project highlights - case study

Project

Brighton Estate Youth Initiatives

Client

The Satterley Property Group through the Brighton Joint Venture

Challenge

With the extended growth in the Brighton Estate there are a large number of families with young children and teenagers that reside in the area.

Services and programs for youth are still developing due to the growth and demand on local government and state government agency resources in the growing northern suburbs, with the community perceiving a need to positively engage young people in activities in which they can effectively contribute to the local community.

The need for greater cohesion between agencies, organisations and local groups in addressing the needs of children and youth was evident.

Solution

Creating Communities has been engaged by the Satterley Property Group, in line with their ongoing commitment to the development of the community, to provide consultancy support in undertaking youth initiatives in Brighton.

Creating Communities has shown strong leadership and facilitation skills in working with stakeholders to address children's and youth issues in the local area. We have proposed and received support for the development of a stakeholder group called the “Brighton Estate Youth Project” (BEYP) to provide a more coordinated approach to addressing youth issues in the estate and local area.

On behalf of the Satterley Property Group, Creating Communities coordinates and convenes this group, which comprises 17 representative groups. We also developed and establishment the group's Terms of Reference to support its management.

Achievements

• Effective networks have been developed between stakeholders that have led to some alignment of services and the establishment of better dialogue;

• BEYP has overseen the development of a localised Youth Council that will commence in 2007 through the keen involvement of local schools and the support of other stakeholders, particularly the Brighton Estate Residents Association and Beachside Community Services, which will support the management and engagement of the group. The City of Wanneroo will support the group through integration with their Youth Advisory Council; and

• BEYP is also contributing to the effective implementation of the Brighton Youth Expo to be conducted in May 2007 to engage and inform children, youth and the broader community on opportunities and beneficial community programs available to young people.