Building up Hope

Building up HOPE will engage with young people living in Playford LGA connected with Hope St Youth Programs and Carclew Youth Arts Pom Pom program, to co-design a youth-led placemaking approach to improving the amenity of their Davoren Park home base.

The programs will be supported by local youth sector leaders from the community project group. The Youth Leaders, with support from young program participants and volunteers, will implement a collaborative action plan. The outputs from the action plan will facilitate programs to promote social inclusion and positive physical and mental well-being and community connectedness.

These will include the design and delivery of a large art mural, with Augmented Reality (AR) embedded in the final piece, designed in collaboration with a professional artist, Carclew specialists and young people. Installation of greening and nature play spaces with a community garden, outdoor seating and interactive equipment that will rejuvenate the space.

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Project Achievements

Building up HOPE is a co-designed and delivered a placemaking project with young people living in Playford LGA connected with Hope St Youth Programs and Carclew Youth Arts Pom Pom. The placemaking activity has led to improved design and amenity of their Davoren Park home base.

The project has demonstrated how a collaborative approach between government, the not for profit and the voluntary sector can contribute and influence opportunities for young people in marginalised groups.

Programs have been supported by local youth community leaders working alongside specialist facilitators to deliver and engage in 21 art and culture workshops, building creativity, confidence, self-esteem and community connectedness.

The project has allowed for youth consultation into the design of key infrastructure including, a native garden, outdoor seating, large street Art mural with augmented reality featured, floor art and designated sports activity areas.

The engagement resulting in the final infrastructure outcomes have contributed to a sense of place, safety and pride for young people. It has enabled the development and strengthening of relationships between children, young people and organisations.

Project outcomes

Evaluation:

• Stories of impact and youth consultation (scooter track)

The project outcomes have been achieved through the building of stronger relationships between key project partners. Hope Street Youth and Carclew Youth Arts have embraced a more collaborative approach toward working collaboratively to build a pathway between services. Subsequently, this has contributed to an expansion of trusted relationships built between participants, families, volunteers and mentors.

A project outcome was to create a welcoming place where disadvantaged families feel comfortable to connect with the wider community. This has been achieved through the placemaking and activation of the space. Contributing to the reduction is social isolation, community social and emotional wellbeing and resilience. The input into design and implementation has resulted in increased participation in community activity, engagement and community pride

Building a digital interface to the built environment has contributed to the strengthening of digital access and literacy. Young people’s engagement in the design and implementation of the augmented reality aspect of the project further demonstrates social inclusion.

A total number of 110 people was involved throughout this project. This included 85 young people (12-24). The City of Playford Youth Development Officer, Carclew artists, educators and staff, Hope St volunteers and youth leaders. In addition, young people from both Pom Pom and Hope Street projects were involved.

The steering committee included young people aged 12-24 years. The young people involved in the steering committee contributed to the broader youth consultation to determine the scope of works and cultural influence of the art design, seating, gardens and augmented reality.

The young steering committee members have been provided with public speaking and writing coaching and mentorship.

The young Hope Street Youth project leads have had the opportunity to feed project progress and updates to the broader group and to take feedback from the group to the Steering group to influence the project outcomes.

The methodology used to evaluate the project included a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures to determine reach and impact.

Quantitative data was collected to demonstrate the demographics of the cohort, this included age, gender, locality. it was also used to capture attendance at both Pom Pom and Hope Street activities related to and additional to the Building Up Hope project.

• Long-term outcome - Reduction in social isolation and participation by priority groups will be measured by increased and repeat attendance at the hub over time.
  • 78 young people participating in the project, connecting with each other and other services
  • 93 %  repeat participants  to project activities
  • 57 % of participants transitioning from Pom Pom to Hope Street ongoing weekly activities
• Medium-term - Supported personal growth through an environment of acceptance,   demonstrated by the diversity of  individuals and groups accessing the  programs and space
  • Demography demonstrates CALD, First Nations and LGBQTI make up 20.2% of the  participant group
• Medium-term - Young people will connect and build digital literacy  
  • workshops engaging participants in contributing to the design and implementation of Augmented reality.
  • Building aspiration and connection to community skill-building programs such as Northern Sound System and Stretton Centre Library
• Short Term - Increased access to safe, inclusive and accessible public  spaces, for children, youth and families  
  • 100% of participants have access to a safe community environment which is demonstrated by broader  community ownership
  • 0 reports of vandalism during the term of the project demonstrating community connection, pride and ownership of the space

Ongoing Learning and collaborations

The Building Up HOPE project has drawn on a number of council teams and specialists to leverage expertise and relationships.

Playford City Operations team and parks/landscaping specialist have provided subject matter expertise and connected the Youth Development Team of the council to contractors that provide value for money, inclusive of young people and support their ideas and values.  

Connections with Councils Aboriginal Education Service, Maeni Waendi has been enhanced through warm referrals into alternative Council led programs.

Sharing of expertise and referrals between Playford Wellbeing Hub, Northern Sound System and Youth team.

The project has been a catalyst to link the activities of Carclew Pom Pom and Hope Street Youth and accelerate a pathway for the transition of children through youth and young adult services and activities.

The partnership has strengthened the relationship between both organisations and facilitated a discussion with regards to resource sharing of Carclew underutilised facilities to support growth activities for Hope St.

This project has received funding from the Department of Human Services Youth-led COVID-19 Recovery Grants and administered by the Local Government Association of South Australia.

Project images