Issue NC10 Winter 2020
New job!
New job!
New Future!
Flying into 2021
We all know this year’s been tough Let’s end it with some 2020 success stories offering hope for a brighter future ... Our news issues are kindly funded entirely by a private donation from the Hawerby Trust
www.catzero.org
Foreword From Dave and Jim ... JANUARY 2020 and we
heralded in a new decade with hope and enthusiasm, but our world was turned on its head as the stark reality of coronavirus and what its consequences would mean became apparent – we were not alone! Chair of trustees Jim Dick OBE.
In the Humber region, with 12 successful years of delivering lasting personal change, we had to balance the safety of our team, participants and full families against the responsibility we have to offer continued help and support to the lonely and the vulnerable, some who were facing real crisis in their lives. As lockdown happened in March we worked fast and with dedication to understand what that meant. Our teams had to work from home, and many were furloughed. Meanwhile, we quickly put into place support mechanisms that allowed us to offer as much reassurance and advice as we were able to those most in need. Managers and delivery officers of our Full Families programmes
Director of operations Dave Bertholini.
in Grimsby and Hull were most concerned about the way in which family units would cope – single parents feeling isolated as they had to home-school, with others facing financial and emotional issues. CatZero was there, and we offer Sailing director Danny Watson. our heartfelt thanks to our team members who made weekly phone calls, provided activity CatZero is planning ahead packs, and continued with their for 2021 and has a number one-to-one work with individuals. of programmes available, It is fantastic to read how, in fact, including Full Families and we have so many success stories a new support programme to tell you about in this newsletter for children and young people aged 14 - 24 years. – it just shows us all how resilient and determined we are as people. Undoubtedly, everybody suffered from the Of course, we cannot end this coronavirus impact, but foreword without a huge thank young people will have you to Danny and his small 30in30 some long-term effects and support crew. After re-scheduling will need additional support both the timing and the route of to enable them to move the 30 marathons in 30 days, forward. Therefore we will they did it. What an incredible feat be recruiting participants of achievement and more than in the New Year to be £55,000 raised. The support was supported through this new fantastic, the running awesome programme in Grimsby and and the CatZero message was Hull. spread nationwide. This money can now be match-funded against grant funding for our vital work, meaning IN real terms to us it is worth double that amount!
Finally, huge appreciation goes to our supporters, many who have become friends over the years. We could not do any of this without you. At CatZero we have much to be thankful for and we move into 2021 with hope that the new year will bring with it a world in which we can all progress safely and with assurance. Thank you all, Dave & Jim.
Keep an eye on our website and in the local news and radio for details and how to be part of it. We are also looking to restart our sailing programmes when restrictions allow, with lockdown seeing our yacht undergo a re-fit ensuring it’s in the best possible condition! Again, look out on social media and our website for details of 2021 sail opportunities
Spotlight Single parent, John Bennett.
Isolated Dad reaches high for his family Parents’ programme – and was the only man on the course.
“CATZERO has done so much for me and my family, the team has literally given us our lives back.” The words of single dad-of-two John Bennett who, in just one sentence, sums up what CatZero means to him and his teenage boys Johnny and Ciaran. After almost two decades of unemployment, during which he raised his two sons alone, John now has a job. Meanwhile Johnny is on a course at the Grimsby Institute as he looks to enter the armed forces and Ciaran is actively seeking work.
That led to the whole family being supported as a ‘Full Family’, and Johnny taking part in a 2019 summer programme for young people, which included our special 10th anniversary sail from Brixham to Grimsby (Johnny is pictured below, on board the yacht last summer). The results have been amazing – the best this family could have hoped for, and John has even spoken on BBC Radio Humberside about CatZero’s work. “Work is fine, life is much better, and we have one organisation to thank for all of this. My boys talk of how proud they are of me, and to hear that means the world,” added John.
This is a far cry from where the dad and his boys were when John agreed to come onto our Lone Parents’ Programme 18 months ago. John had no regrets about being a stay-at-home dad, but as such the former HGV driver had become isolated and had to live with a past when trouble had crossed his path. He was worried about his future and the impact previous mistakes and his lack of confidence would have on him finding work. “I didn’t find it easy to talk to people and spending time with others wasn’t something I was good at doing,” he recalled. Despite his fears, John threw himself into the Lone
3
Spotlight ‘Be your own person’
CAZ White is now a confident and independent 26-year-old with a fulltime job, her own home – and a passion for crafts, quilting, and rollerblading! Today, Caz is a very different young woman to the one who joined a CatZero course in January 2018 – with the latest news about her new job at Seachill in Grimsby typifying the change that has been enabled in her life. Her transformational journey has been well documented by us over the years but for those who don’t know, when she joined our programme on the south bank, Caz admitted to being isolated. Lacking confidence she was turning to alcohol for solace, spending most of her time in her bedroom at her then home in Immingham. That was almost three years ago and slowly, over the months and years the ‘Once CatZero Always CatZero’ ethos has really helped Caz as she has found her feet. Determined to stand on her own, she used the first lockdown to make a few positive decisions in her life and got herself a new flat in Grimsby. Two months ago, she began her new job – marking a real turning-point in her progress. Add to that her quilting business – she has sent her works worldwide and has her own Facebook page,
Dragon’s Dream Quilting, with plans to share a craft stall on Freeman Street Market pre-Christmas. She also has a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, volunteers for the Beaver Scouts and Sea Scouts and last year completed the coast-to-coast cycle ride for CatZero. Meanwhile, she’s training for a fundraising rollerblade from the CatZero offices in Grimsby to the charity’s base at Hull Marina next year, which is set to take place in July. “For me, the first lockdown was a real turning point. I said to myself ‘now’s the time to grow, you’ve got to work this out for yourself’, I’ve grown a lot. I know CatZero’s still there for me but there was a time that I would rely on the team there for everything and that’s no longer the case. “What sets CatZero apart is the long-term support of the move-on team. None of the other courses I attended offered that and it’s so valuable as it takes time to stand on your own two feet, to say to yourself you can be your own person.”
Spotlight A bright new future for former serviceman “TODAY my drugs are the air that I breathe and the breakfast I eat in the mornings.” The inspiring words of veteran Ross Baldinger, who is sharing his story of hope and determination with others who may be battling addiction. Now ‘clean’ for well over a year, Ross says with deep honesty: “There is always temptation, not a day goes by when it isn’t there. But I now have the strength to say no. I end every day without giving way to that temptation and that’s a great feeling.” Ross is in no doubt of the organisations that are responsible for helping him win this daily fight, one being CatZero and the unstinting support he has received from the team there. The former serviceman was just 16 when he joined the Army as a junior soldier in 1998. Looking back, Ross recognises he was too young and faltered – leaving just three years later and heading straight into a troubled period in his life, which was to last more than a decade. “I made the choices I did, and I cannot blame anyone else for that,” says Ross. Drink and drugs took over and remained a key focus as he moved from the south back to the Humber region – spending time living on the streets. There followed a period in jail and rehab before a representative from the Hull Veterans’ Support Centre suggested he attended the first Veterans
Programme, which was delivered by CatZero and supported by Jobcentre Plus and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Whilst enjoying the programme, Ross admits he perhaps needed more time to fully appreciate it. This was recognised and he was invited back on the new 2020 programme, which is supported by the Veterans Covenant Pathways Programme, and Jobcentre Plus on an individual basis. At the same time, he received help from veterans’ group Project Nova. “CatZero never let me go, they continued to believe in me. I am lucky enough to have this second chance and have fully applied myself, it is a great opportunity and one I am not going to waste. “Every day I am on the programme, I am inspired,” said Ross, a little breathless after just completing an hour-long badminton session in Hull’s East Park with a fellow participant. Now looking to the future, he is moving into a larger house in the city with more room for when his children stay with him – he proudly says he is now allowed unsupervised access. Ross is also looking at how he can support other people who may be battling the same demons that he has successfully beaten. “I have come out the other side and now I want to show others that there is a different way to live their lives and that these challenges can make you stronger. I am ever grateful to CatZero, the team there is brilliant,” said Ross.
5
Feature Surviving Lockdown Our CLLD3 participants were awarded their certificates by Bob, left, and Steve, right, the two course leaders.
LIFE during lockdown has been different for the team here at CatZero. With a large amount of our work usually reliant upon social activity and face-to-face contact, for large chunks of the year we have had to rethink and change our methods of support. Determined to remain in touch with all our participants, past and present, we have switched from physical to virtual whilst also using phones, with individual socially distanced contact where it has been necessary.
LOCKDOWN 1 All our programmes had to stop over this period and with staff furloughed we were reliant on the remaining team members to make weekly calls – and they did a great job. Those on our Full Families programmes were also supported throughout, vital to ensure they kept on track. Weekly tasks and activities were presented to them and individual one-to-one sessions were held over the phone with parents to ensure their progression plans were maintained. July to November: As restrictions were eased, we were able to strengthen our team once more, restarting stalled programmes whilst launching our CLLD4 Scunthorpe and Veterans programmes. Our usual café days and contact activities had to be
changed and of course, no sailing – as long as we can, we’re planning a really busy 2021 for our yacht! We were also able to complete our Scunthorpe CLLD3 programme with a great celebration event.
LOCKDOWN 2 As coronavirus cases rose in our region and tight restrictions were imposed, we again had to change our focus – ensuring we could continue some elements of our programmes safely. Led by Sean ‘Bob’, Callum and then Fiona, weekly activities were delivered to participants and weekly phone calls made to those on CLLD4. We also made ourselves available for specific individual support. Reflecting on the changes Bob says: “In the past, up to 80 per cent of our work with participants has been very social and from that point of view things have been understandably difficult. However, we have found different ways of working and yes, we have pledged to try and make sure that everyone gets the chance to sail.” This was a view echoed by Sarah Coulson who works with our Full Families in Grimsby: “The most recent lockdown has been slightly easier for our families as the children are at school, however it’s such a shame that we have not been able to offer that one-to-one support. But we are still here and making weekly contact,” she said.
“Those who are disengaged simply never get to know about the opportunities that may be out there for them. It is a sad reality that young people who grow up in families where unemployment is historic may be unlikely to benefit,” said Jo. “That is why the work of CatZero is so important, the team here does reach out. When I was offered the chance to work with them, I jumped at the opportunity,” she added.
Jo GIbson
THE end of the first UK lockdown saw the start of a new career for CatZero Delivery Officer Jo Gibson – and no sooner had she started then she had to plan for lockdown number two!
For Jo, joining our team was not an entirely new experience as she had worked with us on a parttime basis five years ago. Then a Business Consultant at Scunthorpe’s North Lindsey College, she was seconded to help support a south bank programme running at the time. The end of that programme saw her return to North Lindsey, before moving over to a similar role at Hull College where she remained until this September. It was then she accepted the position with CatZero and went straight into joint leadership of the Veteran’s course that is currently running and is supported by the Veterans Covenant Pathways Programme, and Jobcentre Plus on an individual basis. “The work of CatZero is certainly unique with a very good combination of formal and informal teambuilding,” said Jo. Over the years, Jo has built up extensive experience within the apprenticeship and careers sector. This has shown her how, whilst there are many opportunities, it remains incredibly hard for the most deprived, long-term unemployed and vulnerable to break down the barriers and change their lives.
A former outdoor pursuits instructor, Jo is also keen on the activities side of the CatZero programmes and was delighted to get involved when those on the veterans programme visited Welton Waters Adventure Centre where they enjoyed kayaking whilst also undertaking some necessary maintenance work. As volunteers, the team helped to rebuild a wooden jetty. With the second lockdown coming part-way through the course, things did have to change but Jo and the team was determined to keep the veterans engaged. “Of course, and like it is for so many people, the situation has not been ideal, but we arranged different activities such as walks and quizzes that can be done on a more individual basis. It’s important that we keep the good work up,” explained Jo. To find out more about CatZero’s ongoing work with veterans please email info@catzero.org
online... Facebook
@catzerohumber Danny was praised and welcomed throughout his amazing feat.
@catzeroofficial
@catzeroofficial
@catzeroofficial
YouTube
@catzero humber official
www.catzero.org The Business and Digital Hub Freeman Street Market Grimsby DN32 7DS 2B Humber Street, Hull HU1 1TG Info: (01482) 333303
CatZero’s O-Zone magazine is written and produced by Southbank PR, Grimsby. Copyright 2020.
Fundraising An incredible journey
30in30: what can we say in this newsletter that hasn’t already been said? The hundreds of well-wishers, wonderful support crew from Across the Divide, the vital physio sessions from Ollie and, of course, the headline sponsor, key sponsors and main supporters, including the Scarborough Group Foundation – our Director of Sailing Danny Watson couldn’t have done it without you all.
You can still chart Danny’s incredible journey on our social media pages, or on our website’s dedicated 30in30 page and the blogs ... but for now, all we can say is another big THANK YOU!
With a last-minute change to the route due to the ongoing pandemic, Danny set off from Brighton on September 23. He ran at least a marathon a day to London, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire & North East Lincolnshire, East & North Yorkshire, then back to Hull before another complete loop of Greater Lincolnshire, running up to Grimsby to finish in Hull on October 22. During the 800-miles of running, many friends were gained – those known to Danny and CatZero, and even anonymous donators. They all supported the cause and to-date the 30in30 epic challenge has raised approx. £55,000 for CatZero. This money will be used to match-fund against grants that we are eligible for, meaning it’s worth double that amount to us.
9
Fundraising A few more images from Danny’s incredible, fundraising journey ...
In memorium A kind and determined man EVERYONE here at CatZero was deeply saddened to hear of the sad passing of one of our participants, Wayne Clixby. Standing by our ethos of ‘Once CatZero Always CatZero’, we had kept in touch with Wayne, always seeing him as a fantastic example of perseverance, enthusiasm and motivation. Wayne, who was 60 at the time of his accidental and very sudden death, had joined us last year. With encouragement, he played a full part in our programme and was positive, determined, and enthusiastic, passing six qualifications during his time with us. His attendance was 100 per cent during the 16-week programme and he took part in every activity possible. We were delighted to see him join our eight-day sail on CatZero, during which he volunteered for every single job, especially the cooking for all 14 crew on board. Wayne kept everyone motivated, happy and laughing, even during the sea sickness times! In fact, Skipper Danny Watson described him as a ‘superstar’.
Following the programme and with a determination to keep busy, Wayne joined The Conservation Volunteers before becoming a Fareshare volunteer four-days a week as a driver’s assistant. He remained there for more than a year, becoming a valuable part of the team. Whilst his death is extremely sad, we all take heart from the fact that Wayne was able to fulfil his potential over the last two years, allowing others to see what a kind, positive and determined person he was. Our sympathies go to his family, his relatives, and friends.
11
News Positive report for CatZero THE opportunity to paint a true picture of CatZero’s work across the Humber was enabled this year, when we were awarded a ‘Capacity Building’ grant by the Youth Endowment Fund, (YEF). For the first time we were able to focus upon investigating the impact of our work, and the results made for interesting reading. We thought it was worthwhile to share some
of the main highlights of this report, with the full document available to download on our website www.catzero.org Overseeing the report was eminent social worker Lesley Wilkinson MBE who worked with the team and helped to provide a full assessment of how we identify children at risk of youth offending. Between April and June, 52 young people completed a survey (either virtually or via phone interviews) providing the basis of our research, which was set against the regional landscape.
THE REGIONAL PICTURE In January 2020, an inspection report on Hull Children’s Services showed that the city had 848 children in care, double the number in the ten years since CatZero began. •
•
•
Hull is one of five local authority districts with the largest proportion (45.2%) of highly deprived neighbourhoods in England. North East Lincolnshire is 17th on the list (30.2%). The most recently published Young People, Skills and Employability newsletter, by Hull City Council, stated that in December 2019, the percentage of young people classed as NEET in Hull was 6.3% against a national average of 3.3%. The Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) 2019 indicates that, in Hull, there are 61 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in the most deprived 10%; in North East Lincolnshire, there are 34, including one LSOA in the East Marsh ward ranked as the single most deprived LSOA in England for Education, Skills and Learning.
•
•
•
The average percentage of young people leaving education in Great Britain with no qualifications is 7.7%. In North Lincolnshire it is 11.3%, North East Lincolnshire 10.7%, Hull 8.9% and the East Riding 8.7%. The average unemployment rate amongst 18-24 year olds in Great Britain was 4.4% pre-Covid. In North East Lincolnshire it was 7.8%, North Lincolnshire 6.5%, with both Hull & the East Riding 7.1%. That is likely to have risen this year, due to the pandemic. Hull has the third highest admission rate for drug related mental health and behavioural disorders in England (40 per 100,000 population) behind Stoke-on-Trent (68) and Liverpool (42).
significant number (5 out of 40 respondents) felt they would ‘not be here anymore’, an indication that without support to escape the negative expectations experienced by many CatZero participants, positive outcomes can be difficult to envisage. Others felt they would have remained ‘in a dark place’ or continued to self-harm or practice negative behaviours.
When you consider this, why is CatZero’s work so important? There is a growing evidence that early intervention not only reduces costs to the public purse but results in better outcomes for families and communities. It is in this context that CatZero has developed an approach that has shown itself to be effective, working with young people, families, and their communities to address and overcome many of the underlying personal issues that prevent young people fulfilling their life potential.
What did the survey respondents say about their CatZero experience? For families, the positive changes within the family group, building confidence, not feeling judged or belittled and, therefore, opening-up and dealing with issues, was a key reason why participants made a commitment with CatZero. Working with the full family, not just the young person whose issues had initiated the referral, was considered important in creating a positive environment for family meetings.
The majority of participants on CatZero programmes fall into categories that make them vulnerable as victims or targets for criminals; however, of those who answered directly in relation to crime or offending, 27.5% felt they would have been in prison or in trouble with the police or become habitual drug users had they not experienced a CatZero programme. Some had been able to enter and maintain relationships, in some cases leaving abusive situations, living in foster care, or no longer ‘dealing with people who don’t have my family’s best interests at heart’. By providing a meaningful intervention for families and young people dealing with underlying barriers to personal change, many of which can be traced directly to adverse experiences in childhood, CatZero can make a lasting impact for those individuals and the wider community.
Half felt that their mental health and wellbeing would have deteriorated without CatZero. A
13
Business Calling local employers AS WE look to engage with more employers across both sides of the Humber during 2021, we will be producing a leaflet for businesses, which will also be on our website. This will help with our ‘toolkit’ to present to businesses when we look to form long-term relationships with those who want to support young people. These businesses can work with us to employ someone from CatZero secure in the knowledge that the person will continue to receive help to make the job succeed. This support is both to the individual and employer.
WHAT WE ARE TELLING BUSINESSES About us
Our business offer
We are a leading Humber charity delivering lasting personal change; we work with employers to prepare young people for career success; we ensure they are ‘work-ready’ with 65% of our participants going into employment, education, or training; and we provide life-changing opportunities, whilst offering businesses the chance to help create stronger communities.
We offer motivated local young people with vocational qualifications, updated CVs and vital ID documentation, smooth transition into the work environment. Once there we continue to offer support from an informal relationship to a structured arrangement between the employer, the young person and a CatZero team member.
Business benefits There is the opportunity of an increased company profile whilst adding value to Corporate Social Responsibility objectives and enhancing an organisation’s brand. Positive PR is offered with features on our website, in this newsletter and on our social media. We can also arrange for press releases to be sent out to local media/radio. Business partners can also benefit from organising teambuilding on our yacht, or on land.
How young people benefit
for themselves and their families.
They secure meaningful work, allowing them to flourish as ‘good jobs’ offer security, structure and a fair income, increasing feelings of self-worth, belonging and having a ‘stake’ in society
If you are reading this and are involved in a business, or know a business leader who may be interested, then please pass our details on. You could help to change a life today!
“CatZero helped build my confidence and made me believe I could find a job. During the course I found myself two part-time jobs using the CV and skills provided to me by the team,” a former participant who is now an account manager earning £30,000pa.
15
Happy Christmas!
Our Grimsby Full Families have been enjoying some festive lockdown treats thanks to packages delivered by us and kindly donated by BRIDGEfriends. Like the faces on these pictures, let’s all keep smiling!