EDDY People - Engage Divert Develop Young People
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EDDY is a youth diversion programme, which has developed from the highly successful Durham Youth Enterprise Scheme, which has been running for 15 years.
EDDY offers a personal development programme to disadvantaged young people
(12 - 17 years), at risk of becoming offenders. EDDY will divert young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour, develop their individual social and citizenship skills through enhancing a sense of personal and social responsibility, and reduce exclusion from statutory education.
EDDY is a multi-agency programme and its partners include : Durham Constabulary, the Prison Service, Durham County Council, Durham Community Education, the Army, Positive Futures, Co-ordination of Social Inclusion Projects (COSIP), Youth Action Plus, Co Durham Youth Engagement Service and a number of voluntary organisations.
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The programme involves over 150 young people each year from around Co. Durham and Darlington, who are nominated by a variety of agencies or their families. The young people who attend come for a number of reasons, however, they must not have been found guilty at court of a criminal offence. There is no cost to attend.
Young people will initially attend Smartzone workshops, where trained Smartzone Educators will provide peer-led sessions on drug and alcohol awareness in an inspiring way, and provide leadership and mentoring.
Successful completion of the workshops is rewarded by attendance at a 5 day outward-bound residential at High Force. The fun and exciting outdoor activities will include rock climbing, ghyll scrambling, mountain biking, raft building and lots of other team games and challenges.
The focus for the EDDY scheme is young persons' continued development. Many young people, who are trained by Smartzone, return the following year as members of staff.
The scheme is run on a voluntary basis and each year over 65 people from a wide range of backgrounds attend as volunteer staff. This is what makes the scheme so special. Everyone who attends gets so much out of it and many staff return year after year.
If you require any further information on becoming a volunteer member of staff, or you would like to refer any young people, please contact the EDDY Co-ordinator Andrew Bustin:
Telephone: 0345 60 60 365
Website: www.eddypeople.co.uk
E-mail: EddyPeople@durham.pnn.police.uk
