Youth Service News Issue 1 - Leicestershire County Council
Youth Service News Issue 1 - Leicestershire County Council
Youth Service News Issue 1 - Leicestershire County Council
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>News</strong><br />
Editor<br />
Neil Hanney<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong><br />
<strong>Leicestershire</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> Hall<br />
Glenfield<br />
Leicester<br />
LE3 8RF<br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
February 2006<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
2 An introduction by<br />
Neil Hanney<br />
Principal <strong>Youth</strong> Officer<br />
LOCAL AWARD<br />
LAUNCH<br />
3 Highlights from the<br />
celebration evening at<br />
the Walkers Staduim<br />
PHILIP LAWRENCE<br />
AWARDS<br />
4 Celebrating<br />
outstanding<br />
citizenship<br />
NEWS FROM<br />
THE JITTY<br />
6 The story so far...<br />
YOUTH CENTRE<br />
DEVELOPMENT<br />
7 An update from<br />
Glenfield and<br />
Waltham Centres<br />
DUKE OF<br />
EDINBURGH<br />
AWARDS<br />
8 <strong>News</strong> from the<br />
training weekend<br />
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
AN INTRODUCTION<br />
by Neil Hanney<br />
Principal <strong>Youth</strong> Officer<br />
I am really pleased to introduce the<br />
first edition of the <strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong><br />
<strong>News</strong>letter. We are at an important<br />
time in our work with young people.<br />
Major changes to the way Children and<br />
Young People’s services are delivered<br />
are taking place. It is important that<br />
we recognise the contribution the<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong> makes to the Integrated<br />
Children’s <strong>Service</strong>s’ agenda.<br />
The articles in the newsletter are<br />
examples of our work with young<br />
people that contribute to the 5 Every<br />
Child Matters outcomes: Be Healthy,<br />
Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a<br />
Positive Contribution and Achieving<br />
Economic Wellbeing. The <strong>Youth</strong><br />
<strong>Service</strong> is well positioned to develop its<br />
work with young people and continues<br />
to build effective partnerships with<br />
the voluntary sector, Connexions, The<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> Offending <strong>Service</strong> and others.<br />
I trust you will enjoy reading the first<br />
of our regular newsletters and look<br />
forward to receiving articles from you<br />
for future editions.<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS<br />
By Stuart<br />
Cross, Quality<br />
Assurance,<br />
Staff<br />
Development<br />
and Training<br />
Officer<br />
The <strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong>’s<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong> launched a<br />
new award and celebrated<br />
the achievements of<br />
young people at a special<br />
evening. Over 300 young<br />
people, parents and<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> Workers attended<br />
the evening held at the<br />
Walkers Stadium on the<br />
6th December, hosted by<br />
Rae and Kev from Leicester<br />
Sound.<br />
Ivan Ould, Deputy Leader<br />
of the <strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong> with<br />
responsibility for Children<br />
and Young People’s<br />
<strong>Service</strong>s, presented four<br />
different types of awards<br />
to over 120 young people<br />
from projects across<br />
the <strong>County</strong> as well as<br />
launching the Local <strong>Youth</strong><br />
Work Award.
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
Launch of Local Awards<br />
Highlight of Celebration Evening<br />
The Local <strong>Youth</strong> Work Award has been developed<br />
to capture and recognise the learning and<br />
achievement of young people not engaged in<br />
other award programmes. It is based on 30 hours<br />
of learning reflecting the range of opportunities<br />
available to young people through their youth<br />
work programmes.<br />
The award has been operating this year and<br />
over 50 young people have completed various<br />
projects and pieces of work on their way to<br />
receiving the accolade.<br />
The evening recognised and celebrated the<br />
achievements of young people who have<br />
participated in the <strong>Youth</strong> Achievement Award<br />
and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Part time<br />
youth workers also received their NVQ Level 3<br />
certificates after successfully completing their<br />
initial youth work training.<br />
Mr Ould said: “It was fantastic to have the<br />
opportunity to officially recognise the hard<br />
work and achievements of young people.<br />
<strong>Leicestershire</strong>’s <strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong> continues to<br />
work with young people in a constructive,<br />
educational and effective way often in difficult<br />
circumstances”.<br />
“The new Local Award is an excellent way of<br />
marking young people’s learning achieved<br />
outside of the school setting. I would like to<br />
congratulate everyone involved in this initiative,<br />
particularly the young people who have proved<br />
that, given support and encouragement, they can<br />
achieve great things.”<br />
Young people from the projects below attended<br />
and received awards:<br />
• Countesthorpe <strong>Youth</strong> Centre,<br />
Baby Sitting Course<br />
• Groby, ‘Big Sister Big Brother’ Project<br />
• Groby & John Cleveland <strong>Youth</strong> Centres,<br />
Baby Sitting Courses<br />
• Entry to Employment (E2E),<br />
Wigston Young People’s Centre<br />
• Kibworth <strong>Youth</strong> Centre<br />
• Groby, Winstanley and Market Bosworth<br />
‘Transition’ Project<br />
• Newbridge, ‘What About Me’ Project<br />
• Roundhill <strong>Youth</strong> Centre, ‘Fun 4 All’<br />
• Ibstock <strong>Youth</strong> Centre,<br />
‘Baby Think It Over’ Project<br />
There was music from the Rawlins Steel Band and<br />
a performance from The Mighty Zulu Nation, a<br />
South African Touring Theatre Company.<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
By Andrew Lake<br />
Area <strong>Youth</strong> Work Coordinator<br />
for Young People at Risk for<br />
Charnwood and Melton<br />
The Philip Lawrence Awards celebrate “outstanding<br />
citizenship” by groups of young people aged 11-<br />
20, in projects that help community safety and<br />
counter crime, violence and racism. The awards<br />
are supported by the Home Office. They are<br />
national awards set up in memory of the Head<br />
Teacher Philip Lawrence, who was killed outside his<br />
school 10 years ago breaking up a fight.<br />
Dreamers is the <strong>County</strong> <strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong>’s education<br />
and support project for young asylum seekers and<br />
refugees who are living in <strong>Leicestershire</strong>. It is an<br />
important strand in the strategy of working with<br />
young people at risk. It currently involves over 100<br />
young people from Albania, Kosovo, Afghanistan,<br />
Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Eritrea, Syria and other countries.<br />
The group meet together to learn and support<br />
each other. They also work towards developing<br />
and fostering a better understanding by the wider<br />
community of asylum seekers and refugees.<br />
Our entry for the Awards began life during the<br />
summer. A significant part of the entry form had<br />
to be produced and written by the young people<br />
themselves – quite a challenge when English is<br />
not your first language. (Dreamers have over 8<br />
languages in use at most of the sessions), but anyway,<br />
a focus group of Dreamers’ members was formed.<br />
The first session of the focus group met at Pizza<br />
Hut. Ten of the group turned up. I set out the<br />
idea of why I thought they should enter the<br />
Awards. The group asked me questions such as<br />
“Why would a National Award body give us an<br />
award – we are not even British – we are asylum<br />
seekers and not many people like us”.<br />
This was going to be tricky! I remember trying<br />
to say something encouraging and pointed out<br />
to them how they were contributing positively<br />
“Why would a Nationa<br />
body give us an award<br />
– we are not even Brit<br />
– we are asylum seek<br />
not many people like<br />
FROM A BUFFET TO<br />
WINNING A PHILIP L<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS
l Award<br />
ish<br />
ers and<br />
us”<br />
to community life in the <strong>County</strong> and<br />
that Dreamers isn’t a project that backs<br />
down from challenge.<br />
At this point the group immediately<br />
asked me to hand over all the forms<br />
and to go and help myself at the buffet<br />
– they would deal with it. The young<br />
people discussed what and how they<br />
could say what they wanted to say. I<br />
remember butting in to tell them that<br />
spelling and grammar were not that<br />
important and I would help to correct<br />
them, especially if I couldn’t understand<br />
what they were trying to say.<br />
I wondered what they were writing<br />
– something pretty intense was going<br />
on judging by the huddles and lots of<br />
paper swapping hands.<br />
Eventually, they handed me back the<br />
forms and their notes and dashed off to<br />
see if I had left anything for them<br />
to eat.<br />
I read their notes. They had written<br />
about how Dreamers had helped them. I<br />
was touched by the depth and content of<br />
the writings. Here are some examples.<br />
“Every problem I have, I know where<br />
to go and sort it out. I never wanted<br />
to talk; now I talk with people from<br />
different parts of the world. Together<br />
we are stronger”, young person 16.<br />
“Dreamers have taken away from me my<br />
aloneness, feeling like an outsider that<br />
no one cares about”, young person 16.<br />
“When I go to Dreamers I feel strong<br />
and I am powerful. I am not alone<br />
and people want to know me”, young<br />
person 15.<br />
“I lost my home and family, Dreamers<br />
reunited me with my cousin and helped<br />
us get a flat together. They care about<br />
us”, young person 18.<br />
And there were lots more.<br />
I was touched by what they had<br />
produced and told them so as they<br />
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
tucked into plates of pizza. I told them<br />
I would submit their work as the core<br />
of the entry. The focus group still had<br />
little belief that they could win.<br />
A few months later we had a phone<br />
call. Dreamers had won an Award!<br />
Dreamers decided that 2 European,<br />
2 Arab, one African and one Afghan<br />
member would make up the delegates<br />
who would travel to London to receive<br />
the Award. It was felt that this mix<br />
highlighted the makeup of the group.<br />
A few weeks later we were checking<br />
into a hotel, travelling on trains,<br />
undergrounds, attending rehearsals<br />
etc. These were new experiences for<br />
the group members and for some<br />
of them quite a bewildering and<br />
challenging experience.<br />
The day of the Award Ceremony at the<br />
Bloomsbury Theatre came. The theatre<br />
was packed with spectators. Our group<br />
was called to the stage with the other<br />
9 Award winning groups to receive<br />
their Award and a cheque for £1000.<br />
Presenting them with their Award was<br />
Frances Lawrence (widow of Philip), Sir<br />
Trevor McDonald and Charles Clark,<br />
the Home Secretary. Afterwards the<br />
group mixed with VIP guests, other<br />
groups and, of course, the media. The<br />
members’ sense of pride and sheer<br />
delight in succeeding was clear to see.<br />
To contact Dreamers Tel: 01509 267 796.<br />
AWRENCE AWARD!<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
By James Hunter,<br />
Website Development Worker<br />
“The Jitty”, a new website created especially for Young People (13-19) in<br />
<strong>Leicestershire</strong>, is now live. It aims to provide co-ordinated information, advice and<br />
support to enable users to make informed decisions at key points in their lives.<br />
The website was developed following consultation with young people, and the<br />
content is presented in a lively and accessible style, covering national issues such as<br />
bullying, exams and crime. The site also provides details about what is happening<br />
locally including events, entertainment and sport, and regularly runs competitions.<br />
There is an editorial team of young people who update and manage the site, while<br />
there are numerous contributors from around <strong>Leicestershire</strong> who regularly submit<br />
work (film reviews, CD reviews, opinions on what is happening in national and<br />
international news etc).<br />
Anyone aged between 13 and 19 is welcome to join the writers’ group, and there is<br />
a “Join Up” section on the website which gives details on how to become involved.<br />
If you don’t want to write articles, you can still take part by signing up to the “Chat<br />
Forum” where you can talk to other young people from around <strong>Leicestershire</strong>.<br />
Katy, who was a student at Guthlaxton College in Wigston and is now studying at<br />
University, said: “I would encourage young people to get involved and get their views<br />
across. It gives you an opportunity to write about any subject that affects youth.”<br />
In the past year the number of visitors to the site has steadily increased. This time<br />
last year The Jitty only received 400 visits and was short of content, but over the last<br />
couple of months we have been receiving over 7000 visits a month, and there are a<br />
number of articles submitted by young people ranging from poetry and cartoons to<br />
film/CD reviews.<br />
The Jitty can be found at<br />
www.thejitty.com<br />
James Hunter, Web<br />
Development <strong>Youth</strong> Worker,<br />
Room G49, <strong>County</strong> Hall,<br />
Glenfield, <strong>Leicestershire</strong><br />
LE8 3RF Tel: 0116 2657036<br />
E-Mail: jhunter@leics.gov.uk<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS<br />
Glenfield <strong>Youth</strong> Centre
Following on from last year’s Awards night success,<br />
this year’s proved bigger and better. It was held at<br />
Belton Woods Hotel, Grantham and, the event was<br />
a great success, enjoyed by all who attended.<br />
All the Young People did themselves proud by<br />
wearing formal wear (Suits and Evening Dresses<br />
– including the <strong>Youth</strong> Workers! - not a pair of<br />
trainers or tracksuit to be seen!!)<br />
Everyone enjoyed a superb three-course<br />
Christmas meal before building up to the Young<br />
People’s awards presentation - the young people<br />
all nominated each other for various awards<br />
ranging from: best cook, chav award, sports<br />
person, funniest and nosiest. The <strong>Youth</strong> Workers,<br />
Dannii, Nikki and Andy presented the awards<br />
before enjoying a karaoke to end the evening.<br />
Here are some comments from the young people:<br />
“I was part of the youth club that went to Belton<br />
Woods. We went for a Christmas meal and also had<br />
a karaoke. We were presented with awards for the<br />
past years achievements. We all had fun at the party<br />
and overall it was a great night out for members as<br />
well as staff, thank you very much”.<br />
“We had a good night when we went to Belton<br />
Woods. Meal was really nice and had a good laugh<br />
when it came to the karaoke. I rekon everyone had<br />
a good night, so good all round. Cheers”.<br />
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
Developments at Glenfield <strong>Youth</strong> Centre<br />
By Adrian Clifford, Area <strong>Youth</strong> Work Coordinator<br />
The New Year has seen continued<br />
development of Glenfield <strong>Youth</strong><br />
Centre. Previously used as a library,<br />
the building is now managed by the<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> <strong>Service</strong> and has undergone an<br />
extensive programme of refurbishment<br />
tailored to the needs of young people.<br />
In order to develop provision, youth work staff<br />
previously used the Parish <strong>Council</strong> Pavilion on<br />
Ellis Park. However, as membership continued<br />
to grow it quickly became evident that demand<br />
had outgrown the facility. The move to the new<br />
building provides many exciting development<br />
opportunities and gives young people access to a<br />
modern dedicated youth work space.<br />
The centre has numerous meeting rooms, a fully<br />
re-fitted kitchen, as well as on-going development<br />
of an ICT suite that is intended to provide young<br />
people with supervised internet and email access.<br />
Young people’s response to the new centre has<br />
been fantastic and a strong sense of ownership<br />
has quickly been established; members are just<br />
beginning to progress design of a mural in order to<br />
decorate the lounge area. Currently meeting two<br />
evenings a week, it is intended that services and<br />
provision will be extended as funding enables, and<br />
over time a range of multi-agency partnership work<br />
and practice developed.<br />
Waltham <strong>Youth</strong> Club Awards Night 00<br />
By Dannii Donovan, <strong>Youth</strong> Worker Vale of Belvoir<br />
“Thanks 4 the great CRIMBO PARTY it was intense<br />
we had an amazing time, the meal was nice ! I hope<br />
every1 else enjoyed it as much as I did!!!!! Thanks”.<br />
“Well am not sure what to say so here it comes: I<br />
went to Belton to a fat x-mass dinner. It was brill.<br />
The thing I liked most was the disco wiv all the<br />
good, hope you all had a wicked time, hope next<br />
time will be better and bigger.<br />
Good bye Waltham massive”.<br />
“Hi I had a good time at the Christmas bash with<br />
youth club the only thing I dint like about the meal<br />
was the brussels they tasted like they were just<br />
picked and washed then served not picked washed<br />
cooked then served luv ya all ps cook the brussels<br />
next time…”.<br />
“Christmas bash was phat! I was singin cus im a<br />
rapper man init! I was gonna sing wiv… but she<br />
bottled it n left me<br />
2 sing on me own<br />
but still blew the<br />
crowd away wiv me<br />
sick rhymes. Food<br />
was nice n tasty so<br />
that were a bonus,<br />
overall night was<br />
good had a blast.<br />
Cheers”<br />
Waltham Awards Night<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS
Educate, Challenge, Empower, Young People Learning for Life<br />
Duke of Edinburgh Training<br />
By Margaret Sault, <strong>Youth</strong> Worker<br />
Ibstock & Newbridge<br />
A Duke of Edinburgh Training weekend was held on the 7th January<br />
2006 at Bamford Bunkhouse, Derbyshire.<br />
The objective was to trek to the top of Win Hill (1500 feet), timing our<br />
route so that the young people we take through the D of E awards could<br />
tell exactly how long it would take them on a planned walk. There were<br />
9 of us in all including leaders Russell Woods and Bill Whittle, even our<br />
mini bus driver Peter, a keen rambler, joined the walk. The morning<br />
was wet; the fields were very muddy; one of the young trainees fell to<br />
her knees in mud and shed a few tears. “I can’t do this”, but was soon<br />
reassured that all would be well.<br />
One ascent was hard going in the rain and then it started to snow, but<br />
when we reached the top, standing there shrouded in mist the feeling of<br />
exhilaration was quite palpable. The young person who had previously<br />
slipped remarked upon how glad she was she had carried on and was<br />
now enjoying the experience. She thanked Russell for encouraging her<br />
to go on.<br />
The risks to safety were pointed out along the way, each member of the<br />
group was allowed a chance to lead in pairs and set tasks of getting to<br />
a certain point along the way. It was a very valuable practical learning<br />
experience that I was very pleased to have been part of.<br />
If you would like to train for the Basic Expedition Leader Award, then<br />
classes start on the 23 February 2006 at Roundhill Community College,<br />
The training has been condensed into 6 weeks this year, instead of<br />
the usual 3 months. The training involves a Saturday and Sunday at<br />
Beaumanor Hall and 2 residential weekends. For further details contact<br />
Russell Woods on 0116 267 0840.<br />
E E Succeeds<br />
Do you know a young person struggling<br />
to find a job, lacking in self confidence,<br />
social and basic skills holding them back?<br />
Denise Wall of the E2E project would<br />
like to help. Started only a year ago E2E<br />
has helped 16 young people and has<br />
successfully encouraged 12 young people<br />
into work, further education courses or<br />
apprenticeships.<br />
For further information please contact<br />
Denise Wall on 0116 288 0980 or<br />
email denny-wall27@hotmail.co.uk<br />
YOUTH SERVICE NEWS<br />
CONTACT US<br />
To submit articles<br />
and comments for<br />
future publication<br />
please contact: Jill<br />
Sergent <strong>Leicestershire</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, <strong>Youth</strong><br />
<strong>Service</strong>, Room G16,<br />
<strong>County</strong> Hall, Glenfield,<br />
<strong>Leicestershire</strong> LE3 8RF<br />
Tel: 0116 265 6366<br />
Fax: 0116 265 6398<br />
Email:<br />
jsergent@leics.gov.uk<br />
For further information<br />
on youth provision<br />
in your area, please<br />
contact your local area<br />
youth office.<br />
North Area<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> Office<br />
(for Syston, Melton,<br />
Loughborough, Birstall<br />
and surrounding areas)<br />
Tel: 0116 267 0840<br />
West Area<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> Office<br />
(for Coalville, Market<br />
Harborough, Groby and<br />
surrounding areas)<br />
Tel: 01530 836 879<br />
South Area<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> Office<br />
(for Market<br />
Harborough, Wigston,<br />
Oadby, Lutterworth and<br />
surrounding areas)<br />
Tel: 0116 282 4540<br />
Job vacancies can be<br />
found on the <strong>County</strong><br />
<strong>Council</strong> website at<br />
www.leics.gov.uk/jobs