Youth support – Future4me
Future4Me offer direct work and consultation to support a broad range of young people known to Children’s Services in Lincolnshire.
The multi-disciplinary team is a responsive and skilled workforce meeting the diverse and complex needs of our young people. They facilitate timely and appropriate intervention so that:
- young people are supported without the need for statutory intervention – either through Social Care or Youth Justice
- older adolescents are supported to remain with their existing carers (where this is safe) and there is a reduction in late entrants into the care system
- relationships are maintained with key professionals accessing specialised wrap-around support
- victims of crime are supported and given a voice through restorative practice to ensure safe communities
- children and young people are fully supported to realise their potential
In the year from April 2022 to March 2023, the team supported 473 young people. The data below shows a summary of their characteristics by gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, and religion. Where numbers are below 10 these have been grouped.
Young people by gender
| Gender | Number of young people | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 353 | 74.6% |
| Female | 120 | 24.4% |
| Total | 473 | 100% |
Young people by religion
| Religion | Number of young people | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 360 | 76.1 |
| Agnostic | 19 | 4% |
| Christian (any) | 43 | 9.1% |
| Atheist | 25 | 5.3% |
| Other (including no religion) | 26 | 5.5% |
| Total | 473 | 100% |
Young people by age (as at 31 March 2022)
| Age | Number of young people | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 11 and 12 | 10 | 2.1% |
| 13 | 25 | 5.3% |
| 14 | 41 | 8.7% |
| 15 | 84 | 17.8% |
| 16 | 88 | 18.6% |
| 17 | 96 | 20.3% |
| 18 | 88 | 18.6% |
| 19 and 20 | 41 | 8.6% |
| Total | 473 | 100% |
Young people by nationality
| Nationality | Number of young people | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | 37 | 7.8% |
| UK | 410 | 86.7% |
| Unknown | 23 | 4.9% |
| The rest of the world | 3 | 0.6% |
| Total | 473 | 100% |
Young people by ethnicity
| Ethnicity | Number of young people | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White British | 390 | 82.5% |
| Other White background | 51 | 10.8% |
| Black, Asian or other Ethnic Minority Background | 30 | 6.3% |
| Unknown | 2 | 0.4% |
| Total | 473 | 100% |
The 2021 census data outlines characteristics for this specific age group indicates that within the general 10-19 age group in Lincolnshire there is an equal age spread amongst this population (approximately 10% each). By comparison the Future4Me data confirms that those open to the service are concentrated within the 15-18 years age range. Similarly, there are notable differences within the gender data with 52% of the general population being female compared to 24% within the Future4Me cohort. The 2021 census does not provide specific data for the 10 to 19 age range in relation to nationality, ethnicity or religion.
The Future4Me EDI group considers the age, gender, ethnicity and nationality of the cohort on a quarterly basis at a locality level. The data captured has expanded during the year 2022 to 23 to include additional characteristics such as Special Educational Needs and Disability, transgender status, caring commitments and language. This information is scrutinised to understand the demographics of young people supported by the Future4Me team and enables interventions to be tailored to meet their needs. Staff training, quality assurance work, data accuracy and practice guidance also underpins the Future4Me commitment to ensuring equality of services for young people.