Motiv8
Motiv8 engages with young people and their families, supporting them to access better life chances. It does this to reduce the risk of offending, anti-social behaviour and disengagement from learning or employment.
Motiv8 works across Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant, focusing on those who are at risk, hard to reach, facing multiple barriers, and live in deprived neighbourhoods.
To read more about the DIVERT programme, scroll further down the page.
Case study: Rob’s story
When Ricky met 15-year-old Rob (not his real name), Rob used to be a member of the Tea Leaf gang, stealing bikes and generally getting involved in crime. His mum didn’t know what to do anymore, his attendance at school was very poor, and he was heading towards exclusion. He had witnessed domestic violence and had problems building positive relationships with his family as well as professionals.
The DIVERT programme run by Motiv8 and funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner provided Rob with the one-to-one support he so desperately needed: Focusing on building a positive relationship and rebuilding the trust in professionals, Rob’s case worker Ricky focused on finding out what Rob used to like to do before he got into crime. He joined the Motiv8 football group, got active in the training sessions, and even played against the police, helping him to see that he could establish positive relationships. Using Rob’s interests to reward positive behaviour, his case worker took him fishing, paddle boarding and kayaking.
One of the main barriers for Rob was his education. He was on the brink of exclusion and school were at a loss as to what to do. With his case worker, Rob talked through his choices and aspirations alongside ways to manage his feelings which had led to aggressive outbursts. Ricky promoted his strengths and helped him find solutions to his own problems, and in turn Rob’s confidence grew and he was able to look at how he might help himself.
Together with his school, Rob and his case worker looked at options of alternative education. Rob wanted to have a stable job and recognised he had good practical skills. He ended up joining a course at Highbury College despite being younger than the other students, and subsequently built a good relationship with his teacher. His attendance is at 93%, he has not offended since, and is feeling much more confident about his future.
“Ricky helped me sort my life out, without him I’d probably be kicked out of school and doing nothing with my life other than crime.” (Rob)
About the DIVERT programme
The DIVERT project provides 1:1 support involving the family, alongside the option of bespoke group work to engage with peer groups and/or young people frequenting locations where ASB, exploitation and/or offending is occurring.
Through the project Motiv8 seeks to address root causes impacting on young people’s behaviours. The team works with the individual, their family and the wider professional network around them, such schools, mental health services, housing etc. Regular engagement with the young person’s wider network helps build trust, and provides a greater insight into what is happening at home and in the community, alongside establishing an open dialogue where there is openness and transparency enabling effective challenge as well as support. Motiv8 then builds upon the young person/family’s strengths and interests, increasing resilience and helping support the young people and their families in accessing wider provision available to them such as sports activities, parent groups and specialist provision, for example mental health services.