The Children and Young People's Participation Service (ChYpPS) works with children and young people of all ages across the city.
We are dedicated to ensuring that all children and young people in Cambridge can access play and youth provision throughout the year. We organise activities in local neighbourhoods in response to need, and also deliver a variety of closed and targeted group projects.
To find out what's happening in your area please see our activities page.
Projects
Below is an overview of some of the projects and pieces of work that are currently happening across the city. For further information on any of the projects please contact ChYpPS on 01223 457873 or chypps@cambridge.gov.uk.
Open Access and Urban Adventure Play
We have senior workers in most wards of the city, in neighbourhoods, encouraging the community (especially children and young people) to use their local recreation grounds and get involved in community projects. They run regular, supervised outside and inside play sessions throughout the year, develop projects in neighbourhoods in response to need and are involved in consulting with children and young people about new play and sport facilities.
Our recent successful Big Lottery Bid has enabled us to develop our Urban Adventure Play programme. Read more about Urban Adventure Play.
The Dec, The ChYpPS Community Play Boat and the Music and Media Suite
We have a number of facilities that enable us to deliver a diverse programme of activities. The Dec is our double decker bus - a mobile play and youth facility which visits the wards of the city on a rotational basis. It provides information and advice, has a variety of games consoles and computers, multimedia facilities, games and arts and crafts.
For more information on the Dec please contact Janet Parish on janet.parish@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457810
The ChYpPS Community Play Boat is a wide beam narrowboat that allows children, young people, families and community groups to take part in innovative activites along the River Cam.
For more information on the Play Boat please contact Dan Mitchell on karl.wilks@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457927
The Music and Media Suite is based at the Newton Q - the youth wing at the Meadows Community Centre. We have a number of technicians who can enable children and young people to develop their music, multimedia and video making skills.
For more information on the Dec please contact Janet Parish on janet.parish@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457810
Targeted Work
We run a number of closed groups that are mostly referred projects.
HeyDaze has been running since 2002 and aims to provide a four day residential and fortnightly activities for a group of 12 children aged 9-13 years old. The project aims to increase self esteem and develop confidence and help children get involved in social and leisure provision in neighbourhoods.
For more information about HeyDaze and the referall process please contact Dan Mitchell on dan.mitchell@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457873.
Urban Roar is a new referred project which started in Spring 2012. It is a short twelve week programme of activities including an overnight residential and Urban Adventure Play which aim to support the twelve children in challenging themselves and gaining new practical and social skills.
For more information about Urban Roar and the referall process please contact Jo Hunt on jo.hunt@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457873.
Participation
Participation is at the heart of what ChYpPS does and we encourage active involvement of children and young people in all of our projects. We currently run a Recruitment Group - a group of young people who help us with the recruitment of new staff to ChYpPS and run their own interview session.
For more information about Recruitment Group and our participation ethos generally please contact Caroline Gill at caroline.gill@cambridge.gov.uk or call 01223 457873
Scrapstore
The ChYpPS Scrapstore provides a source of recycled materials for children and young people to use in art, craft and play activities. We also sell arts and crafts equipment at cost price. Read more about scrapstore.
For more information about Scrapstore please contact Caroline Gill at caroline.gill@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457873
Bullying and cyber bullying
Pippa-Jo, Aiden, Chantell and Stuart helped ChYpPS review some websites which can help with cyber bullying:
- Cyberbullying - Laugh at it and you're part of it - Easy to read and gives you loads of clear info.
- Childline on cyberbulllying - Really good and helpful. Tells you what bullying is about.
- Parry's Guide to Cyberbullying (from Bebo) - Tells the truth about what's actually happening.
- BullyingUK - It's ok! Lots of advice about all different types of bullying. A bit grown up though.
- Chatdanger - Lots of true stories, facts and safety advice.
- thinkuknow - Good for all ages. Cyber cafe. Can report bullying.
