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Residential weekend in Somerset

By admin | Published : April 27, 2011

We recently went on a residential weekend to a farm. 36 young people – some with a learning disability and some without – got a coach to Somerset. On the way, we stopped at Stonehenge for a break – we walked to the stones to take photos and stretch our legs. Then we finished our journey to Somerset.

Friday night

We did a team-building activity, where we went out in the dark with torches and followed compasses to find ribbons tied to different parts of the farm. This was to help team building and break the ice. We then made keyrings of the people that matter most to us.

It was a late night – some people wanted to stay up, as there was a tuck shop.

Saturday

We were up bright and early at 8am. After breakfast, we went out to do lots of activities – like feeding the animals, including chickens, pigs, horses and goats. We also did tree planting and tree climbing.

Saturday night We did karaoke and then more singing round the camp fire. I also did some interviews with the young people for the newsletter. They said what was important to them – school and how Raising Your Game has helped them. And of course, there was the tuck shop again.

Sunday

We got up at 8am again. We had breakfast, packed our cases, stripped our beds and did the final activity of the weekend – a treasure hunt around the farm. Then we got back on the coach and went home. So, it all ended happily ever after.

Posted in: Blogspot

Project update – April 2011

By admin | Published : April 27, 2011

Raising Your Game has gone from strength to strength in the last three months. Here’s what we’ve been doing to help the young people turn their lives around.

There are now around 200 young people with a learning disability or communication difficulty taking part regularly in Raising Your Game. This means the number of members has doubled since January.

In this time, three new groups have been launched in Manchester, Bristol and the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. There are 23 young people in these groups and more are coming each week.

In January, 22 young people across England began the bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. They are already making plans for a summer expedition to try out all their new skills.

“I was interested in learning what Raising Your Game has to offer. I want to learn more and get new skills. I like playing the games and doing crafts.”
Lee Norris, 20, from the Cheeky Monkey Angels, Isle of Sheppey

Over the next three months, young people from the project will meet regularly at the participation advisory group. They will help develop a best practice guide for staff within the criminal justice system and other professionals who work with young people with a learning disability. The guide will enable staff to fully include young people in the decisions that are made about them.

Posted in: News
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