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YAW Winter Newsletter

The Youth Action Wiltshire Winter Newsletter containing updates on all our youth projects is now available.

To request your copy of the newsletter please email dwhiting@youthactionwiltshire.org

Making a SPLASH with free activities for 9-16 year olds during school holiday periods

Splash is growing to meet locally identified needs, offering diverse, free to access, positive activities for young people aged 9-16 years throughout school holiday periods. We prioritise those who are ‘facing challenges in their lives’.

Our Bright Future

We are now six months into the delivery of our exciting new Big Lottery funded partnership project with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Youth Clubs Update

It is a pleasure to support the 100’s of dedicated volunteers who facilitate Wiltshire’s Youth Clubs. Each of our 65 affiliated youth clubs is different, but all offer safe places for young people to go, role models and positive activities that promote personal development

Wiltshire Young Carers Service Update

During the last twelve months we have provided intensive support to 180 young carers and delivered 69 bespoke group work respite programmes.

Project Inspire

17 young people who were previously Not In Education Employment Or Training (NEET) have recently completed a challenging programme of practical activities, including embedded Maths and English, adventure sports, volunteering, work experience and class room based learning

Shadow Puppet workshop provides unique experience for Young Carers

Wiltshire Young Carers, in partnership with Salisbury International Arts Festival, have been given the opportunity to take part in the 2016 Salisbury Festival.

Young Listeners Programme equips young people with vital skills

Youth Action Wiltshire’s Ambassadors for 2016 have been taking part in an exciting new research project for Community Organisers on behalf of Healthwatch Wiltshire.

Inspire Study Programme ‘empowering young people and improving their employability’

Youth Action Wiltshire’s ‘Project Inspire’, has had another action-packed and productive few months. In February, one group of eight young people, aged 16 to 18, successfully completed the 'Inspire Study Programme'.  In March, another cohort of 21 young people began their own 15-week journey towards improved employability. This group is expected to complete in July 2016.

Volunteers Needed for South Wiltshire Youth Clubs

We are looking for volunteers aged 17+ who have around 4 hours per month to give, evenings or weekends and wish to support local youth clubs in the Amesbury/Old Sarum/Salisbury area.

May Mile 2016

The May Mile Run is again supporting Youth Action Wiltshire.

Young Carers raise money for Lucy’s Day Out

A group of Wiltshire Young Carers have been taking part in a Social Action Project funded by Wiltshire Council’s Devizes Area Board.

27 Young Carers aged 13-18 chose to raise money for ‘Lucy’s Days Out’ a charity that supports children with life limiting illnesses to have a family day out.

Young people from Splash and Wiltshire Young Carers sail the high seas

During the February half term an intrepid group of 8 young people aged 12 to 15 years old from Splash and Wiltshire Young Carers embarked on a week long voyage with the aim of learning to sail a 72ft Challenger (round the world) yacht.

Can we ‘Inspire’ you to join?

The ‘Inspire Study Programme’ is a work-based learning programme for 16 to 18 year olds, offering the opportunity for learners to develop the skills to find and maintain education and employment, and thrive in a career. We are currently looking for referrals to join our next programme beginning on 7^th March.

Do you want to join or know anyone who might?

Activities for young people make a Splash

Splash launched its first ever Christmas activities programme last month. Five activity sessions ran over two days, engaging fifty-three young people.

Young people – ‘listening’ training has a big impact

Community First’s Community Organiser Team has provided a weekend training session to young people aged between 16 and 18 in ‘listening’ techniques.

The Healthwatch Young Listener’s project was set up to listen to young people’s voices in Wiltshire and ensure that they are heard. The project aims to listen to young people’s experience of healthcare in Wiltshire – as well as training the young people to become effective listeners themselves.

Amesbury – February half-term activity days

Funding for eleven activity days has been secured with Amesbury Local Youth Network (LYN).

The eleven days will be run specifically for the benefit of young people living in the Amesbury/Durrington LYN geographical area. Young people in the area will have the opportunity to attend a multitude of different activities ranging from Catch it, Cook it, Eat it, Music Matters, Street Theatre, Forestry Fun and Animation.

‘Young Carer’ raises money for Splash and Youth Action Wiltshire with sponsored head shave – and benefits ‘Little Princess Trust’ too

Wiltshire Young Carer, Jaret Wrintmore, aged 13, looks after a family member at home – and receives support from Community First’s youth programmes: ‘Splash’ and ‘Youth Action Wiltshire’.

Making a Splash!

Community First’s Splash Programme ran a very successful Summer programme, engaging 102 young people from 89 different families.  The activities programme included fun, exciting, challenging and educational sessions all designed to increase the young people’s confidence, self-esteem, communication skills and leadership skills.

Our Youth Club Support Thriving

We help these fantastic local youth groups through, providing full set up support for new groups, a wide range of training for adult and young leaders, a diverse activity programme, accreditation for projects and help with funding. 

Congratulations to our Two Summer NCS Teams

27 young people graduated from our two summer NCS teams, having taken part in taster days, a week long adventure sports residential, week long skills development residential and then two weeks spent planning for, fundraising to enable and completing a social action project.

An Inspiring Twelve Months

Over the last 12 months 46 young people aged 16-18 who were ‘Not In Education Employment or Training’ (NEET) have engaged in our Inspire ‘Study Programme’.

Community First recognises volunteers with 2015 awards

Community First, which celebrates its 50^th Anniversary this year, has again recognised the amazing accomplishments of community volunteers and young people - with its annual awards.

Young people become ‘Ambassadors’ with Community First run National Citizen Service 2015

The National Citizen Service is a government funded national volunteering programme for all 15-17 year olds. Here in Wiltshire we have been delivering the NCS programme since its pilot year in 2011.

Wiltshire Young Carers' Service Given Two Vital Funding Boosts

Youth Action Wiltshire can continue its support of Wiltshire’s young carers following a kind donation from students of St. John's Community College and a successful fundraising event.

Grittleton Road Racers – Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle race raises almost £15,000 to fund activities for Wiltshire Young Carers

The cycle group known as the ‘Grittleton Road Racers’ has completed its latest challenge – a sponsored cycle ride on behalf of Youth Action Wiltshire, the Youth arm of Community First, Wiltshire and Swindon’s Rural Community Council.