In December 2008 Football Unites staff from the ‘V’ involved and Positive Futures schemes in partnership with ‘Streetworx’- a Burngreave New Deal for Communities (NDC) funded, Sheffield Futures run youth project based in the heart of Burngreave, took a group of 10 young people from around Burngreave and Sharrow along to Carlton Lodge Activity Centre in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
The underlying aims of the trip were to participate in a 3 day residential, build relationships and deliver an Asdan accredited ‘Introduction to Youth Work’ training course. The training involved participants gaining a basic understanding of the principles of youth work in relation to factors such as: its aims and objectives and how they fit into wider social objectives such as ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes; the different types of youth work and what makes a good/bad youth worker; relationship building and current issues affecting young people; planning and delivering activities and health & safety; exploring the different types of discrimination; and monitoring & evaluation.
The group also participated in a programme of social and team building activities designed to develop teams work skills and build relationships amongst the group members.
<q>‘The participants gelled together really well as a group - despite the fact that they came from a diverse range of backgrounds e.g. Somali, Yemeni, Pakistani, white British and Dual-Heritage. It is hoped that a number of the participants will now progress on to a level 2 youth work qualification and/or go on to becoming active members of their communities.’ </q> Simon Hyacinth – FURD Positive Futures Coordinator.
It is also hoped that this group will feed into and further develop FURD’s ‘Youth Against Conflict’ group, a group of young people intent on seeking to address a number of the youth-related social problems that exist in our communities - particularly in relation to conflict resolution and community cohesion.’