The 1st to the 7th November is National Youth Work Week. The initiative is headed by the National Youth Agency and aims to celebrate Youth Work across the UK. Will Green from the Shanklin YMCA tells us more about the work that they do with young people on the Island. Ed
The staff at YMCA Isle of Wight work with hundreds of young people throughout the year on a variety of programmes including Daycamps, School visits, Young Carers Project, and volunteering projects.
This year’s Youth Work Week key words are ‘resilience and resourcefulness’, two key traits for developing individuals.
At YMCA Isle of Wight, Resilience and Resourcefulness is instilled by providing experiences that relate to the kind of difficulties that a young person may encounter in their everyday lives.
The focus on development, coupled with the highly trained and experienced staff team ensures YMCA Isle of Wight provide experiences that challenges and enable the individuals.
YMCA Isle of Wight Communications Manager Roo Cleland said, “The NYA invites youth work bodies to use the theme to celebrate the ways in which they help young people deal with the difficulties life can place in their way and carry on to enjoy their lives and meet their potential. YMCA Isle of Wight would like to take this opportunity to celebrate a fantastic year of children’s work whilst looking forward to a bright future for children and young people on the island.”
Daycamps
YMCA Isle of Wight Daycamps are hosted at Winchester House where the scheme offers a range of activities that are led by an experienced, enthusiastic and caring team of play leaders. The site also offers a base to those schools and groups who want a safe and secure base from which they can explore the rest of the island.
Young Carers Project
YMCA Isle of Wight Young Carers Project has been working in partnership with IW Children’s Services to run a project for children and young people with caring responsibilities at home.
These youngsters care, or help to care, for a parent or other relative who may be affected by physical and/or sensory disability, long term illness, learning disability, mental ill health, or a problematic use of drugs or alcohol.
YMCA Isle of Wight Young Carers Project Manager Heidi Kurowska said, “Young Carers have identified that having a caring role can lead to a greater closeness to their parents and that they benefit from learning how to deal with the practicalities of life at an early age. However, being a young carer can also have detrimental effects on young people, including problems at school, isolation, lack of time for leisure and feeling different to their peers.
“The Young Carers Project aims to ensure that inappropriate levels of caring are not taken on and that the young people have access to the support they need to ensure they have positive childhoods. The Project offers breaks from caring in the form of positive activities and the discovery of new interests and skills, meeting other young carers, and the opportunity to talk to peers and adults about being a carer.”
But the work doesn’t end there, the YMCA also co-ordinates volunteers for community based work, often with the Young Carers Project.
This provides opportunities for young people aged 16 – 25 to bridge the gap between education and work in a positive environment.
YMCA Isle of Wight is also working hard on a number of future projects including Help2Grieve which will support children and young people who are having to deal with close family bereavement.
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