Youth team meets 500 children a week to offer help

Youth workers Ben and Lydia carry out patrols across King's Lynn

Staff at a county's youth support team said they were reaching 500 children and teenagers a week at possible risk of being exploited or excluded from school.

Norfolk County Council teams visit areas popular with youngsters - in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Thetford and King's Lynn - to offer advice, support and activities.

The aim is to improve school attendance, reduce the chance of them becoming involved in crime or anti-social behaviour and to help them stay safe online.

Team manager Lydia Durrant said: "It's about working alongside the young people to get to know them and really build those relationships to understand holistically how we can support them."

Lydia Durrant manages the "detached" youth work team, which aims to support young people

"I think ultimately our service works within communities to increase the safety of young people," she said.

The approach of connecting with young people outside of schools or community venues is known as "detached" youth work.

Youth worker Ben Griffin is based in King's Lynn, patrolling the streets he grew up on.

He said: "I was involved in anti-social behaviour when I was younger but you don't see it like that at the time.

"Because of that, I can relate to the young people. They think it is all new things that they are doing but I can say, 'Look, I've been there'.

"There is deprivation here but there is a strong sense of community."

The approach focuses on meeting young people where they are, rather than formal sessions at school

Fellow youth worker Fiona Chaddock said: "We started a group with some of the girls from North Lynn to work on things like healthy relationships and mental health.

"We're just trying to promote sisterhood and the importance of being there."

Head of youth justice and targeted support at the council Lauren Downes said the approach had been successful: "We know that 76% of those children have a reduced risk following the intervention we deliver."