Bulletin 17 July 2009
Step Up – Living Streets
Living Streets is the UK’s national charity for people on foot. ‘Step Up’ is Living Streets’ campaign to get young people walking more, on safe, attractive, enjoyable streets. To see what Living Streets have been doing please visit their website www.stepup.org.uk .
Living Streets have developed a set of resources called a ‘Campaign-in-a-Box’, initially to support youth-led campaigns based in schools. However they think the schools will work well in youth work settings too. At the moment, due to lottery funding, they are able to offer the resources free of charge, together with a budget of up to £250 for the group to spend on their campaign.
So far Living Streets have mostly relied on school staff to mentor groups. What would really strengthen the scheme is if youth and/or participation workers were able to deliver this support (within schools or outside of them). They have had some success with local authority participation workers in Darlington mentoring groups in schools, as an offshoot of their work with school councils.
If you are working with groups that you think might be interested in doing a Step Up campaign, Living Streets are happy to consider funding them. If any of this sounds interesting, or you’d like to know more, don’t hesitate to get in touch by contacting: sam.potter@livingstreets.org.uk 0191 245 7360.
Jackass Youth Theatre
Jackass Youth Theatre has been taking part in a national online research project about “Britishness” with a PHd researcher from Bradford University (Peace Studies Dept). This research project basically seeks to gather the views and ideas of young people and take them to MPs.
Here is the initial information that Sophie Millner (the researcher) has sent to the Minister in advance of the meeting so he would have a bit more info about them.
Summary of the group:
* There will be 6 young women and 1 young man coming down from rural county Durham
* They are between 15 and 19yrs old so they are either in school at GCSE or A-level stage or in college.
* One is a NEET (not in Education, Training or Employment)
* They are a creative bunch, and have decided to create a sculpture to represent ‘home’ and ‘Britishness’ to give to the Minister
What they have been thinking about with Sophie:
* Individually they have spent time reflecting on their own identities and the places/spaces/people they feel a sense of belonging with and similarly what they feel excluded or marginalised from.
* As a group they have considered some of the issues that arise from the following 3 policy documents: Citizenship: Our Common Bond, Governance of Britain: 1 Year On, Rights & Responsibilities: Developing our Constitutional Framework. As a whole group (of 16) they have put together a list of questions that came out of these discussions.
* The idea being to think about how these areas relate to one another.
Last week some of these young people were at Plymouth University with Julie Ward for 5 days for the launch of an international youth arts project designed to promote the use of arts as a resource for reconciliation around the world ARROW. There were 5 groups present in total from Northern Ireland, Burnley, Slough, Plymouth and County Durham. Next year there will be groups from all over the world including the Left Bank (Palestine), India, South Africa, USA and S America.
www.*art*-*peace*.co.uk – the ARROW website
The group Julie took to Plymouth wanted to tell the wider world about ARROW but now it is doubly important as they used the experience of being in a multicultural environment last week to feed the work they have been doing on the Britishness agenda with Sophie as well.
Many of the youth theatre members are spending this week working on the making of a sculpture to take to Michael Wills next Wednesday. It will sum up their research and personal feelings about the notion of “home” and how this relates to race and culture.
If you would like more about it you can contact Julie on 01388 730574 or 07525 048313
Sophie Millner is on 07947 63 88 26
www.onlineproject.co.uk, onlineproject2009@yahoo.co.uk
You could also talk to some of the young people via:
Emma Smith 07765 850145
Deaf Child and Family CAMHS
A new nationally commissioned Deaf Child and Family CAMHS Service which will be coming to the North East this Autumn. The team will be working out of Benton House in Newcastle and recruitment will begin this month. Please will you pass this information on to anyone you think it would be useful to and do not hesitate to get in touch with Alison Lawson (0191 5225406, alison.lawson@ndcs.org.uk) if you need to know any more.
Vision Sense – Seeking partner organisations who engage with young people with Mental Health Conditions
VisionSense is a user-led third sector organisation of disabled people in Jarrow, South Tyneside. There is opportunity to apply for work from the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding Young People (16-24) as Mental Health Service Users in the North East. The EHRC want to investigate, and build the evidence for, how the life chances of Young People with Mental Health Conditions (16-24) in the region who are currently most excluded might be improved through access to self-directed support (e.g. through direct payments and/or Individual Budgets). In order to apply for the work we need to have in place prospective project partners in place that meet the following criteria;
• North East Based
• Currently engage in a meaningful and effective manner with Young People with Mental Health Conditions.
The project partner(s) will be expected to work with VisionSense to provide communication and consultation with Young People with Mental Health Conditions about the barriers they face in accessing and utilizing personalised care and support. Remuneration will be forthcoming for work undertaken by the project partner(s).
It is hoped that a prospective partner(s) can be found that can help us to engage with mental health service users in the North East and ultimately provide a thorough research project that the EHRC can use to influence government and improve service provision in the North East.
If any suitable organisation is interested please contact me at tom@visionsense.co.uk or on 0845 1080553 to arrange a meeting to discuss further involvement but please notify Tom of any interest quickly as the submission deadline is the 24th July.
Training Opportunities with Fairbridge
Get to grips with an ever-increasing issue and build confidence in approaching a sensitive and complex subject
After the successful consultation back in May the ‘Tackling Knife Crime Training’ developed by Fairbridge Training and Fairbridge Tyne & Wear is ready to be delivered as a full pilot.
Tackling Knife Crime is a two-day training programme that explores theories and the application of activities:
Day One – Develop understanding of behaviours through theories used by Fairbridge and how these relate to the driving factors that can impact upon young people’s decision making
Day Two – Applying theory to practice by using refreshing activities that promote the learning and development process so you can confidently engage young people and start the conversation around carrying knives
This is a free two-day pilot. Each delegate will receive lunch, refreshments and a comprehensive toolkit that can be immediately used in your work place and shared with colleagues.
The pilot is taking place:
29th & 30th July 2009
Fairbridge Tyne & Wear
West Fifteen
Whickham View
Benwell
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE15 6UN
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! To book please contact annalisa.monzione@fairbridgetraining.co.uk on 0207 902 1248
Reality Therapy
Reality Therapy is an essential technique used principally in counselling and self-development, it is a method that can help individuals take more control over their lives by focusing on presenting problems and behaviours, enabling long lasting change.
Fairbridge Training will be delivering a four-day Basic Intensive Reality Therapy residential training course. The training takes place:
15th-18th September 2009
Kings Park Conference Centre
Kings Park Road
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6LL
Reality Therapy is one of the underlying theories used by Fairbridge in its work with young people. It is a fundamental learning and development course that can make a real difference to youth work practice and achieving positive results for young people. The skills, ideas and approaches associated with Reality Therapy enable Fairbridge staff to engage and positively move young people forwards; helping them become confident, self-aware individuals. During the course delegates will:
• Develop their understanding of Choice Theory and the applications of Reality Therapy
• Explore what motivates behaviour and what are the driving factors behind certain behavioural characteristics
• Determine how to help young people make effective choices and achieve greater self-control
The cost of the training is £500+VAT this includes accommodation and all meals. To book please contact annalisa.monzione@fairbridgetraining.co.uk or call 0207 902 1248.
