Version: October 2024
Company: 6999936
The profile has been compiled by The Door Youth Project in partnership with Charlton Kings Parish Council (CKPC) who commissioned the project. CKPC was receiving feedback from parishioners and businesses in Charlton Kings involving young people being disruptive in the community, which led to the Parish Council, driven by its Youth Working Group to listen to the needs of the young people and figure out what was causing the behaviour that the community was reporting and how they can best move forward to support the needs of the young people
This community profile attempts to establish the needs and voices of the young people of Charlton Kings within the context of the wider community in the area.
Through extensive research and data gathering The Door used various techniques to represent the community from a wide range of perspectives. This included on the ground work such as going along to groups with young people, detached work in the local area and during lunch at Balcarras school as well as recorded interviews with members of the wider community, totalling 45 hours of face to face contact
There are 3 main parts to this report An overview of Charlton Kings including geography, demographics and infrastructure. Community research including voices from the young people, wider community and key stakeholders. The report finishes with analysis, conclusions and a recommendation.
In summary, young people living in Charlton Kings feel very safe overall, manage well with school work and have good mental health in general. There are a lot of activities for young people to get involved with in Charlton Kings. However, these come at a cost to participate and are targeted to specific groups (e.g. uniformed groups). This leaves some young people who won't participate, including those who don’t ‘fit the mould’ and is likely the cause of challenging behaviour, substance misuse and possibly even involvement in drug dealing & gang activity
Although Charlton Kings is an affluent area with certain offers for young people, there are still young people who struggle with their mental health and face pressures in life. The Door Youth Project believes there is value in a youth work provider that will collaborate with the community and the various stakeholders with an interest in U19s, to provide safe spaces with trusted professional adults dedicated for the young people of Charlton Kings
Charlton Kings is situated in the west foothills of the north–south Cotswolds, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Its surroundings are protected by nature conservation legislation and designations Lineover Wood SSSI is located on the Cotswold District side of the eastern boundary Charlton Kings Common and Leckhampton Hill are also designated as SSSIs by Natural England Charlton Kings is one of 3 civil parishes within Cheltenham Borough.
The River Chelt enters the area from the east. The Cotswold Way National Trail is on Charlton Kings’ eastern boundary and runs alongside Dowdeswell Reservoir and Woodland which is on the Cotswold District side of the eastern boundary
Charlton Kings is around 2.5 miles from Cheltenham Town Centre, 15 miles from Stroud, 10 miles from Gloucester and 95 miles from London
Charlton Kings is 5 0 square kilometres in size and is typically viewed as two parts, split by the A40. On the one side are the council offices, Kings Hall, Co-op by the Grange Field and also Beeches Field by Balcarras. The other part is along the A40 with Sixways, and various shops and cafes.
Population of Gloucestershire is 633,558 (ONS 2018)
Population of Charlton Kings is 12,011 (Local Insights 2023)
51.3% of the population is female, and 48.7% male.
(citypopulation.de)
24.3% of the population of Charlton Kings is between the ages of 0-17. This is higher than the rest of Gloucestershire which 19.8% of the population are between ages of 0-17.
(citypopulation.de)
15.4% of Charlton Kings population is between 10-19, compared to 11.5% in Gloucestershire.
22.4% of Charlton Kings population is 65 and over, compared to 21.7% of Gloucestershire's population, and 18.4% of England's population.
Only 6% are in their 20s in Charlton Kings, this is by far the lowest within a 10 year range, with the next lowest being the 30s with 8 8%
(citypopulation de)
94.3% of Charlton Kings describe themselves as white, the 2nd most common ethnicity is Asian (2.6%).
(Local Insights Charlton Kings)
Nearly 90% of Charlton Kings population was born in the UK which demonstrates a very high indigenous population in Charlton Kings.
(Local Insights Charlton Kings)
The majority of the Charlton Kings population is Christian, and the next largest group is ‘not religious’. There are some minority groups that do not have any significant representation in Charlton Kings.
(Local Insights Charlton Kings)
The main secondary school in Charlton Kings is Balcarras, which most young people in Charlton Kings attend, with few young people going to Balcarras from outside of Charlton Kings Balcarras was rated ‘outstanding’ in its latest Ofsted inspection and is a very high achieving school, being branded by the Department of Education as well above average in Progress 8 score This assesses how much progress pupils at this school made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. It is based on results in up to 8 qualifications.
(gov.uk)
These graphs show that 95% of Balcarras students either stay in education or find employment after year 11, which is on a par with Gloucestershire and just above the England average, meaning 1 in 20 young people (approximately one in each classroom) become NEET at the end of their school experience
Also shown is that 78% of Balcarras students achieve a Grade 5 (high C or low B in old grading system) or above in English and Maths GCSEs. This is significantly higher than the rest of Gloucestershire which is already above the England average (88% achieve grade 4 or above in English and Maths)
(gov uk)
These graphs show that Balcarras scores higher than Gloucestershire and the rest of England on average in both Attainment 8 and EBacc average point scores
In 2024 Balcarras saw 80% of their GCSE pupils achieve a grade 5 or higher in both English and maths. This beat the previous school record of 78% 45% of their students achieved 5 or more grades 9-7, once again beating the school record that was 44%
In A Levels Balcarras got 60% A*-Bs, 82% A*-C and 99% A*-E. 25% of Balcarras A Level students achieved 4 A*-A grades.
In 2022/23 Balcarras had 5 5% overall student absence, and 8 9% persistent absence This is compared to 8.9% and 25.8% respectively in Gloucestershire and 9% and 26.5% in England.
The other schools, including primary schools in Charlton Kings include:
Name
Charlton Kings Infants' School
Charlton Kings Junior School
Glenfall Community Primary School
Holy Apostles C of E Primary School
Balcarras School
St Edward's Junior School
St Edward's School, Cheltenham
Type
Infant School
Junior School
Primary School
Primary School
Secondary Academy School
Independent
Independent
Of the 75 neighbourhoods in Cheltenham, 29 of them were in the 20 percent least income deprived in England, seen on the last two bars of the chart in blue.
(ONS)
(Local Insights Charlton Kings)
Charlton Kings has no one living in the 20% most deprived areas of England by indices of deprivation 2019 domain. The most deprived neighbourhoods of Cheltenham are St Pauls, Rowanfield, Fiddlers Green, Hesters Way , St Peters and Kingsditch.
1= most deprived.
St Mark’s 1
St Paul’s 2
Hesters Way 3
Charlton Kings 2
Charlton Kings 3
Charlton Kings 1
Charlton Kings 4
Warden Hill 1
Battledown 3
College 3
(Cheltenham Borough Council)
This table shows Charlton Kings Index of Multiple Deprivation rank nationally, and compared to Cheltenham’s 3 most deprived, and least deprived areas. Higher figures indicate least deprivation. Balcarras has 60 pupils who are eligible for free school meals, which accounts for 6% of their pupils according to GOV.UK.
According to Local Insights from Gloucestershire County Council, the total number of residential properties in Charlton Kings is 5,396, of which 393 are social housing properties. Meaning 7.3% of Charlton Kings properties are social housing, compared to 25 4% in England
In the 12 months to September 2023, we estimate that, in England, the average home sold for £290,000, while the average workplace-based full-time earnings were £35,100, giving a ratio of 8.3. This means that, in England, full-time employees could expect to spend 8.3 times their earnings on purchasing a home in the local authority (LA) area they work in (ONS).
In the same period the average home in Charlton Kings was £429,464, (via home co uk)while the household income in 2020 was £59,400 (ONS). These statistics are from different sources so might not be entirely accurate or comparable but show house prices to be significantly higher in Charlton Kings.
(Local Insights Charlton Kings)
The number of people in Charlton Kings living with a disability is less than the national average
(Local Insights Charlton Kings)
This chart shows that the number of adults that are recipients of mental health related benefits is lower than the England averages
A report published by the NHS found that in 2023 20.3% of 8-16 year olds had a probable mental disorder, which is a rise from pre-covid rates. The report also found that from 2017, eating disorders in young women had gone up from 1 6% to 20 8% and in young men from 0 0% to 5 1% According to NHS data, hospital admissions due to self harm in 2023 had risen by 22% in the last year amongst young people aged between 8-17 in the UK The Door Youth Project currently has 335 active mental health referrals in the Stroud and South Cotswold Districts
Trains
Train Station closed in 1962, whilst it was very busy with troop and machinery movements during the first and second world wars, traffic rapidly declined after WWII due to road transport services and later closed in 1962. There is no trace of the train station now.
The closest train station is Cheltenham Spa, which is on the Bristol-Birmingham main line It is about a 13 minute drive from Charlton Kings, or 30 minutes on the bus although it requires two buses to get to Alternatively it would be roughly an hour and 10 minute walk Trains from Cheltenham will go to London Paddington, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Plymouth
Buses
Charlton Kings has 5 local bus services that stop in Charlton Kings Pulhams P/Q service - Cheltenham - Little Cleevemount - Ewens Farm - Charlton Kings - Cheltenham
Running 4 times a day at two hour intervals
Pulhams 801 - Chipping Norton - Moreton-in-Marsh - Bourton-on-the-Water - AndoversfordCheltenham.
Running 13 times a day and interchangeable intervals.
Stagecoach S2 - Cheltenham - Burford - Witney - Oxford Running 7 times a day at roughly 2 hour intervals.
Stagecoach B - Cheltenham - Charlton Kings
Running 32 times a day at roughly 30 minutes intervals Stagecoach 51 - Cheltenham - Cirencester - Cricklade - Swindon Running 13 times a day at roughly 1 hour intervals
The busses in Charlton Kings run regularly and are a reliable way to get around.
Charlton Kings is served by Cheltenham Police station in Lansdown and the closest hospital is Cheltenham's General Hospital, which provides a whole variety of services including a 12 hour A&E from 8am-8pm
Within Charlton Kings itself there is a yoga studio, Leisure Club and Spa, Lilley Brook Golf Club, Planted CK which is a plant based community cafe, 4 local churches and Kings Hall, which has various uses as it is available for hire and has an old youth space upstairs.
From research in Charlton Kings or from the Parish Council • • ATC Basketball Slam Jam Boys and Girls Brigade Holy Apostles Youth Club Scouts
Cheltenham Town Football Club
Old Pats Rugby
Charlton Kings Cricket
Charlton Kings Tennis Place
Charlton Rovers AFC
The Door created a survey to capture young people’s views and incorporate that integrally into the community profile. The Door regularly conducts surveys of young people as part of its ongoing reflective practice Many of the questions on this survey have been carefully curated in partnership with young people over years of experience Questions were carefully chosen to ensure that the survey yielded specific and thought-provoking responses to elicit opinions rather than objective facts It was then taken into Balcarras to gain actual young person feedback on whether the right questions are being asked and if anything from the survey is missing It acts as a strategic piece of youth work delivery in itself, empowering young people to think about the changes they want to make in their community, and having their voices heard. The survey was then finalised together with the Youth Working Group at Charlton Kings Parish Council. The Door then used the same survey questions to base another survey for the wider community to see how the views of the adults on the community compare. A copy of both surveys is included in the appendix.
The Door received 357 responses on the survey between the ages 11-17. The survey was circulated by Balcarras in tutor groups and filled in mainly by young people aged 11, 12, 13, and 14. The survey was also shared across Facebook and at charltonkingsparishcouncil gov uk
The results are shared below from the survey, included, where applicable, is the average score from the results of The Door’s Young Person survey carried out in the Stroud & South Cotswolds district in 2023 The Door received 448 responses across Cam, Dursley, Fairford, Stonehouse and Stroud.
This is to provide a comparison to other local areas that The Door has youth work provision.
1. I feel safe in Charlton Kings (1 - Strongly disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree)
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
CK Average score: 7 77
Average: 7 62 (CK +0 15)
Very Strong Positive Trend Stroud District
Overall young people feel very safe in Charlton Kings. This is due to them feeling like they know the area well and that there are friendly people there. Reasons for not feeling safe were groups of other teenagers, people acting sketchy and a feeling they were being watched
1b. Why did you give this answer? (198 responses)
Some notable responses were;
• • • • •
“Because everyone is nice and friendly”
“I feel safe during the day but at night there are lots of teenagers messing around ”
“Kids vape, drink alcohol, some smoke *WEED* and there have been fights in school ”
“Because there are areas where older teenagers hang out and it feels unsafe”
“Because sometimes cars can be going rather fast on main roads”
2. My views are taken seriously in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 5.76
Stroud District Average: 5 83 (CK -0 07)
Overall young people think their views are taken seriously, however this is not a strong feeling. Some young people mentioned that adults do not listen to them or take their issues seriously.
3. Young people are blamed for anti-social behaviour in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
CK Average Score: 6 77
Stroud District Average: 5 72 (CK +1 05)
Positive Trend
Young people tend to feel blamed for anti-social behaviour in Charlton Kings. Groups of young people have acknowledged that some of their peers may cause anti-social behaviour but tend to think it is a small minority but yet all young people get tarnished with the reputation.
4. Substance misuse (vaping, alcohol, weed, drugs) is a problem amongst young people in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
CK Average Score: 7 21
Stroud District Average: 6 31 (CK +0 90)
Strong Positive Trend
There is a very strong belief that substance misuse is a problem amongst young people in Charlton Kings
5. Young people who identify as LGBTQ+ are safe and welcome in Charlton Kings 1 - Strongly
Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
CK Average Score: 6.46
Stroud District Average: N/A
Positive Trend
Young people feel that LGBTQ+ community is accepted and welcome in the community A lot of them are unaware of any LGBTQ+ young people but have the belief that they would be accepted, others have not witnessed any homophobia however a minority who are LGBTQ+ have said that they need to deal with homophobia frequently.
5b. Why did you give this answer? (148 responses)
Some notable responses were;
•
•
•
• “The people I know they are LGBTQ are chill and don’t really get treated any different.”
“There is a lot of support for the LGPTQ+ community.”
“Because everyone is equal and it doesn't matter if they are different”
“Because some people get bullied for being LGBTQ+ but some people help support those people”
• “I get hate often for being who I am and my parents do tend to worry that I'm unsafe on the streets which I agree with ”
“Because I’m gay and get bullied for it”
• 6. In the last year, my mental health has generally been good 1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Positive Trend
CK Average Score: 7 09 Stroud District Average: 5 74 (CK +1 35) Young people overall have been
mentally healthy in the last year, citing that life is good and they feel like they can cope well as reasons. Things that have negatively impacted their mental health have mostly been very typical things such as school and friendships, although some cases of grief were noted too
This question is not a representation on mental health in Charlton Kings but rather how young people feel their mental health is and it is still important to take notice of the dozens who still responded negatively to this question.
NB Research done by Children's Society showed that 25% of 15 year olds in the UK reported low life satisfaction This ranked bottom in Europe
6b. Why did you give this answer? (120 responses)
Some notable responses were;
• “The area is very nice and there is a lot of support.”
• “Have felt down at times, especially when it rains (Unable to meet friends to play basketball)”
“It's been great but test sometimes stress me out”
“I left all the friends that made me feel awful and found new friends. I got involved in my sports and found genuinely nice people to have around me.”
“Family life is being quite difficult at the moment, as my family is argumentative ”
“I didn't have to worry about much”
“Because I have made nice friends but sometimes I don't feel good”
“Because of friend problems and school stress”
“I have recently started to care more about diseases so I have made sure to keep my hygiene up”
“A lot of family problems but getting better now”
“3 people close to me have passed away in the last year ”
“I sometimes feel under the weather at school when there's exams and soo much homework, I get very stressed out some of the time ”
“Because I get called rude words like f ”*
“I've made many sweet friends and have a happy home life”
“Great family, friends and test scores and an easy life.”
*Based on this individual’s survey answer it would be fair to make the assumption that f is referring to a homophobic slur
7. There is enough support for young people's mental health in Charlton Kings
The answer to this very much aligns with the response to the question before, with most young people feeling like there is enough support since they do not need any, however those who have/are struggling with their mental health feel like there is not enough support
8. I can comfortably cope with the pressures of school life
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
CK Average Score: 6.50
Stroud District Average: 5 16 (CK +1 34)
Positive Trend
This is a positive trend, and given the current school climate and pressures that young people across the country feel, is a large positive that many young people in Charlton Kings are coping with Reasons for struggling are regularly standard responses along the lines of too much homework, and stress around exams and tests, however that was counteracted with many saying that they feel the workload is manageable and they feel supported by either their teachers and/or parents.
8b. Why did you give this answer? (132 responses)
Some notable responses were;
• • • • “It's stressful to be polite all the time with no help” “I generally find school quite easy ”
•
“Homework and tests, detentions etc stress me out and make me worry about my future” “I don't like going to the library because that is where boys and girls from my year hang out and I don't feel comfortable ”
“I’m am capable and don't care what people think of me”
“Sometimes revision and homework can overlap with out of school life like clubs and social life.”
“I find it easy to balance schoolwork while achieving excellent grades”
“School is getting super strict and it's starting to not focus on education but on our appearance and view on our school. Let us be happy at school, it's a big part of children's life and development”
“It is so difficult when you are not feeling good mentally to come in and act like nothing is wrong”
“There is not enough support for tests and homeworks it's stressful and the uniform rules and rules in general are suffocating”
“Because there is a wellbeing room”
“I find school an escape to home life, and I get good grades and enjoy most subjects.”
“5 hours of lessons + homework is a lot but learning is important so it is fine”
“My teachers are good and very supportive ”
“My school is very helpful to those who are struggling ”
9. Social media has a positive impact on my life
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
CK Average Score: 6 55
Stroud District Average: N/A
Slight Positive Trend
Young people feel mostly that social media is a positive factor in their life, but recognise the dangers and negative side of this too. However, mostly saying they are able to use social media as a positive influence, allowing them to find their passions and stay connected to their friends.
9b. Why did you give this answer (141 responses)
Some notable responses were;
•
•
•
• “I’m exposed to things I shouldn’t be and it’s hard to come off it”
“Because it’s not healthy and it’s influencing young people’s lives ”
“I use it for football drills a lot”
“Because you can share opinions, make friends, have fun and post cute pictures of cats and kittens.”
“I don't think social media is bad I just think people spend too much time on social media instead of being social with friends”
“It is how I make money”
“Sometimes the info we are bombarded with on the internet is unnecessary and unneeded but I like to keep in contact with my friends and communicate with family members”
“It’s funny and educational and lets you communicate and find communities”
“I don't see anything overly negative on social media, although it's sometimes a leak that's been spread over social media or a fight video.”
“It gives me mountain biking tips and motivation”
“I spend quite some time on it communicating to friends and family and I use it to find things I like but it's also made me feel pretty bad when I see people leaving me out or masking comments about me or making fake accounts to be rude to me.”
• “I think I'm on the right side of social media I mainly use it for creative inspiration However, sometimes I might spend too much time on it ”
• •
“There's a lot of cyberbullying and a lot of pressure online”
“I feel that social media has impacted my life because of heartwarming videos about helping others”
10. What are the biggest issues you are facing as a young person? (Or issues all young people are facing) (292 responses)
Some notable responses were;
•
•
•
• “Friendship issues, anxiety, worry to fit in, not knowing what to do, school.”
“People making you feel like I have to do something to get popular and it is stressful”
“Bullying and stuff online that has a bad influence”
“How to quit vaping and parents having enough control of their children (no punishment for anything)”
“Nobody listens and adults always believe adults over children even when the adult is lying.”
•
•
“Boredom ( not enough things to do outside of our houses) “
“Anxiety and worry - sometimes young people don't like to tell other people how they are feeling and then don't always get the help they need”
“Schools are tackling skirt length which doesn’t affect student health instead of tackling vaping which is similar to smoking meaning it affects others around the user ”
“Voice not being heard, be judged, being stereotyped as someone to stay away from”
“Handling everything at once I don't have enough time to do everything ”
“Having to do so many tests at a young age and in a couple of years time most of other peoples most immature faze in their life have to do tests that will impact the rest of our lives”
“Responsibilities of juggling homework along with outside of school clubs/hobbies”
“A lot of young people being in trouble with the law for doing nothing ”
• “Future jobs and finding a local job And social media is impacting my views and how I look at myself ”
“Lack of facilities to do sports such as basketball More places to hang out with friends are needed, such as more seating areas like the one next to the arena. (Has shelter from the weather if it starts raining)”
• 11. There is enough provision specifically for young people in Charlton Kings 1 - Strongly Disagree, 10Strongly Agree
CK Average Score: 6.24
Stroud District Average: N/A
Overall young people feel there is enough provision for them in Charlton Kings
12. How likely are you to attend a youth club in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Positive Trend
CK Average Score: 3 29
Stroud District Average: N/A
Young people feel they are very unlikely to attend a youth club.
Strong Negative Trend
13. What changes would you like to see in Charlton Kings? (302 responses)
Some notable responses were;
•
•
•
•
•
•
“More stuff to do other than just going to the park”
“More free sports places to go with friends”
“Greater promotion of youth groups”
“Less teenagers loitering.”
“More mental health support”
“More facilities for sports, tougher management of Anti Social Behaviour, such as bans on ebikes and balaclavas ”
“Places to chill and relax”
“More things to do”
“New parks and more things to do More football goals/nets facilities”
“Maybe a bigger park with a bigger skatepark and a pump track”
•
“Less drug problems in youth, better maintained local sports equipment”
“More cafes and restaurants for people to be able to go in”
“Bigger arena and better park because the park is lumpy and hard to play football”
“I would like to see Charlton Kings be more eco-friendly and sustainable”
“More positive graffiti and things to do as a teen”
“I think there could be a few more bits or playing equipment at the Grange.”
“More connection to community”
“For there to be better socialising places that are safe for teenagers”
“More jobs for minors”
14. Where is the best place to spend time in Charlton Kings? (319 responses)
We got 34 unique responses from the community on our survey, which is a large enough pool to get reliable data, however there may still be some anomalies in the responses. The survey was made available at charltonkingsparishcouncil gov uk, and shared on Facebook local groups
1. Young people are safe in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average Score: 7.38
Strong positive trend
The adults feel like their young people are safe in Charlton Kings, there is an awareness of dangers but that they are low in Charlton Kings
1b. Why did you give this answer?
• “Relatively happy for my children to be with friends at park etc but aware of some groups of youth who cause anti social behaviour, and cannabis use throughout poses concern”
•
“I have two boys aged 14 and 12 They are happy and confident to go to Beeches and the Grange with friends and pop to the Co-op for me Everyone on the whole looks out for each other and there is minimal crime. Balcarras and CKJS do well to instil good behaviour in most young people. There are some issues with youths hanging out, possible drugs etc. at the Grange at nighttime and causing trouble around Church Piece and throwing water balloons at moving cars so that’s the only concern.”
“Disengaged youth hanging around the MUGA and Co-op”
“They are at risk of drugs”
“Some levels of fear reported around Grange Field”
“It depends on how we interpret 'safety' - if we are talking about being safe from crime, then probably yes, as crime rates have fallen locally, anti-social behaviour reported incidents have fallen over the last 6 months, and young people seem happier and more relaxed than they have been in the years since Covid hit our community However the rising instances of being the victims of online crime, such as account hacking, trolling and grooming are ever present Do we need more awareness education? Also do we need more young men's education around the dangers of being influenced by the misogyny of influencers such as Andrew Tate?? “
2. Young people's views are taken seriously in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score 5.66
No real trend
There is no real trend here with a large variety of answers. This could suggest that they are unsure whether young people's views are taken seriously, which is further supported by 5 being the most common answer
3. There are anti-social issues in Charlton Kings which are caused by young people 1Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 6.82
Positive trend
Adults believe that there are young people in Charlton Kings that are being antisocial in the community
4. Substance misuse (vaping, alcohol, weed, drugs) is a problem amongst young people in Charlton Kings
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 6 71
Adults believe substance misuse is a problem amongst young people.
Positive trend
5. Young people who identify as LGBTQ+ are safe and welcome in Charlton Kings 1 - Strongly
Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 6 78
Positive trend
Adults are of the opinion that in general LGBTQ+ young people are safe in the community.
5b. Why did you give this answer?
• • • “I think they are and should be but not being part of that community, I might be wrong ”
“My children have LGBTQ+ friends and have had no problems.”
“My feeling is that there is general acceptance of diversity in Charlton Kings, which is encouraged in particular by the local state secondary school Balcarras”
6. In the last year, young people have struggled with their mental health
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 7 35
Strong positive trend
Overall adults believe that the young people are struggling with mental health over the last year, citing that this is not a localised issue and also the effects of COVID and lockdown playing into this. 6b. Why did you give this answer?
• “I'm aware of a number of personal contacts who've suffered and I have read Gloucestershire statistics”
•
•
“I work with a youth group and see no evidence of struggles but appreciate that is quite a narrow view”
“Some young people have but a minority”
“It's always been there, just people are more aware of it ”
“I feel Covid and lockdowns caused social anxiety and extra pressures”
“Talking to other parents and teaching and support staff this appears to be a problem”
“I am not convinced the issue is real I think they have been made to feel they have mental health issues by the media We did our O levels in the 3 day week We didn't go to school every day and had no light in the evenings. No allowance was made by exam boards and no one felt sorry for us or told us we were hard done by. The attitude was everyone in this year's group is in the same boat and no fuss was made. The media blew up the issues and made young people feel hard done by”
“CKPC has consulted with local schools and mental health professionals working in the area, to assess mental health supports, including service provision for young people in crisis. Mental health of our young people is a serious concern, with CAMHS waiting lists remaining totally unacceptable across the whole of Gloucestershire.”
“Tell me someone who hasn’t lately”
7. There is enough support for young people's mental health in Charlton Kings
Adults do not believe that there is enough support for young people's mental health in Charlton Kings.
8. Young people can comfortably cope with the pressures of school life
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 5 09 No trend
There is no real trend as to whether adults believe that young people can cope in school, generally suggesting this is case by case rather than a bigger issue.
8b. Why did you give this answer?
• “Most young people cope admirably and excel”
• “I feel compared to 10-15 years ago school + exams are far greater now mainly due to less employment opportunities ”
•
•
•
•
“I believe there are more absences due to anxiety.”
“I think some of the issue is that they haven't had enough little knocks to build resilience when young eg coming last in a race or having your test results posted on the wall”
“CKPC research through Education Psychologist Emily Vincent's report from 2022, suggests that some young people cope well, but others talk about overload of homework and the pressure of exams Also there appears to be concerns around a cohort of young people identified as 'ghost children' who have not returned to school after COVID. More research needs to be done on the impact of this on these young people and their families.”
“Local schools appear to have very positive outcomes for their students”
“While some of them are fine I am sure, more and more children I know are struggling to attend school or to thrive when they are there Social anxiety seems to be a real problem (lockdown hangover?) I also think the general pressures of school are more acute now ”
•
• “I think it is slightly more challenging post Covid and with the addition of social media.”
“School is very demanding and sometimes damaging”
9. Social media has a positive impact on young people's lives
1 - Strongly Disagree, 10 - Strongly Agree
Average score: 3 56
Negative trend
Adults believe that social media is overall a negative influence on young people's lives. Recognising that there can be positives to it but that they do not outweigh the risks that come from social media and how they can impact young people.
9b. Why did you give this answer?
• “I'm aware of too many cases of bullying and young people being preyed upon online.”
• “There is lots that is good but in a minority of case its is so cruel so, on balance, it is neutral”
• “It is toxic”
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• “I think the options available are good but have a negative impact on younger children”
“Viewing lives manufactured mainly for likes and views puts too much pressure on teens to try and compete ”
• •
“They are too young to differentiate between the truth and misinformation and the harmful content can be targeted towards vulnerable young people if left unchecked”
“Social Media has many positives, however national studies have demonstrated that there are also many negatives, including some young people being vulnerable to online bullying, grooming, the desire for physical perfection and also the interruption of sleep patterns, all of which can have an impact on relationships, family engagement and interaction ”
“While there are obvious positives, my daughter is very conscious of brands and how straight her hair must be and how long her skirt is. This is peer pressure too I am sure, but social media platforms and influencers are doubtless part of the issue”
“It has some advantages in that they can communicate with friends but on the whole it has a negative impact and is very challenging for parents to manage due to peer pressure and uncontrollable content ”
10. What are the biggest issues young people are facing?
• “Mental health, feeling as valuable as they are, LGBT pressure, social media/screen dependence, as well as substance use and vaping”
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“Connection on a real life level (not through screens) with themselves and others, knowing how to switch off and ‘do nothing’ as everything is so fast and instant Being happy with who they are Difficulties fitting into the school system for many children ”
“Climate anxiety, inequality, weakened social safety nets, mental health impacts of social media”
“Lack of resources and activities, lack of support for mental health, lack of support for family difficulties, social media bullying, substance misuse ”
“Lack of appropriate opportunities to grow and develop into confident adults ”
“Exclusion from society, no facilities or spaces provided for them to comfortably be and so many stay home and live digitally instead.”
“Personal finance education Preparing to enter the job market with interview, CV and presentation skills.”
“Probably have safe spaces to 'hang out', talk, meet up”
“A world of uncertainty, including pandemics, climate change, wars and social media, toxic leadership models at global & national level, including influencers who distort the truth and manipulate the facts! So what can adults do to change things? - Positive role models are
• • •
needed at local, national and global level to restore balance and to give young people hope for a positive future It starts at the grassroot community level ”
“"Lack of job opportunities.”
“Substance abuse and lack of physical/sport outlets”
“Poor self esteem. Lack of peace. Pressure to be something they're not. Never being able to have "downtime" away from their phones.”
11. There is enough provision specifically for young people in Charlton Kings 1 - Strongly Disagree, 10Strongly Agree
Average score: 4 29
Slight negative trend
Adults overall believe there is not enough provision specifically for young people, although there is a wide range of answers
12. What could be done in Charlton Kings to benefit young people?
“More youth support - more of a local presence would be valuable ”
“I think there could be more sport coaching (not elite level) to build skills, confidence, teamwork and leadership”
“Parents need to take responsibility for their own children”
“The sporadic Holiday initiatives i e football, forest school etc would be great more regularly Not everything needs to be free It is a very affluent village Some struggle but most can afford”
“Youth club. Central hub for young people to socialise, learn skills outside of school and have positive role models to turn to I also think the police are not proactive in stamping out drug dealing in the area Parents are aware and have reported regular hot spots but I never see police presence at times and places where accidents happen I do see them walking through occasionally at school pick up time when there are no problems and again police presence in the precinct sometimes appears to be more of a promotional opportunity when they are all packed up by 4pm before any potential trouble starts! More crossover with Balcarras could be useful in terms of using facilities outside of school. Events and opportunities provision for those less likely to achieve school attention or parental guidance.”
“Perhaps encouragement to get kids who do not participate in scouting, football etc to join Perhaps a display at school of what is on Perhaps the parish council could pay subs for families on benefits”
“Much has been done in CK to engage with children and young people, through activity based programmes, and building collaborative working relationships with our partners, especially local schools, the police and activity providers ( CK Youth Taskforce) - this must continue as multi-agency working with and between all local services is essential. However, there are gaps to be filled and need to be addressed going forward - Transition programmes for those leaving junior school for secondary school; homework clubs for those who do not have access to a quiet space at home; On-going Youth Work provision for more than 1 5 hrs a week and especially at holiday time, with access to that 'safe space' for contact with trained youth workers who can engage, provide confidential information and signpost young people to the services and support they need; identification of the supports needed for those 'ghost children' in our community who are hard to reach; more support for parents who are struggling with issues like the monitoring of their children's access to social media”
“Widen the opportunities available at affordable prices”
“Drop-in sessions with youth workers, a youth club, somewhere to 'hang out' safely”
“Youth club, drop in space, more positive celebration of our youth generally. There is a low level of anti-social behaviour here but the only time young people are mentioned is in relation to it ”
“Offering easily accessible (free?) mental health support for young people and more affordable accommodation for young people ”
“More free activities after school so even if their family has no interest/ability to support them they don't have to hang out in car parks in the rain smoking weed, being antisocial and getting reported More support for parents?”
“Another MUGA at Beeches Park as the anti-social youths hang out by the one at the Grange More PCSOs in the area. Youth club with modern activities. A gym with classes for youths. A scheme where youths can volunteer to help in the community and get a certificate or something towards their CV and give them a sense of community/helping others.”
“Non judgmental support to the “wandering” teenagers who have a home but don’t feel drawn to spend time at home for whatever reason”
Key differences between responses from adults and young people.
Comparing these two surveys, some key points can be seen;
• Adults and young people both agree that young people overall are safe in the community. With the young people scoring their safety slightly higher than the average across The Door’s youth working locations
Young people feel like they are blamed for anti-social behaviour in Charlton Kings, whilst adults said they believe that young people are responsible for anti-social behaviour. Young people have acknowledged that there are a small group of young people who are antisocial, but that they feel all young people get lumped into that stereotype. Most adults also acknowledged that it is a minority of young people that are responsible for the anti-social behaviour.
Whilst both young people and adults believe that substance misuse amongst young people is a problem, young people believe it is a bigger issue than the adults. Young people answered that substance misuse is a bigger problem in Charlton Kings than surveyed in other The Door locations
Young people have stated Vaping to be a separate issue from substance misuse and have asked for more substance misuse management. Their view on vaping and substance misuse is based largely on what they perceive of their peers and not themselves.
Young people in general said that in the last year their mental health has been good with a positive trend, whilst adults believe young people have struggled with their mental health Charlton Kings young people surveyed had much more positive mental health picture than across the other Door locations.
Young people believe in general that there is enough mental health support, whilst the adults believe that there is not enough. As mentioned above, both these answers correlate with how they believe mental health to be which could suggest that there is not enough, but those who are not struggling, aware of struggles, with mental health do not believe there needs to be more support. •
Likewise Young people in Charlton Kings showed a more positive view on school than adults, believing that they can cope with the pressures of school much better than across other schools where The Door has a provision
Young people believe that social media has a positive impact on their life but recognise the negatives of it Adults thought that social media has a negative impact on young people's lives, but also recognised that there are positives. This could suggest that there has been good education around social media, enabling young people to be more safe on it. Overall both young people and adults shared similar views on issues and sentiment around providing young people with some support and spaces to hang out, although they have articulated it very differently and adults believe there isn’t enough provision for young people in the area.
This section represents the views of some Community Stakeholders, The Door also reached out to other key stakeholders and organisations within Charlton Kings who either did not respond or declined to be involved in the community profile This can be given upon request
Dominic Burke - Balcarras School Headteacher
What opportunities are there for young people in Charlton Kings?
The children of Charlton Kings are very fortunate to have access to superb state school at both primary and secondary level.
At the end of secondary level Charlton Kings pupils achieve some of the very best results anywhere in the country In 2024 80% of Balcarras pupils achieved 5+ in English and Maths which will put the school inside the top 30 comprehensive schools in the country (last year it would have placed the school 21st out of c.3,500). The value added that the pupils achieve between the end of primary and the end of GCSE (+0.8) places the school in the top 4% of all schools for progress nationally.
If there was a way to measure the progress of pupils from the start of their education (i.e. Reception class) to the end of GCSE I would wager that it would be very high
Beyond the excellent schooling that the young people of Charlton Kings have there are numerous opportunities for them in and around the village, and further afield in Cheltenham We are very fortunate to have access to so many sporting clubs and to several performing arts based clubs as well
How do young people fit in the culture?
I think the young people of Charlton Kings are very impressive. I have worked with and for them now for almost 20 years. They are by and large superb ambassadors for the village and I think they show huge respect for others.
What do you see as the main issues for young people?
There are lots of issues affecting young people. Access to employment and property is not as simple for this generation as it was for many in the past The advent of mobile phone technology has changed things in ways which have not yet been properly researched or studied The pandemic affected young people particularly badly They were forced to make enormous sacrifices and I am certain that it will be impacting on society for at least another 10 years
Is there enough provision specifically for young people in the town?
I think there are plenty of things to do in terms of clubs and activities
I think certain provisions are badly lacking particularly around access to children's mental health services
Lynda Johnson and Janet Honeywill - Charlton Kings Parish Councillors
The development of a Youth Community Profile has been highlighted to us by youth professionals as being ‘foundational’ to the development of a solid strategy and action plan for youth work in Charlton Kings. Following several conversations we held with youth work providers across Gloucestershire, the Stroud based youth charity The Door was appointed to assist us in the development of such a community-based strategy for youth work within the parish.
Charlton Kings Parish Council (CKPC) has previously been a contributor to the Cheltenham-wide Detached Youth work programme (2021 - 2023) co-ordinated by Cheltenham Borough Council, and is now looking to develop a more independent action plan, based on local demographics, specific evidence of need and enhanced partnership working. It is anticipated that the members of the police-led Charlton Kings Taskforce, established in 2022, will be a key partnership structure in this work going forward.
This approach follows the evidence-based model the Council has taken to date in commissioning research to inform our work, including the Post-Covid investigation into the Health & Well-Being of young people in Charlton Kings, commissioned from Educational Psychologist Emily Vincent. It represents a move towards a “community action partnership model” of youth work, which involves listening to the voices of both young people and the wider community, together with addressing reports of perceived anti-social behaviour
We are delighted to be leading on such a project, which is intended to be a blueprint for sustainable youth focused action planning and delivery within the parish.
Nikkita Horsted - Police Community Support Officer
What opportunities are there for young people in Charlton Kings?
We have a range of opportunities, such as football in The Grange Field, this is hosted by Cheltenham Football Club and there are two different pitches, one for those aged 11-14 and another for those aged 15-18. We also have basketball, which is called “JAM Basketball Collective” which is held on a
Wednesday. Both of these activities have received funding and is supported by us, the local PCSOs. This has been very welcoming to the youths and is very much targeted towards the group that cause minor crime/ ASB The library in Church Piece also holds a teenager evening within the library, however I am unsure on these details For Easter there will also be a Spring themed craft workshop for children ages 7-11 We (Police) hold a Police Information point, as well as an engagement vehicle for youths to come along and speak with us The town also holds Summer, Autumn and Winter which have a range of activities Charlton Kings also have REF Cadets in the hut on The Grange Field
There is also a squadron cadets available which targets multiple ages, although they’ve been targeted by some of the youths' poor behaviour and has resulted in a number of incidents, this did contribute to a few of them having Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. Balcarras School also holds different activities which are organised externally but again they do not attend any of these How do young people fit in the culture?
As a person who is no longer ‘young’ it would be hard for me to comment. However, I understand that modern culture is a component of social development. Young people make it what they want, whether that is using their time indoors or outdoors is their choice. We do see the local youths out and about in Charlton Kings regularly. Charlton Kings is also famous for its high expectations and this can be difficult for the youths to fit in with the culture that could be described as middle class although I do believe they’ve burnt their bridges which has had a dramatic effect on their chances of being accepted
What do you see as the main issues for young people?
I believe young people these days are influenced by a lot by social media The things that are deemed ‘cool’, such as vaping is not a worry to them but a big worry to us You could say that this also ties in to your question of ‘How do young people fit in in the culture’. Our School Beat Officers go into Secondary Schools and educate young people regarding such things, including vapes, drugs and alcohol. My colleagues and myself, who are PCSOs, educate the children below Year 6. These school talks can include Internet Safety, Safer Roads and Darker Nights and Vandalism. Is there enough provision specifically for young people in the town?
I believe there is ample opportunity and provision for young people to get involved in array of activities which I’ve already mentioned above, however the specific group of youths that are causing minor ASB and low level crime in the area are not interested and are very much influenced by the older generation within the area that would be described as a poor influence It also must be noted that a few of these young people are not a part of the community and live in other parts of Cheltenham, with their connection being they attend the same school, Balcarras
Emily Vincent - Chartered Psychologist
What are the main issues for young people?
• Too many sources of information for parents and so the overwhelm may mean that they are not aware of what is out there (or sometimes may be too aware of issues in the community and so do not allow their child freedom)
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Increasing sexual violence towards women
• The pressures of cost of living, the need for both parents to work full time, and poor mental health of parents Parents not being able to be emotionally or physically present/available as a consequence
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Conversely, parents stepping in too quickly when a problem seems to have occurred, and not helping their child to problem solve and develop emotional resilience
The survey highlighted that some young people want adults/parents to take the initiative, ask them if they are okay, and notice when things are off or show interest in what they are doing
Dependence on smartphones, the ‘infinite’ scrolling and multitasking, causing issues with attention and ‘boredom’
Impact of social media on mental health, especially TikTok and Instagram and presenting the ‘perfect’ lifestyle
Increase in popularity of sugary drinks and increased consumption
Increase in vaping and lack of regulation, before evidence of long term impact on health was considered
The increased availability and consumption (by children, young people and adults alike) of cheaper ultra processed foods (addition of emulsifiers and modified food) and the significant impact on cognition, health and wellbeing
Lack of availability of support services (due to underfunding and lack of staff) leading to delays and inconsistency (or non-existent) support. Reliance on support from schools who are overwhelmed and underfunded!
Lack of funding by government for YP with any additional needs (who are more likely to have mental health needs)
Is there enough provision for young people?
• There are plenty of clubs for specific interests but most of these cost money, if they are not provided by a school
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There are one off events but due to other commitments (eg school work or clubs) young people express that they would rather have a consistent provision to build relationships Real need for a community presence supporting young people
Young people would also like permanent outdoor facilities eg pump/bike track, table tennis, basketball, that can be used anytime
Youth Club is needed, somewhere without a specific agenda that young people can go to, that can offer a safe place to meet and guidance and support from role models (unrelated to school)
Some young people avoid areas because of small groups hanging out there
Anonymous Practitioner within Charlton Kings
Young people's mental health in Charlton Kings
• 11-18 years olds tend be brought by an adult, this relies on them to confide in an adult in the first place such as a parent, caregiver, school or friend
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More mild mental distress such as school, friendships, pressures in life rather than bigger mental illnesses that require referrals to specialised services such as CAMHS
Overlap in young people who are neurodivergent and struggle with their mental health which often leads to school avoidance
Mental health support available
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• Digital support finder
TIC+
Young Glos
For young people the focus is on support outside of general practice, have regular talking sessions
What changes can be made for young people?
• Increasing awareness around mental health and neurodivergence Education for young people and parents
More joined up approach
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• • Paul Baker - Cheltenham Mayor
Intersectionality, improve equity as statistics show that those with protected characteristics are more likely to either end up in prison, have lower health, or have mental illness
interplay between young people and caregiver
Paul Baker spoke how his perspective is much more from the outside looking in, and some of his knowledge is based from when his children were young people He is aware that there have been some issues of antisocial behaviour in Charlton Kings but does not know the depths of it outside of its existence.
What Opportunities are there for young people?
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• • • • Schools provide a lot of activities and clubs.
Charlton Rovers FC
Football at Beeches playing fields
Leckhampton FC.
Old Patesians RFC.
What is the culture of Charlton Kings?
Strong community
• • • • • Regarded as a special village
Portray as though everything is perfect.
Difficult to comprehend issues young people may face.
Easy to be left behind
What are the issues for young people?
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• It is a nice area where there are high aspirations.
A lot of the issues are hard to fully understand when you are not 'in it' with the young people.
Working parents
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Angie Boyes - Cheltenham Borough Council Councillor
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A lot of selling drugs from teens
Drug dealing happening out in the open
Fabricated gang culture
A lot of complaints from residents
Teens attacking allotments
Going into gardens, turning on garden taps, messing the gardens up
Climbing onto Library roof and throwing things, such as trolleys down
Shoplifting
Library has reported issues
Reporting to police does not seem to lead anywhere
Parents don't seem bothered/engage either (boys will be boys attitude)
Some learnt behaviour passed through generations
Not much there for them if parents can't pay
Nowhere for them to go to hangout
They need guidance
Parents will avoid having their kids go to certain areas.
Rui Brazao, Smart Fish Bar Owner
I think the troubled teens locally just need some sort of youth club environment where they can be guided and mentored They all have issues they are dealing with and obviously home isn't where they want to be and I think hanging around the village causing chaos for attention isn't the answer I find the majority have interest in Sport, Music and smoking weed Charlton Kings as a whole has a more mature expectation which makes it more difficult for these teens to express themselves in and around Village Anti Social Behaviour is the end result, with kids jumping in the Allotments and breaking into sheds to hang around in Shoplifting from the local Co-op and Lidl is also a regular thing that isn't being reported as the staff and management can't be bothered with the hassle. Disposable BBQ's and meats seems to be a favourite in the summer for the youth to steal and then dispose of in the bins at Grange Field which then catch fire. This could be resolved if we arranged a BBQ for the youngsters on the field in the summer which has been done in the past. Hope some of this helps you and I'm sure you know better than I do how difficult it is for these youngsters to be understood in today's world. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything.
Nick Lewis - Safeguarding officer Old Patesians RFC
What opportunities are there for young people in Charlton Kings?
At Old Pats, we cater for players, both boys & girls from 6 to 18, we have players in every age group and due to our ethos, we do not select players on a, 1st, 2nd, 3rd team basis
Instead, we treat all the players the same, they all receive the highest quality coaching possible and we work extremely hard to ensure the players have fun, build friendships and develop into respectful adults.
This means that every player gets the same opportunity as they develop.
The player at age 12 who doesn’t appear to be a convincing rugby player may well develop into a future top class player, but only if they are encouraged, supported, developed and challenged
We do not like to boast but an indication of how our approach works is that our Colts, that is age 1618, have been County Champs (Gloucestershire in rugby terms cover Bristol as well) 3 years on the trot – this with different coaching setups and of course different players But every player gets game time, we don’t leave anyone out unless their behaviour goes beyond acceptable boundaries
We are a Community Club and everyone is welcome, regardless of ability. Attitude and commitment are just as important qualities
We only select an “A” team when forced to by competition rules, otherwise a match day squad is composed of those available.
This is a balancing act as players pick up injuries, or are under school playing demands, or if they have also been selected for representative rugby which we support
Balancing a player’s game time is a continual juggling act, but it is done with the players best interests to the fore
As the Club Safeguarding Officer, I have several assistants across the age groups and we support over 120 individuals, who are team managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, first aiders, Club Steward, and senior players and coaches where they may have contact with those under 18
We also have a number of players and parents involved with cricket clubs, Charlton Kings CC being the obvious and closest, but others as well
In summary, we have an extensive setup to cater for players to have fun, to develop, make friends and hopefully play rugby as their life develops in a safe environment
How do young people fit in the culture?
First and foremost, rugby is built on respect, to each other, to the coaches and just as importantly the opposition.
TREDS: Teamwork • Respect • Enjoyment • Discipline • Sportsmanship – this is the RFU’s core values which we continually promote
We have a set of conduct policies, for parents, coaches, players, social media etc, which are published on our website and reviewed annually
We remind and highlight the policies to everyone at the start of the season and where appropriate through it.
We want players to develop and express their own characters of course but there are clear boundaries
As the players become older, we look to them to drive the culture themselves, creating an agreed set of rules that they all buy into and adhere to
This may include having the right club kit on pre & post-match, being punctual, ensuring everyone is included and accepting that we are all different.
This is also about holding themselves accountable to each other
From a Safeguarding perspective we have a robust and well established framework for dealing with issues, working in conjunction with Glos RFU & RFU Safeguarding Dept.
What do you see as the main issues for young people? There are several issues that result from this question:
Parents support and home life:
Given the numbers of players we have at Old Pats we tend to see the good and the not so good with the environments in which players are living in
Part of our responsibility to the players is to ensure they are not bullied and or neglected and address it where we see it
We do see players that are neglected and have in the past had the Club, parents and players step in to help the individual player
Equally we see overbearing parents shouting criticism / encouragement from the touchline, and club coaches have stepped in to deal with this.
Other issues may have come from lockdown(s), where isolation from friends may have influenced their wellbeing
Influence of peers who may be engaged with theft, drugs and other anti-social behaviour is always an ongoing society problem, not unique to Old Pats, Charlton Kings, or Cheltenham, but thankfully, to date issues are minimal
Is there enough provision specifically for young people in the town?
This isn’t a question I am qualified to answer. I know that we have very good schools, live in a pretty good part of the Country and we at Old Pats work hard to provide the right, safe and fun environment for players Outside of this, being open and honest, I don’t know if there is enough provision or not for young people
Penny Metcalfe - Holy Apostles
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Balcarras students are really embedded in the local area
Hear a lot about young people hanging around without much to do.
Young people can come across as threatening
Co op has historically had shoplifting problems
Young people want a space to hang out, be dry and to belong to
Affluent and ambitious families that tend to take their children to different clubs
There is a minority that do not fit in the above category though
A lot of pressure and high aspirations on young people
Young people are getting caught up in dealing
Parents do not always have time for their kids with work
Graham Bowkett - St Mary's Church
I have in the past been very involved in the Air Training Corp & the Army Cadet units in CK Both are very well run and provide good learning and friendship opportunities to young people in our community I too understand that some of the attendees at St Mary's volunteer considerable time to the local Scout groups and Brownies etc. These too are excellent.
Our Parish Hall is used by a number of youth groups - dance lessons and uniformed organisations which is a popular and busy venue for these groups
I have been the Vicar in CK for the last 6 years and sadly in that time have seen a number of undesirable incidents involving young people in the village. Drug taking & young people in hoodies is a thing in Charlton Kings - sadly, which I believe does present a challenge I understand this is probably due to lack of provision in the village to keep young people occupied rather than any inherent badness in the children The church yard has remained a popular place for young people to congregate and take drugs. And, in past years we have had to close the church main doors to prevent
further damage and vandalism to the church fabric. Young people set some fires in the building which meant we had to upgrade our TV monitoring equipment
That all sounds very negative and it is not meant to be. Young people are our future, and very important, and I recognise that activity outlets for them are scarce, finance difficult and volunteers hard to come by Which really is a shame and challenging
Noah Beard - Community Youth Worker, The Door
During my few months of working on this project in Charlton Kings I have tried to ingrain myself within the community of Charlton Kings What I found was a community that largely welcomed me and the presence of a youth worker, keen to support and pass on their thoughts However, getting through to groups working directly with young people did prove to be a challenge, despite help from various different angles with the relationships I had built. This may have been due to being new and known to the community.
Talking to other members in the community there was a very strong sense that there were a lot of young people left to their own devices during the day after school Largely due to the cost of living going up and putting added pressures on families resulting in both parents needing to work more This seems to have led to groups gathering and entertaining themselves, sometimes in a less positive way with concerns around people from outside of Charlton Kings coming in to either sell drugs, with one person telling me “rich kids will pay” or even getting them to do their selling Whilst I have not witnessed any selling myself, I have been told about selling in the open by various different people, and that it has even happened outside of the school as school finishes.
In my engagement with young people, they were all very welcoming and open with me and keen to chat and find out more about what I was doing, and what youth club looks like Most of them had never interacted with a youth worker before, but largely thought the concept was something really good that they thought would benefit the area. One group mentioned a suicide of a year 10 a few years back as to why youth club might be important. With that said, most of them said that they would unlikely attend themselves due to an already busy schedule with other extracurricular activities taking up their free time
Balcarras is one of the very good secondary schools, with exceptional GCSE results, and a large reason why some families will move to Charlton Kings When talking about school with students of Balcarras, there were the ones who did not like school and would rather not go, but they all were unified that this was not due to Balcarras. Most of them though did seem to enjoy school and achieved good results in their tests.
Charlton Kings Parish Council is very engaged providing activities for their young people with JAM Basketball collective, holiday programmes and newly introducing a chess club. These activities have proven to be very popular with the Summer Programme being fully booked with a big waiting list One demographic group that has not been engaged as much is the older teenage group There is enough that the younger age groups can and do take part in
Overall I have found Charlton Kings to be a very pleasant place, that cares a lot for their young people. When I started there were issues around challenging behaviour, but these have already subsided and police reports were down from 10 a day at the height of the problem to 33 incidents over a 6 week period, only 3 or 4 of which were from young people.
6.1 Balcarras is rated as an ‘outstanding’ school by Ofsted and a factor into families moving to Charlton Kings in order for their children to be able to attend.
6.2 There are paid interest based activities for young people to get involved with, that many engage with, including extra-curricular activity.. However, there aren't any inclusive free places for young people to go for themselves where they can be safe, have shelter and meet new people, having a possibly discriminatory & pressurising effect on those who are on lower income in the area
6.3 The young person survey indicates that young people feel safe, are generally mentally healthy and can cope with the pressures of school overall However, this is not true for all young people and the data shows that some young people use negative coping strategies such as substance misuse.
6.4 Whilst acknowledging the commissioning of this Community profile is a good start, there is work to be done locally to include young people’s voices, have them taken seriously at key decision making levels, and have that communicated well back to young people so that they can see the impact they have made.
6.5 Adults believe that young people cause anti-social behaviour Young people feel blamed for it Whilst there may be a small minority of young people who’s challenging behaviour causes issuesit is a far more noble endeavour to reach out and understand the complex reasons behind this behaviour and also to create a more positive narrative in the general public of the good that young people bring to the community.
6.6 Although young people generally feel LGBTQ+ young people are safe, young people have made comments about being bullied for their identity and sexuality Having a safe space where they feel accepted and valued would benefit their wellbeing
6.7 Young people scored their mental health positively in the survey With most mental health issues they are facing being more lower level concerns where having a trusted adult to talk to could benefit them.
6.8 Young people said in the survey they are unlikely to attend a youth club. Upon reflection, this terminology may have elicited a poor response as young people may not have any conceptualisation of what this truly means, or worse, a negative bias, having not experienced one for themselves in the recent past What is clear, is that young people said they would value safe spaces for them to hang out and get support There were still over 30 young people who said they would positively engage with a youth club.
6.9 Young people said they spend most of their free time at the parks or at home The parks would be a good place to set up any potential space for young people and organise activities
6.10 There is a perception that there are groups of young people, who are assumed to have two working parents and have to entertain themselves, tend to not be a positive influence within the community
6.11 According to the IMDs, Charlton Kings is a comparatively good area to live in, with positive prospects for residents here
6.12 There doesn’t appear to be specific provision for young people with disabilities, learning difficulties or non-white identifying young people
Young people in the survey responded that they are unlikely to attend a youth club in Charlton Kings. However, there was a clear desire for mental health support and a safe space for teenagers to hang out resulting in less loitering These are the building blocks of any youth club from which long term momentum can be built from. They also stated that there is a need for challenging behaviour management, support with substance misuse and vaping cessation. The Door would recommend the following as a beginning to that process (The list is in no particular order).
7.1 Building stronger relationships with local schools
Building on existing partnerships with local schools such as Balcarras, and developing partnerships with others in the area, is very valuable for youth workers and can be a beneficial two way relationship Youth workers can often gain access to young people in a way that formal education staff find challenging due to their position Building relationships with young people in school, through detached work, pastoral support and informal education will provide the foundations of a possible future youth provision but it will take time.
7.2 Have a designated safe space for young people
Young people have said that they would like somewhere to hang out, to create less loitering and provide support Providing a space where they can be warm, have wifi, be fed, be safe, make friends and have some activities could have a long lasting impact
7.3 Informal Education
Young people have asked for substance misuse management, and in particular regarding vaping. A provider should create space to informally educate on this subject (and others), deliver mentoring and generally help navigate life through positive coping strategies.
7.4 Inclusive and Accepting
Build an inclusive and accepting environment, with a high degree of awareness on neurodivergence and all forms of diversity, that makes all feel welcome and psychologically safe, challenging any harmful, derogatory or discriminatory language This requires having a strong set of agreed values, created by the young people themselves Young people will feel more welcome if they can identify with others like them in publicity as well as in the space and the staff team
7.5 Recruitment is paramount
Any staff & volunteers should be recruited through a highly robust and legal process In addition, they should be well trained, open to ongoing professional development, have good active
listening skills, be non-judgemental and have a willingness to engage young people curiously with a sense of adventure
7.6 Mental Health Support
Provide a free to access safe space where young people can be open about their mental health, and the challenges that they are facing This would act as a triage to further signposting to specialist services if required
7.7 Provide 1:1 specific needs-dependent support for young people.
Statutory provision for this type of support is hard to come by. Typically, young people need to wait months, possibly years to gain statutory emotional support The Door would recommend that any provider has access to or is able to provide a reputable mentoring provision - a ‘professional friend’ and positive role model trained in delivering mental health first aid
7.8 Needs-Led Approach
Have a needs led approach by listening to the voices of young people. This means letting them have a say on what provision they need as well as a meaningful seat at local key decision making bodies This requires seeking regular active participation from young people and a determination to adapt to whatever young people say Communication with young people is paramount They will accept that they will not be able to have everything their way, but they need to feel like their voice has made a difference
7.9 Use of Kings Hall & audit of other community spaces
The Kings Hall already has a youth space, which with some investment can become a space that young people can take ownership of There is a high risk that youth activity in any space will incur minor damage, but having a designated space for them will give the young people higher ownership The council should be realistic about work with young people and preserve a budget for inevitable mishaps The Kings Halls location is already where young people have said they like to go, and has good outdoor space with the MUGA and Grange Field It is worth noting that the Kings Hall is not very accessible for those with physical disabilities An audit of a range of suitable youth spaces in Charlton Kings is to be recommended for specific small group activities i.e after school homework clubs.
7.10 Collaborate with the Community
Any youth provider should be embedded in the community, being sensitive to its contextual and ever diversifying needs The council should take a ‘in-it-together approach’ with any commissioned provider The provider should create partnerships with other community groups and key local stakeholders, such as the local policing team, social care, the NHS, statutory services, business owners, council, churches and community groups These could create a consistent approach to diverse opportunities for young people through these partnerships as well as encouraging youth participation in local events and young person’s local volunteering network.
7.11 Engage the next generation
Any youth provider should be making early intervention with young people by working closely with local primary schools, specifically Glenfall Primary School and Charlton Kings Juniors School. This should include accompanying transition into secondary school and beyond. Any new youth provision can target the later years of primary school in order to build a sense of belonging and strong culture, providing the framework for years to come
7.12 Provision for minority groups such as LGBTQ+, BAME, learning difficulties, disabilities etc. There appeared to be a lack of provision for young people identifying in minority groups Any youth work provider would need to be committed to inclusive provision for the same.
7.13 Engage young people in the digital space
Youth provision is about meeting young people where they are at and most of them are online A provider should provide safe spaces for young people to engage with each other and trusted adults online through positive activity and informal learning on social media.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton Kings
https://citypopulation de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/cheltenham/E04012753 charlt on kings/
https://www.compare-schoolperformance service gov uk/school/136474/balcarrasschool/secondary?showFinal=true https://www pulhams co uk/busservices/timetables/servicep/ •
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https://www ons gov uk/visualisations/dvc1371/#/E07000078
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-64874355
https://www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk/uploads/youth-health-and-wellbeingconsultancy-report-emily-vincent-2022-03-22.pdf?v=1648555633