Presentation delivered at the December 3 Learning Networks event.

1. 1
Time for Change Europe
‘a journey that makes sense‘

2. 2
What is the ‘Time for Change’ programme
•An 18 week intensive Personal Development programme aimed at disadvantaged
young people.
•It is based on a person centered approach.
•It is a learning partnership which will both support and challenge.
•It is a space to reflect and make sense of life experience.
•It is a ‘journey’ towards positive change.
•It is an opportunity to get ‘one to one’ support.
•It is a chance to ‘reconnect’ in a positive way with community.
Transformation is only valid if it is carried out with people, not for them…’
(Freire 1970: 43)

3. 3
Why is Time for Change Needed?
• Disadvantaged young People need to be supported to go through a process that
helps them make sense of the transition from childhood to adulthood.
• If young people are not supported to break the negative behaviour cycles there
are serious impacts and costs to health, education, criminal justice, family and
community.
• Young people often need time to reflect on their relationships.
• Young people need to discover their purpose and potential and turn them into
aspirations. (These aspirations need to affirmed.)
• Young people need to take ownership of their own learning and personal
development.
• Time for Change engages, motivates and supports ‘change’ to be sustained
effectively.
• Time for Change has a high success rate working with the most disadvantaged
young people.

4. 4
The History and Development of the programme.
• The programme was designed in 2006 and it has evolved over the last 10 years.
• To date we have delivered 27 programmes
• 141 young people have participated on the programme, 91 were male and 50
were female.
• 80% of participants were aged between 15 and 21.
• The programme has been delivered on the west coast of Scotland, Donegal
(west coast of Ireland) and on Rathlin Island.
• The project has partnered with community groups, the Probation Board, the
Youth Justice Agency, Health and Social Care Trust and NI Co-ownership
housing.
• The programme was funded through contracts with the above agencies as well
as through grant giving organisations and trusts.
• 100% of young people who completed the residential programme returned more
self-confident with an action plan for positive change.

5. 5
Summary of Participants
Summary of the TFC participants between 2011-2013:
Year Participants Male Female Programme
2013 20 9 11 4
2012 20 14 6 4
2011 24 10 14 4
TOTAL 64 33 31 12
!
NOTE: In total we have delivered 27 x T4C programmes with 141 young people
completing.

6. 6
6
5
4
3
2
1 .
6
5
4
3
2
1 .
A B
DC
Positive Connections and
Relationships
1.Self
2.Family
3.Friends an Community
4.Global
4 Change Programmes
1.Prepare for change
2.Time for change
3.Celebrating change
4.Sustaining change
4
3
2
1
4 
1
2
3
2
3
4
1
1 2
3 4
Young
Person
Time for Change Programme
(Inputs and Outcomes)
A - Healthy Relationships
C - Community Connections
B – Personal Development
D – Training and Employment

7. 7
6 Steps towards the programme outcomes
Experiential Learning; “...the process whereby knowledge is created
through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the
combination of grasping and transforming experience”
(Kolb, 1984)

8. 8
Limitations of the T4C programme.
• The programme requires each participant to recognise that they have a need for
positive change in their life.
• Participation must be voluntary.
• The success in sustaining ‘change’ depends on connecting from the start with
‘Family’ and ‘Community’ support.
• High staffing ratios are vital to ensure movement between individual and group
work interventions.
• The residential programme needs elements of nature, adventure and escape
from the normal experience of home life.
• The programme is highly effective as a catalyst for change. Sustaining change
will not be a straight smooth journey for the young people. It will however remain
as a reference point for the aspirations of the young people.
• The cost of running the programme is significant and needs to be focused on
those most in need.
• Change although necessary is often painful.

9. 9
Needs identified by young people

10. 10
Outcomes identified by young people

11. 11
Based on previous delivery of programmes we
expect that young people will leave the programme
with;
– Increased self-confidence and self-awareness
– Reduction in levels of the misuse of alcohol, drugs and solvents,
– Increased sense of happiness and well being,
– Clear goals and aspirations linked to increased motivation and personal
development
– Improved family / community relationships,
– Reduction in offending and anti-social behaviour
– Increased ability to manage anger issues.
– Engagement or Re-engagement in education and training,
– Clear progress towards gaining employment or volunteering positions.
– Greater connectivity to local community support services.

12. 12
Personal Statement of young male, Belfast
• “Before the programme my head was away with it. I was smoking dope and
taking diazepam, cutting my arms, hurting myself and trying to deal with the pain
of not seeing my daughter. I had no confidence in myself and was paranoid and
didn’t’t know how to change! The Time for Change programme got me away
from my situation, I got to talk one to one with my key worker who supported me
when I felt down and that helped me to see that there was other ways to go in
life. The programme challenged me to face my fears and motivated me to
change. I now stop, get my head together and make the right choice to achieve
my goal! I make decisions that are good for me to make me feel happy instead
of down. I am drugs free and feel good. My relationship with my family has
improved. I have started to apply for jobs and think about the future, one of the
goals I have set is to be happy and help others”

13. 13
Statement from the Principal and Senior Social
Workers
• “Time for Change has provided a much needed life line to many of the young
people with whom we work. The service has provided an excellent standard of
professionalism in their engagement with the statutory services, their dedication
and commitment to the young people has been outstanding and the working
relationships forged have greatly enhanced the service provision and indeed the
outcomes for the young people. The joint up working approach which has been
created has provided the bedrock for a comprehensive support scheme which
focuses primarily on meeting the needs of these young people, providing them
with life enhancing opportunities and experiences.”
• (Jonathon Giles PSW, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust)

14. 14
The Future of the programme
• We have developed a ‘train the trainers’ programme. The six participants from
Germany, Lithuania and Spain all felt that the programme could be useful within
their context and culture.
• There will be four pilots of the T4C Europe delivered over the next 12 months.
• We are in the process of establishing European wide accreditation.
• We hope to license the programme to ensure quality and future development.
• The programme has been well received in Ireland, it is flexible to compliment the
aims and needs of a range of different organisations.
• Local Government such as the PBNI, Housing Associations, the Youth Justice
Agency and the Belfast Health Trust have all funded places on Time for Change.
• The programme has massive potential across Europe to engage the growing
numbers of young people who find themselves outside of Employment,
Education or Training.

15. 15
!

16. 16

17. 17
Thank you for your time
Paul McKinstry
Email: info@journeyfree.co.uk
Telephone: 0044 7751 414954
Video: