Prevention > Play and Learn Zone (PALZ)

The Play and Learn Zone Programme(PALZ or Junior Youth Inclusion Programme) began in 2004 funded by the Children's Fund with a focus on crime prevention. The funds established nine locally-based PALZ projects across the Bradford District. The PALZ brand, with the logo, is now well recognised across the District’s schools and referring agencies and is used by all Junior YIP Providers.

Each project uses multi-agency identification and referral processes to identify the top 8-13 year olds 'Most at Risk' of committing crime/re-offending, anti-social behaviour, school exclusion and social exclusion in the Junior YIP area. They each offer a range of play and learning opportunities for a minimum of five hours per week out of school activity.

NEW - see the newsletter on the 2009/2010 SOCA-funded JAS/PALZ programme in Buttershaw/Woodside.

Five voluntary and statutory service providers were successful in bidding to run the projects below. They were supported by two Coordinators based at the Young People's Support Unit (YPSU), a 'one-stop' prevention hub.

Junior YIP Areas

• Allerton, Trident and Newlands
• BD3 (On Track area) and Bierley
• Wyke
• Manningham
• Keighley and Shipley

Junior YIP Providers

• City of Bradford YMCA
• On Track Bradford
• Joint Activities Service (JAS)
• Bradford Youth Development Partnership (BYDP)
• West Yorkshire Police (WYP)

See the Summary of Key Findings from Evaluation of Projects 2007/08 here

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Young people rewarded for good work

January 2009 - A group of young people have been rewarded for being good citizens in their community.

The young people are members of Lower Grange YPalz (Play and Learn Zone) Group, the district's Junior Youth Inclusion Programme, a partnership between Bradford Council's Youth Offending Team and Bradford Children's Fund. The group, for eight to 13-year-olds, aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and truancy.

Lower Grange Commmunity Association is so impressed with the young people's work in community clean-ups and other activities to improve the area that they have rewarded them with a trip to the Wet and Wild Indoor Water Park near Newcastle.

Members of the Community Association have praised the young people for "trying to make a difference within Lower Grange by bringing even greater improvements to the area."

Paul O'Hara, Manager of Bradford Council's Youth Offending Team, said: "It is fantastic that these young people have been recognised in such a way. The PALZ programme is about young people doing things to restore pride in themselves and the community and the Lower Grange programme has achieved just that."

Coun Michael Kelly, Executive Member for Children's Services, said: "This shows what a difference a scheme like this can make to young people in getting their lives on track and helping others."

PALZ groups operate in nine areas across the district - Allerton (which includes Lower Grange and Fairweather Green), Bierley, Keighley, Manningham and Girlington (including Haworth Road), Newlands (including Fagley, Thorpe Edge and Ravenscliffe), On Track Area (Bradford Moor, Barkerend and Thornbury), Shipley, Trident Area (West Bowling and Canterbury) and Wyke and Low Moor.

Each project works with 25 young people aged between eight and 13 who have been identified as 'at risk' of social exclusion, anti-social behaviour or offending. They are involved in a minimum of five hours a week out of school activities ranging from forms of play to group activities or community projects.

Other partner organisations in the scheme are the Joint Activities Service, Bradford YMCA, Bradford Youth Development Partnership, West Yorkshire Police, On Track and Relate Bradford