More about Abelour projects
Crannog
Crannog was set up in 1998 with funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council to offer community-based provision for children excluded from school or at high risk of being excluded, and children at high risk of being accommodated by the council (outside the area). It is a social education service operating in 3 project bases: Dumfries, Annan and Stranraer with multi disciplinary teams that include teaching staff. From 2002, Lloyds TSB Partnership Drugs Initiative has funded a Substance Misuse Development Officer and 2 workers. In 2002 the Scottish Government Youth Crime Prevention Fund allowed two Youth Justice workers to be appointed. These posts have developed capacity across the service to respond more effectively to the range of issues presented by young people who may be referred due to difficulties in education in the first instance.
The projects work mainly with 12-17 year olds but sometimes younger or older. Each young person has a detailed assessment leading to an individual action plan. The primary aim is to help the children and young people to reintegrate into mainstream school. For some young people, an alternative education curriculum may be appropriate, at least for a period of time. This may comprise some sessions at school and some at Crannog, or all sessions at Crannog. The projects can offer Standard Grade Maths and English and some other subjects. They also offer the ASDAN programme for literacy, numeracy and social and personal skills development.
The core of Crannog’s work is intensive, individualised social education programmes using both 1:1 interaction and group work. Other interventions include the Ross Programme, a cognitive, behavioural programme for low to medium risk offenders and Family Problem Solving, a short-term focussed intervention with families. Crannog also offers Family Group Conferencing.
Some key facts:
- Crannog works with around 65 young people at any one time
- Case loads are small – 5 per worker
- 58% of young people are either Looked After or Looked After and Accommodated, 26% are at risk of being looked after and on average, 23% are at risk of being placed in a residential school
Effective engagement and the establishment of a shared commitment is perhaps the most critical element of Crannog’s approach. Programmes are created in partnership with young people and establishing their permission to work together is essential. Absolute unconditional positive regard and resultant respect underpins all work at Crannog; communicating to young people the separation of the person from their actions, i.e., we might not like your actions, but we respect and value you as a person. The Individual Action Plans created in partnership with young people reflect the enormous variety of young people’s needs and learning styles.
The coaching metaphor is used to illustrate the approach to young people and assist in clarifying the role of a Crannog worker. Goals are identified and the staff help the young person to work towards them offering encouragements but also critical comment where necessary.
For More Information about Crannog visit the Aberlour website.
Or contact:
Crannog Service
c/o Department for Education
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Education Offices
30 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries
DG1 1NW
Tel: 01387 260431 or 01387 260411
Unit 2
Unit 2 is a community-based resource in Stirling that works with children and young people between 8 and 16 years at risk of being or already looked after/ accommodated by Stirling and Clackmannan Councils. It provides individual support, group work, family work and a befriending service. Many of the children and young people have problems at school. They may be on a part-time timetable or taught within Secondary School Support but with some activities elsewhere. Unit 2 will help them to cope with school e.g. by giving help with anger management and improving self-esteem but does not give direct education provision. There are 8 places from Stirling and 4 from Clackmannan.
For more information about Unit 2 visit the Aberlour website.
Or Contact:
Unit 2
42 Lomond Crescent
Cornton
Stirling
FK9 7UD
Tel: 01786 461334
The Sycamore Project
The Sycamore Project provides support for young people aged 5-18 who are difficult or demanding. All the young people at Sycamore deserve an opportunity to receive an education. The project offers a fresh start to young people who have found their educational experience difficult. The young person's needs are at the heart of the process. The Project strives to provide the best possible service for young people with the aim of them becoming successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
One of the key principles of the Service is that many young people who have previously attended special residential schools can and should be worked with in a community setting, accessing mainstream schools. Over the past years Sycamore has continued to demonstrate that with support, good communication and a lot of hard work, this can be accomplished. This requires major efforts on the part of schools, young people and the staff but the social, psychological and educational benefits are significant.
The extensive support offered at the Sycamore project encompasses the educational experience as a whole. This may include staff going with the young person to school, a tutor to provide extra tuition, materials to assist with learning difficulties or many other forms of support that are required to meet the needs of the young person.
Sycamore has some residents who have initially been unable to attend mainstream school. For them the project is able to meet their educational needs at Sycamore School with the aim of re-integrating them at a later stage in their placement.
For more information about the Sycamore Project visit the Aberlour website http://www.aberlour.org.uk/
Or contact
Sycamore Project
6 Bellyeoman Road
Dunfermline
KY12 OAD
Tel: 01592 733320
Abelour reports and publications
Evaluating Crannog
This document reports on an external evaluation by Stirling University, drawing on quantitative evidence about the service, the outcomes recorded and the costs incurred; the perspectives of other professionals who are involved with the young people or the commissioning of the service; the ways in which young people and their families experience Crannog.
http://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/images/evaluating_crannog.pdf
Crannog Approach
A description of how Crannog works including the principles and theoretical models underpinning its practice.
http://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/images/crannogapproach2003.pdf
Outside Looking In
A report highlighting findings from a research study about the views of looked after young people and their access to education. The report provides an opportunity to listen to the voices of the looked after and excluded.
http://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/images/outsidelookingin.pdf
