Rainer React Project - Lewisham, Greenwich, Chelmsford & Isle of Wight

A pilot program that works with young offenders as soon as warnings of a crisis are picked up. The pioneering new scheme, which aims to stop vulnerable and anti-social youngsters graduating to crime, recognises that many young offenders are children and not merely dismissible as gun-toting hoodies.

Who is it aimed at?

Youths aged 10-16 years old who have received a police reprimand, are at risk for exclusion from school, or lives in a family known to have domestic violence.

Who's involved?

Police, Youth workers, Youth offending teamsFor the first time, young people at risk of becoming serious offenders are to be offered emotional and practical help by youth workers based in police stations. Children and teenagers will be offered community support within 48 hours of becoming known to the police in the pilot project, which is likely to be extended across Britain.

How does it work?

Run by Rainer, the national charity for "under-supported" young people, this builds on the success of the charity's Rapid Action Project (Rap) in Essex, more details here. The national pilot, which has almost £650,000 of lottery funding, is being launched in Tendring and Chelmsford in Essex, the Isle of Wight and Lewisham and Greenwich in south London. It will draw on lessons learned from Rap, which highlighted how rapid and structured interventions can have a major impact in diverting young people away from crime and can reduce reoffending.

Crime can be reduced, says the charity, if warnings of a crisis are picked up early and young people are offered positive opportunities for change.

Dave Chater, policy officer for the charity, says: "Rap showed that rapid intervention could have an impact very quickly and prevent people coming back into contact with police. We saw the results and the potential to fulfil a gap in current policy. We knew that community-based interventions could have an impact - but we were amazed at the changes."

One of the main strengths of the project will be the flexibility of the support offered - not only on a one-to-one basis to young people, but also to their families. Action plans frequently include work to address anti-social behaviour, anger management and bullying. But there is also an emphasis on improving communication skills and family relationships and encouragement to participate in communities through activities and local clubs.

The new React scheme will continue to offer this support but will target it at 10- to 16-year-olds, who are the main users of the service. Help will typically be offered for a period of six months, with staff acting as a signpost to more specialised services. Throughout, the emphasis will be on the whole person, with staff ready and able to work with young people on education, family, housing, relationship and offending problems and on alcohol and drugs misuse.

Kierra Brand, a young persons and family support worker for Rainer, says "We fill a real gap, which was originally identified by the police. Often young people may be referred because of truancy or because they are in trouble with the police. Usually there is an underlying problem of domestic violence. We know from experience that young people who are excluded from school are more likely to become offenders. We tackle the underlying problem and may work with a young person anything from a few weeks to a few months. Often they open up to us because we are not police officers or social workers. However, to make the change, it has to be them doing the hard work. I feel very proud when I see what they have achieved."

The React service will build on existing partnerships with police, youth offending teams and other statutory and voluntary partners. In future, referrals will be taken also from appropriate adults - volunteers who act as "guardians" for young people whose parents are not present during police interviews. Young people themselves will also have an input into development of the service thanks to the setting up of local and national forums.

Rainer believes the new service has the power to transform the lives of teenagers on the fringes of offending, who could in future be seduced by some of the symbolism associated with gang culture. "The success of Rap has shown what early intervention can achieve," says Fran Pollard, head of new business development for the charity. "Having youth workers based in police stations who can offer help can make an enormous difference to young people.

"Hopefully, over the next two years we will pull together the processes and procedures and roll out React across the rest of the country."

Rainer React Project - Lewisham, Greenwich, Chelmsford & Isle of Wight

A pilot program that works with young offenders as soon as warnings of a crisis are picked up. The pioneering new scheme, which aims to stop vulnerable and anti-social youngsters graduating to crime, recognises that many young offenders are children and not merely dismissible as gun-toting hoodies.

Who is it aimed at?

Youths aged 10-16 years old who have received a police reprimand, are at risk for exclusion from school, or lives in a family known to have domestic violence.

Who's involved?

Police, Youth workers, Youth offending teamsFor the first time, young people at risk of becoming serious offenders are to be offered emotional and practical help by youth workers based in police stations. Children and teenagers will be offered community support within 48 hours of becoming known to the police in the pilot project, which is likely to be extended across Britain.

How does it work?

Run by Rainer, the national charity for "under-supported" young people, this builds on the success of the charity's Rapid Action Project (Rap) in Essex, more details here. The national pilot, which has almost £650,000 of lottery funding, is being launched in Tendring and Chelmsford in Essex, the Isle of Wight and Lewisham and Greenwich in south London. It will draw on lessons learned from Rap, which highlighted how rapid and structured interventions can have a major impact in diverting young people away from crime and can reduce reoffending.

Crime can be reduced, says the charity, if warnings of a crisis are picked up early and young people are offered positive opportunities for change.

Dave Chater, policy officer for the charity, says: "Rap showed that rapid intervention could have an impact very quickly and prevent people coming back into contact with police. We saw the results and the potential to fulfil a gap in current policy. We knew that community-based interventions could have an impact - but we were amazed at the changes."

One of the main strengths of the project will be the flexibility of the support offered - not only on a one-to-one basis to young people, but also to their families. Action plans frequently include work to address anti-social behaviour, anger management and bullying. But there is also an emphasis on improving communication skills and family relationships and encouragement to participate in communities through activities and local clubs.

The new React scheme will continue to offer this support but will target it at 10- to 16-year-olds, who are the main users of the service. Help will typically be offered for a period of six months, with staff acting as a signpost to more specialised services. Throughout, the emphasis will be on the whole person, with staff ready and able to work with young people on education, family, housing, relationship and offending problems and on alcohol and drugs misuse.

Kierra Brand, a young persons and family support worker for Rainer, says "We fill a real gap, which was originally identified by the police. Often young people may be referred because of truancy or because they are in trouble with the police. Usually there is an underlying problem of domestic violence. We know from experience that young people who are excluded from school are more likely to become offenders. We tackle the underlying problem and may work with a young person anything from a few weeks to a few months. Often they open up to us because we are not police officers or social workers. However, to make the change, it has to be them doing the hard work. I feel very proud when I see what they have achieved."

The React service will build on existing partnerships with police, youth offending teams and other statutory and voluntary partners. In future, referrals will be taken also from appropriate adults - volunteers who act as "guardians" for young people whose parents are not present during police interviews. Young people themselves will also have an input into development of the service thanks to the setting up of local and national forums.

Rainer believes the new service has the power to transform the lives of teenagers on the fringes of offending, who could in future be seduced by some of the symbolism associated with gang culture. "The success of Rap has shown what early intervention can achieve," says Fran Pollard, head of new business development for the charity. "Having youth workers based in police stations who can offer help can make an enormous difference to young people.

"Hopefully, over the next two years we will pull together the processes and procedures and roll out React across the rest of the country."