The Challenge
Although
efforts to engage Churchdown youngsters in holiday activities
were unsuccessful, there was a need for young people who suffered
from low self-esteem to access personal development opportunities.
Developing
the idea
Play
worker Ann Simpson's initial contact with the local youngsters
in Churchdown was in 1996 when a holiday play scheme was failing.
She started talking informally to a group of the young people
who had not wanted to get involved in the play scheme, and eventually
organised ball games, recognising that important new skills can
be learned through play.
Making
it happen
It
was important to develop a relationship with the youngsters,
to find out what they wanted and to involve them, encouraging
them to feel they had some control over the planning process
and in the intended outcome.
 |
| 150
young people are now involved with the Churchdown youth
project |
Meetings
were held and ideas were exchanged within an environment that
respected the views of all those taking part.
Ann
says: "Young people have got so much to offer, but need to be
listened to. They need to be encouraged all the way and then you
see what they are really capable of."
The
Churchdown Youth Project is now very successful with 150 young
people aged from eight years currently involved. The project
has found its integrated approach has strengthened the relationships
between young people and the rest of the local community.
Keeping
it going
Participation
by young people in decision making and identifying their needs
is core to empowering them. Young people have "grown up" within
the project and now some teenagers are helping to run after-school
clubs.
Various
training opportunities are organised for senior members, for
example First Aid and Community Sports Leader awards. With a
solid foundation, the project is now involved in a range of
initiatives within the community, including:
-
A self-sufficient organic vegetable garden
- Citizens
Award - encouraging healthy debate and information about issues
that matter to young people, for example, sex and relationships.
- Full
day workshops are being planned involving adults
-
A Fair Shares scheme targeted at a group of young men who
have a lot to give but are often dominating and aggressive,
rather than creative.
Ann
says: "They are being encouraged to play football and sports
with the younger children, and get a credit for each hour they
spend. Twenty credits equals a cinema ticket. The important
thing is they enjoy doing it and are happy to take responsibility."
Key
tips
- Recruit authorised adult workers with appropriate skills
to work with young people who can build two-way trusting relationships
- Listen to the young people - ask them for their views and
ideas, they may surprise you.
- Involve
them right from the start, use their enthusiasm and energy
-
Find premises
- Join
Participation Education based in Newcastle which highlights
young people's rights as citizens covering all sorts of issues
such as running meetings and expressing themselves within
a community through, perhaps, a youth council
- Ask
for help - a software company in Cheltenham was approached
for help, and sent volunteers to train young people to be
able to support younger kids in out-of-school computer workshop.
Contact:
The Play Co-ordinator, Churchdown Community Project
Tel: 01452 857535, or see the Gloucestershire Neighbourhood Projects
Network website at .
Who
can help?
Key
organisations that could offer help and support in the development
of your ideas. Their details can be found in the Contacts
Directory. Further information on funding sources is
available from Gloucestershire County Council's Economic Development
Unit on 01452 425702.
Funding
sources
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Other useful contacts
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-
National
Lottery - New Opportunities Fund
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-
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-
Business
in the Community
- Connexions
-
-
-
- Gloucestershire
County Council
- Early
Years Development and Childcare Partnership
- Families'
and Children's Information Service
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- Gloucestershire
Drugs and Alcohol Advice Service
-
Police - Neighbourhood Inspectors, Rural Beat Officers
-
Prince's Trust (Business)
-
Young Gloucestershire
-
Youth and Community Service
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