Project

The Boys II Men – Girls II Women (ACESS) now called Children and Young People's Division (CYPD) project was concieved out of two primary concerns.  Firstly with the general climate of underachievement of African Caribbean children within the Sandwell Education Authority and secondly, the disproportionate rate of both fixed term and permanent exclusion from Sandwell schools compounded by the increasing climate of disengagement and disaffection.

Program

This included implementation of an intervention program from March 98 to support children and young people, parents and schools including the recruitment and training of mentors. Advocacy to support parent’s ongoing interaction with schools to enhance their ability to deliver effectively. Programs include Mentoring Parental Support (Triple P), School Support and Advocacy

Support

We are currently providing direct support to pupils who are excluded, non-attenders and others who are experiencing difficulties with educational provision.

In addition, we have established links with a number of schools within Sandwell where we are working in partnership to address and develop mechanisms/initiatives to respond to issues of development within African Caribbean pupils and related issues with regard to disaffection and underachievement. 

With reference to referal sources, we are developing increased support from the Social Service Family Support Teams who are keen to develop support for pupils ‘looked after’ by the local authority.

Area of Work

Although it is our remit to work within the borough of Sandwell, we are receiving increased parental enquiries from surrounding educational authorities including Wolverhampton, Dudley, Birmingham and Walsall.

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