The Young People’s Development Programme was a three year initiative funded by the Department of Health. YPDP Website The aim was to address risk behaviour – especially in relation to teenage pregnancy, substance misuse and educational attainment – through a long-term, broad-based, developmental programme for young people aged 13 to 15. The programme was co-ordinated by the National Youth Agency and monitoring/evaluation was undertaken by the Social Science & Research Unit of the University of London.

Click to view 2004 to 2006 YPDP Motorvations Report.

The YPDP has now come to an end, the information gathered by the London University Social Science Research team from all 27 participating projects is currently being evaluated and it’s finding are due to be released year ending 2007. Rather than being an end, it is hoped that this model of targetted youth work will continue to be developed and rolled out to nationally as best practice guidelines. Following the successful pilot of the Young People’s Development Programme, Motorvations has been engaged by the National Youth Agency to develop and promote good practice models, contribute to develop policy, and formulate health standards in youth work for information sharing with referring and statutory agencies.

Motorvations was one of 27 nationwide youth organisations selected by the Department of Health as pilot projects to deliver YPDP to 16 of its students. The programme commenced in April 2004 and our YPDP students were engaged in the following for a total of 6-10 hours per week:

  • Education, training & employment
  • Life Skills/personal & social skills
  • Mentoring
  • Volunteering
  • Sex & relationship education
  • Substance misuse education & early intervention
  • Arts
  • Sports/Physical activity
  • Access to services
  • Other activites in response to young people's needs

Volunteering Bicycle Project

As part of our volunteering programme a project was developed whereby fifty bicycles were refurbished by young people and distributed to other organisations who either used or sold on the bicycles to profit their own charities. These organisations included:

  • St Lukes Hospice
  • Brentwood Women's Refuge
  • The Falconer Trust
The staff and young people at Motorvations were pleased to receive many letters of thanks from these organisations:

"...sincere appreciation to your good self and your staff for the wonderful donation of several cycles to St Luke's Hospice...the cycles already donated have raised a magnificent total of £190.00...It is through such generosity that we are able to continue to provide our Specialist Palliative Care Services to the communities of Basildon and Thurrock..." Chris Cox - Head of Corporate Services, St Luke's Hospice.
ZAMBIA - Capital City=Lusaka, Area=752,600 sq km/290,579 sq miles, Population=11,200,000, Time Zone=GMT, Languages=English (official), Bemba (other). KABOMPO, ZAMBIA - This small town built beside the surging Kabompo River, in the sparsely-populated northwest, is at the centre of Zambia's remaining teak forests. Bee-keeping has long been a tradition in these forests. There is long-established Catholic mission here, a hospital, a branch of the Finance Bank, several small shops and a handful of resthouses.Click map to see Zambia in detail

"May I take the opportunity to thank the young people and staff for the gift of bicycles to the children's orphanage and home in Kabulamema, Zambia. I am sure they would add their own special thank you." Ken Webb - Falconer Trust.

"...I must say a Very Big Thank you, for the wonderful bikes that have been coming through Via Ken. From you and the young men who help you put the together. You should see heat joy This is giving to so many children and the youths out here both boys and girls. We are very happy and blessed by these new bikes...We'd never dream of even thinking about the provision of such Equipment to give out joy to so many." Simon, Miriam and all Children from The Falconer Children's Home and Orphanage, Kabulamema, Kabompo, Zambia, Africa.

Motorvations were delighted to receive a visit from Miriam from the Falconer Trust to see the refurbushment of bicycles by young people at our workshop. Click to see photographs of Miriam's visit

Web site created and designed by Susan Cumbers - Click to contact by e-mail