• Thermostat or Thermometer?   
                  

Topic 2: CRIME

• More Money More Problems                               
• Postcode Warfare                                                
• Reality                                                                  
• Who Are The Victims?    
                      

Topic 3: CULTURE

• Creating a Culture                                    
• Gang Culture                                      
• Thug Life
• Knife Culture                                           
• Bin That Knife Save That Life

 

The Spark2Life Programme was highly praised by both students and staff. The presentation of Dez’s story was very effective. In every session, students had a myriad of questions to ask in the Q+A session after the presentation. In addition the Spark2Life lessons were very well received by the students, even those deemed ‘hard-to-reach’ and de-motivated. Every student participated (at times to the surprise of teachers present). Most students commented that the Spark2Life lessons had changed their mindsets on several issues – particularly with reference to crime and forming positive relationships with their peers.

Furthermore, the Spark2Life Lessons involved the use of:  
   

•    Role-play
•    Tag-n-Talk
•    Multimedia Clips
•    Discussions / Debates
•    True-Life Stories                    
•    Live MC / Rap
•    Illustrative Activities

The above lesson tools resulted in lessons that were relevant and relational. The aim of the Spark2Life Educational Programme is to present lessons that are:

•    Educationally Stimulating
•    Interactive
•    Positively Impacting
•    Engaging
•    Paradigm Shifting
•    Thought Provoking

 

Spark2Life are extremely grateful for the support that we have received from the Metropolitan Police, especially from Chief Superintendent Kieran Power. Below details an excerpt - from his nomination of Spark2Life for a National Criminal Justice Award – on the subject of the impact of the Spark2Life Programme:
                        
“The programme is inspiring and positively challenging for students and is linked to the national curriculum at Key Stages 3 & 4, covering Citizenship, Personal Social Health Education, RE and Black People’s Attainment Programme.
The programme uses Dez’s true-life crime experiences to challenge young people’s perceptions of crime, targeting students with high absenteeism, poor achievement and behaviour, and gang membership.
Since December 2006, 4000 students have participated in the programme the impact has been immediate, resulting in substantial decreases in Youth crime across Wandsworth.

 

Youth on youth crime

1st February - 31st July

	2006		2007	%Change
Burglary	36	27		-25.0%
Criminal Damage	129	115		-10.9%
Fraud or Forgery	13	13		0.0%
Other Accepted Crime	17	17		0.0%
Other Notifiable Offences	23	17		-26.1%
Robbery	394	321		-18.5%
Sexual Offences	35	26		-25.7%
Theft and Handling	318	249		-21.7%
Violence Against the Person	366	280		-23.5%
Grand Total	2564	1065		-58.5%

This table shows the number of youth victims, where suspects were under 18.

 

Case Example

Kieron aged 15, stabbed in a gang related incident. Intent on revenge he had a private session with Dez. Afterwards, Kieron said that he had changed his mindset completely. He began to associate with new people, moving away from his old group of friends, improving dramatically at Home and School.”

 

In conclusion, in our first embryonic year Spark2Life are delighted and honoured to receive, amongst other awards, a National Youth Justice Award in the category of Outstanding contribution to tackling Youth crime. Spark2Life attributes its early success to innovative thinking, collaboration and partnership with like-minded agencies such as the Metropolitan Police, Schools and Services for young people. Above all, the motivating factor is to see young lives saved from the downward spiral they find themselves in. To offer them hope and faith that they are valued, unique and significant.

 

Currently Spark2Life has been approached and are in discussions with other London Boroughs such as the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, the London borough of Enfield and the London borough of Barnet.