W.A.L.K.W.A.Y.S (Walsall Youth Projects) Using participatory appraisal as a means to assist person-centred planning in the lives of young drug users

Document begins: W.A.L.K.W.A.Y.S (Walsall 10 Youth Projects) Using participatory appraisal as a means to assist person-centred planning in the lives of young drug users Daren Garratt and Caroline Stokes prejudice and provide a credible alternative to the `pull Introduction yourself together' mentality which still, unfortunately, In our work, we are delivering interventions and support to largely prevails. drug users in a number of situations, be it in schools, informally on the streets or in a more on-going, intensive When we first came into post nearly three years ago, our one-to-one relationship with clients. We have found remit was to deliver drug and alcohol information and Participatory Appraisal techniques invaluable in this work, support in a `detached youth work' context. This means both when working with groups and individuals. It is a that we take our service `out' to young people in pubs, process of learning with principles and aesthetics that we clubs, parks and estates, ever mindful that we are operating firmly support in that it `enables local people to move to the on their terms, territory and time. We have found centre of decision-making processes, and to actively participatory appraisal (PA) ideal as a means for collecting contribute their knowledge ...