This challenge is currently closed but if you would like to discuss a potential solution, we are still open to conversations.
This support is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Tees Valley Innovation Challenge is delivered by Edge Innovation Ltd and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board
About Middlesbrough Council:
In recent years, Middlesbrough Council has faced increasing demand for public services amid shrinking funding, tighter budgets, and national recession. Like many local authorities, the council has had to adopt creative strategies and make cuts to avoid bankruptcy, impacting various areas.
Several neighbourhoods in Middlesbrough have experienced rising crime, anti-social behaviour, and social exclusion. A key factor in these issues is the lack of access to opportunities for local people, creating barriers to success. Middlesbrough Council believes progress must be built in partnership with communities and recognises the need for a locally driven approach to address these challenges. Although financial resources are limited, the council acknowledges that significant barriers to scaling local initiatives, such as limited space and access to expertise, could be alleviated.
The council aims to trial a new approach by inviting and supporting local organisations to tackle place-based challenges. These groups will be encouraged to bring their creative ideas, lean methods, and passion for the area. The council is committed to assisting successful applicants by providing access to local networks, expertise, and underused property assets.
About the challenge:
The challenge is to create a sustainable initiative that provides young people with growth and skills development opportunities. These opportunities will enhance employability and foster positive engagement, thereby reducing the likelihood of involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour. The council aims to support the establishment of a locally owned service or programme that will operate as the next steps following existing early intervention and youth outreach efforts for young people at risk of disengaging from education or becoming involved in crime.
A successful initiative would help young people develop valuable career skills while providing short-term incentives aligned with their interests. It should be designed for long-term sustainability without relying on continuous funding, empowering young people to contribute to income generation and support the initiative's long-term viability. Additionally, the initiative could creatively utilise council-owned assets or public sector resources accessed through organisations' corporate social responsibility to reduce costs and deliver value.
Successful applicants must engage with communities and young people to identify demand, with support from the council. The Council is open to any creative responses, for example:
Suggested areas for new initiatives include Hemlington and Park End, where the high levels of deprivation suggest potential for great impact.
Communities
Desire to take action – People and organisations in Middlesbrough have a strong desire to improve the area but often lack the means and channels to create and scale new initiatives.
Negative perceptions of the area – Local pride and a sense of identity can diminish as local people tend to be the worst critics and lack visibility of positive news.
Leaving the area – Residents, whether born and raised or new students, may be drawn to larger cities that offer more opportunities and activity.
Communities
Empowered to take action – A shift in mindset empowers local people to create an impact in their area. By harnessing their passion and providing council support, perceived and actual barriers to scale can be alleviated.
Good news – New community improvement initiatives, led by local residents, foster a strong sense of pride within Middlesbrough neighbourhoods.
Diverse communities – Welcoming and thriving communities made up of both local residents and newcomers, enhancing the vibrancy of the area.
Young People
Limited Access to Opportunities: Young people in deprived areas face barriers to local opportunities due to transport, language, and eligibility requirements.
Disengagement with education: Many young people fail to see the importance of education, resulting in high truancy, dropout, or exclusion rates.
Negative role models: Exposure to violence, drugs, and crime in their homes can inspire copycat behaviour.
Low aspirations: Deprivation fosters short-term thinking and negative perceptions of the self, leading young people to believe they will be unqualified or unsuitable for higher education and employment opportunities.
Young People
Improved access to opportunities: Young people are connected to local skill development opportunities.
Skills development aligned with interest: They have access to inspiring opportunities and vocational paths in areas like arts, sports, gaming, and entrepreneurship.
Positive role models: Visibility of success stories from individuals who have overcome challenges in Middlesbrough inspires young people.
Shifting mindsets: By fostering a sense of involvement and self-belief, young people are motivated to see themselves as part of the solution rather than the problem.
Institutionally owned – Initiatives led by the council, schools, or police can be perceived as uncool or uninteresting to young people.
Short term/Output first – Funding criteria often require high output volumes in short timeframes. Schools operating under an academy model tend to prioritise measurable outcomes.
Low appeal – Young people may find little interest in initiatives that offer long-term benefits, like qualifications, compared to the immediate financial and social incentives associated with crime.
High effort – Initiatives that involve multiple steps or are difficult to access tend to have lower engagement rates, particularly when young people lack support from their guardian(s).
Poor accessibility – Various barriers, such as cost, travel, and comprehension skills, hinder young people's participation in current outreach initiatives.
Low awareness – Communication and promotion of ongoing initiatives can be ineffective, especially when young people must proactively seek them out.
Isolated interventions – While several successful interventions exist in areas like enterprise, sport, and youth outreach, they are typically viewed in isolation rather than as part of a larger, interconnected journey.
Locally owned – Initiatives driven and supported by local community members.
Sustainable /impact first – Services focused on achieving sustainable impact with a clear path to self-sufficiency.
Appealing and incentivised – Initiatives that are engaging, easy for young people to understand, and offer short-term incentives for participation, such as financial rewards and community recognition.
Low effort – Providing maximum flexibility and ease of entry to encourage young people to get involved and quickly see benefits.
Highly accessible – New initiatives should be strategically located and consider transport links to ensure easy access. They should be affordable for all income levels and communicated simply.
High awareness – A strategic approach to raising awareness of new initiatives, using appropriate language and channels for promotion.
Connected, long term thinking – Providing the next step from existing youth outreach efforts, supporting a longer journey towards self-actualisation.
Loss of local talent – Young individuals may need to relocate from Middlesbrough in order to pursue career opportunities.
Pressure on Public services – Middlesbrough Council is experiencing increased demand for public services amid shrinking funding, tighter budgets, and national recession.
Crime and antisocial behaviour – Several neighbourhoods in Middlesbrough have experienced rising crime, anti-social behaviour, and social exclusion.
Opportunity to collaborate with the community – Middlesbrough Council believes progress must be built in partnership with communities and recognises the need for a locally driven approach to address these challenges.
Retention of talent – Providing professional and skills development opportunities for young people, helping them build careers that are valuable to themselves, their communities and local organisations.
Reduced demand on public services – Enabling communities to drive local action with council support while minimising strain on public resources.
Pride in place – Supporting initiatives that generate positive impact and good news, fostering a strong sense of local pride amongst community members.
Community resilience – Building social capital, belonging, and identity within communities, empowering residents to improve and sustain their neighbourhoods.
Community inclusion – Fostering inclusive environments that allow young people from all backgrounds to connect and grow together.
Reduction of crime and antisocial behaviour – Shifting young people away from crime and towards opportunities to positively contribute towards their neighbourhood.
To access this support, you must be a small or medium-sized business based in Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, or Stockton-On-Tees).
Support is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Tees Valley Innovation Challenge is delivered by Edge Innovation Ltd and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.
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