Group Work

Throughout the life of the project group work has been an important element in responding to need. It has developed into a structured programme of issue-based sessions and accredited courses. Due to the changing nature of young people's lives our group work programme aims to be flexible enough to enable young people to participate and develop their skills and abilities. Within the last year many more young people have been involved in developing group work, especially peer education. To give a flavour of what our group work programme looks like, here are some examples from 2001.

Independent Living Skills

recieving certificates for the independent living skills course The development and delivery of Independent Living Skills has been a consistent feature in our group work with young people from a very early stage of the project. In 1983 Malcolm Hickox was part of a multi-agency group to develop a resource pack and education programme on Independent Living Skills. This work has continued to be built upon and in 1997 the project accredited an Independent Living Skills Course through the Tyneside Open College Network. Young people were involved and consulted on the content and method of delivery for the course and this has proved to be an excellent tool in preparing young people for tenancies, helping them to avoid potential problems and difficulties.

This year two groups of young people have taken part on the accredited course. As part of our peer education training we have encouraged young people from previous courses to facilitate sessions and to offer support.

Basic Video Skills Course

setting the scene In February the project began an accredited Basic Video Skills course, facilitated by Swingbridge Video. The course involved young people learning how to use video equipment, techniques for better filming, interviewing members of the public and editing a final film. These elements were brought together in the course project. The group choose to explore young people's use of Eldon Green and the impact on other interested parties. The final product is the video "Young people and the Green". Participants will receive certificates for their learning. This work has already prompted other young people to take up using the video camera and recording different aspects of their lives.

Work With Women

As part of National Youth Work Week young women from the Project attended an activity day in Washington organised by the Regional Network for Work with Girls and Young Women. This was a useful opportunity to meet and forge links with other young women's groups from across the region. During the day they took part in drama, using the internet, arts, crafts and sports workshop.

In March young women and their children from the project celebrated International Women's Day with other groups of young women by participating in an evening of fun and awareness raising events at Dockray House, in the west end of the city.

Skydive

after the skydive In September two young people, Sean and Angela, saw a poster for a sponsored Skydive in aid of Childline. Both felt very strongly that they would like to support the charity and set about organising the fundraising for the jump. Some 5 months later and having raised over £1, 000 the pair, along with Leon, jumped from 10,000 feet over the skies of Peterlee. It was a once in a lifetime experience and the videos of the day are now prized possessions.

Sexual Health / World AIDS Day

The recognition of this day within the project promoted further group work around positive sexual health. This was carried out both formally and informally throughout the year. This work has tied in with our continued participation with the 'C Card system', a health promotion initiative for distributing contraception and sexual health advice.

Summer Programme

and the winner is... This incorporated a variety of activity and issue based afternoons. Activities took place outside the Project every week. These included visits to "Show Racism the Red Card", where the Group had the chance to question some Newcastle United players; games in the park; cinema visits and discussion groups and days away to Druridge Bay, Marsden Rock and Newbiggin-by-the Sea

Other Group Work Activities throughout the year.

Team building and activity residential at Kielder
Theatre Visits - 1984, Clockwork Orange
Awareness raising of issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers
Celebration of World Mental Health Day
Further development of designing a board game
Weekly young people's meetings
Thanks to funding from Business in The Community and KPMG, young people organised an excellent Christmas party and also cooked a full Christmas dinner!