Children and young people

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The Bigger Picture in Oldbury and Smethwick

October 19, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Children & Young People, News and Events tagged ,

These last few months have been difficult for us all.  Bringing many changes to organisations, groups and activities. We have all been committed to doing our best to support children, young people and families in Sandwell, and now with steps being made to try and get back to some normality.

In this vein, the Early Help Partnership thought it would be a great time to come together and have some conversations about what the ‘Bigger Picture’ looks like around activities for children and young people in Oldbury and Smethwick. The events, through Microsoft Teams, will provide the opportunity for attendees to:

 find out what services are currently available in their local area
 share concerns going forward and ideas of what has worked for them
 share information about what support you currently offer and what you have planned for the near future
 link in with each other and build new partnerships.

If you work, volunteer or offer activities in Oldbury and would like to join Early Help on Tuesday, 10 November, 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm please book here.

If you work, volunteer or offer activities in Smethwick, and would like to join Early Help on Monday, 16 November, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm please book here.

Joining details will be sent when you book your place.

For further information contact Angel, Early Help Partnership Co-ordinator, at earlyhelp@scvo.info or call 07587 136072.

 

 

Join The Big Sandwell Scarecrow Festival this half-term

October 12, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Children & Young People, Did you know...? tagged , ,

Throughout October half-term, 26 October to 1 November, Sandwell Council is looking for organisations and residents to create scarecrows and join The Big Sandwell Scarecrow Festival.

Residents will be able to vote for their favourites at Discover Sandwell. Prizes are be up for grabs for the best scarecrow from an individual, a school and an organisation.

If you have have never built a scarecrow, there are lots of easy demo videos on YouTube and the team have shared an example of one on the Discover Sandwell website link, above.

Details of how to submit photos of your scarecrow for the public vote and a map of where to see scarecrows across Sandwell may also be found at Discover Sandwell.

Entries should be submitted to the website by 5 pm on Sunday 25 October 2020.

Participants must follow government guidance on COVID-19 and only take part in the scarecrow search with other members of their household (or support bubbles of single people who have “bubbled” with another household).

People taking part can share their pictures on social media using #SandwellScarecrows and tag @DiscoverSandwell

Prince’s Trust Smethwick recruiting young people

September 7, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog tagged , ,

The Prince’s Trust Team programme is still recruiting young people aged 16 – 25 years of age, for a personal development course starting 21st September, 2020. The course will run for 12 weeks. 

Attendees will gain a first aid and food safety certificate, a new CV, two weeks work placement and much more. Attendees are also provided with a bus pass. The course will not affect benefits.

To make a referral please contact Jack Dytor, Prince’s Trust Team Leader, at Dytorj@wolvcoll.ac.uk or call 07787 245 832.

THE PRINCE’S TRUST – GET STARTED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNING – SEPTEMBER

September 2, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Children & Young People tagged

Are you 16- 30? feel passionate about your community, young lives and issues that impact you? If so, we want to hear from you!

Online Training dates: 7th – 11th September 2020 – 11am – 1pm

This virtual programme challenges young people to create a social media campaign around a cause they care about- turning social media into a tool for positive change. By the end of the programme, they will have the basics for a social media campaign that can be developed further and even launched.

Not only will it boost confidence and skills, but you’ll also have the chance to benefit from the support of one our mentors to help you uncover your next steps.

 

Eligibility

Young people:

  • Must be aged 16-30
  • Have access to the internet via Laptop, Tablet or Smart phone.

To refer:

Please contact our Customer Services team to refer a young person on 0800 842 842.

You can also fill in an online enquiry form at www.princes-trust.org.uk

Free Mental Health Support for young people from Lyfeproof

August 12, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Children & Young People, Health & Wellbeing tagged , ,

Are you aged between 14 and 25 and struggling to cope with life after lockdown?  Lyfeproof is offering free mental health support for young people in the West Midlands.

You will be connected with a therapist of your choice (including creative therapies for those who find talking about their emotions difficult). You will have six online sessions, with a further opportunity for assistance with sleep and nutrition.

No tech? No problem. You can borrow a tablet and headset from a device library.

Remember, you don’t have to be in crisis to reach out (but it’s okay if you are). Contact either mh@lyfeproof.co.uk or 0121 622 3603 to sign up.

Lyfeproof is also looking for possible referral partners, so please get in touch at mhteam@lyfeproof.co.uk if you would like to access the service on behalf of your young people.

Prince’s Trust Smethwick to restart in September

July 29, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Children & Young People, Did you know...? tagged , ,

Prince’s Trust Smethwick now has an official restart date! The new team is looking to start on 21st of September. The team programme initially will have a few changes, the biggest of which is the one week residential. There will be no overnight stays but there will be an array of outdoor and team building activities throughout the week.

The young people will still gain the full qualification upon completion alongside the usual benefits of the programme, First Aid certificate, Food safety certificate, gaining work experience, a new CV, and interview techniques. The Young people will also be taught how to be more confident, leadership skills and communication skills. The Prince’s Trust we will also be looking for support in work experience placements, Community projects and team challenges.

The programme is for 16 – 25 year olds. Attendees are not postcode restricted, as long as they can realistically get to the Team Room on a daily basis at Piddock Road, Smethwick, B66 3BL. A bus pass is provided

There are other teams running in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Bilston, Shrewsbury and Telford, with start dates around the same time. The Trust’s Team Leader will be happy to refer to other teams, should it be more convenient for travel.

If you know of a young person who you would like to refer, or think could benefit, please contact Jack Dytor, Princes’s Trust Team Leader, on 07787 245 832: Monday to Friday 8.30 am – 5 pm.

Meetings are currently held virtually or contact via email or telephone. From the 24th August meetings with professionals and/or young people can be face to face, whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Dedicated website for Young People

July 28, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Children & Young People, Health & Wellbeing tagged , ,

A dedicated website aimed at young people has been given an overhaul by Sandwell Council.  Young people in Sandwell are being urged to log on  to find the latest activities on offer as well as useful information and advice.

The revamped website includes a new section with facts about coronavirus and the latest advice for young people.

It is aimed at young people aged 11-19 – (up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disability or SEND). There is help on staying healthy, getting active, being safe, education and learning, summer activities, skills, work experience and careers. The site sign posts young people to opportunities to have their voice heard and to shape services.

Young people are also being encouraged to follow Sandwell’s SHAPE Instagram to get the latest updates on campaigns, events and activities. (@Shape_Sandwell)

Visit the new-look website www.justyouth.org.uk

Move 4 Summer – Active Black Country

July 16, 2020by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Children & Young People, Health & Wellbeing tagged , ,

Active Black Country are launching a summer campaign called “Move4Summer”.

The overarching objective of the campaign is to encourage people to be active with flexibility to accommodate different audiences and partners approaches, programmes and interventions.  The campaign will also act as a vehicle to promote and push a range of Active Black Country activities.

Therefore, click here for a template in which organisations/clubs/groups can fill in and Active Black Country will either promote your activities via social media or their rainbow book or both – all under the Black Country Campaign Move4Summer campaign.

The main target audiences for the campaign are Children and Young People, Families and Inactive Adults.

The campaign will also:

• Focus on inclusivity and flexibility for people to be active their way with diverse suggestions on being active including different digital offers
• Signpost to green and open spaces

Why not tag us into your post promoting your activity using the hashtag #EveryDayYourWay

If you would like for your summer activity/programme to be promoted across Active Black Country’s networks then please send the completed form to: Joanne Booker by email at Joanne_Booker@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk

Source: Active Black Country

Help YMCA prevent Youth Homelessness in the midst of Covid-19

July 7, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, VCS Feature tagged , ,

For any teenager, experiencing family breakdown is one of the most challenging life experiences that they could ever face. However, the risk of homelessness for 16-18 year olds leaves them with an even more daunting prospect during the Covid-19 outbreak, as many teenagers are left wondering what will happen and where they will go.

Since the outbreak hit the UK, YMCA Open Door has been helping over 50 young people across the Black Country who have found themselves in the precarious position. The Open Door project has been placing young people at risk of Homelessness with Host families for over 10 years, but at this particular time, there is even more need for more Hosts – people who have a spare room within their house and a caring heart.

Find out how you can help

Youth Gaming and Gambling Awareness Free Online Training Sessions

June 30, 2020by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Training Support and Resources tagged ,

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) is a leading National charity collaboratively delivering the UK’s £10million national education programme to those that work with and support young people (aged 7-25), to raise awareness around the potential harms associated with gaming and gambling.  They work  in a variety of health and educational settings, safeguarding and youth organisations, and with local authorities.

The most recent report published by the Gambling Commission shows worrying trends in the way that young people are engaging in gambling and gaming risky behaviours.

Upcoming dates for the youth gaming and gambling awareness free online training sessions (running time is 90 minutes). Anyone who is interested can click on the link to see available dates and book a place on a session: www.ygam.org/book-a-workshop/

The training will cover:
• an overview of how young people are increasingly exposed to gaming and gambling
• the influence of advertising, particularly around sporting events
• the role of social media, in game purchases, loot boxes and Esports
• the signs to look out for when an individual is at risk and where to seek help
• our resources that have been developed for practitioners to deliver

You can learn more about them from their website: www.ygam.org.

For more information please email Lucy Gardner at lucygardner@ygam.org

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