The Story of Hyzone
In recognition of the need to reach out to the young people of Hamilton, and with the help and support of young people in Hamilton, Hyzone Limited has decided to take action, in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and their Universal Connections Network, to develop a detached youth project and outreach programme.
Since around 2000, St. Mary’s Episcopal, Hamilton Old Parish, St. Andrew’s Parish, St. John’s, and Cadzow Parish churches have been developing Hyzone, and in 2007 work finally began. The years between were filled with planning, consultation and fundraising. Hyzone is jointly funded by the supporting churches, Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund and The Big Lottery Young People’s Fund.
The provision of a detached youth project is a very important part of the process of understanding the problems and difficulties faced by young people, and is in itself an essential aspect of working with young people on the streets on Hamilton.
This type of approach allows a greater understanding of young people’s needs, hopes, and desires. It can also uncover the sorts of problems that impinge upon young people’s lives e.g. vulnerability, disaffection with school, disconnection from the community, victims and perpetrators of crime, drugs, alcohol and uncertainty about the future, a lack of activities and young-person orientated services etc.
The Hyzone Youth Project aims to identify these issues, establish positive relationships with the young people of Hamilton and in conjunction with other agencies develop appropriate programmes to address issues raised. As well as a detached youth work programme, a weekly outreach to young people will operate from the Universal Connections premises, facilitated by the local churches each Sunday, which is a new addition to the services provided by the local authority youth service. This provision will be transparent, non-stigmatising and will fulfil the requirement of equity and equal opportunity.
The Project will be run by Hyzone Limited, a Scottish Charity, and implemented by full and part time detached youth workers, operating out of and in partnership with Universal Connections.
Through the partnership with SLC, Universal Connections and local Churches, good links will be developed with other service providers, ensuring that appropriate referrals can be made, and follow-up offered.
Given its detached nature the project expects to work with a broad range of young people from senior primary (11+), through secondary school age (12-16) as well as those in their late teens and early adult years (17-25).
Essential to the work of the project however is the development of positive relationships with the young people themselves. It is recognised therefore that the needs, hopes and desires of the young people encountered by the project workers will inevitably shape the focus of the project itself. To assist this, young people have been involved in the development of the project to date.
Work within the Town Centre Secondary Schools (Hamilton Grammar and Holy Cross) and their associated feeder Primary Schools (Beckford, St John’s, Woodside, Chatelherault, St Anne’s, St Elizabeth’s and St Mary’s) will be developed, enabling the development of contacts made with young people and their learning community.
The project will be based at South Lanarkshire’s Universal Connections Facility at Woodside Walk, enabling development of the partnership agreement and the widest possible provision of appropriate service to the young people of Hamilton.
It will work within the framework of South Lanarkshire’s Youth Inclusion Strategy, and the National Youth Strategy. It seeks to help young people adopt healthy and positive lifestyles, become active citizens, and support them during the experience of transition and change.