Raising Your Game wins Young Partners Award 2011

The prestigious award ceremony from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) announced Raising Your Game as the winners on Saturday 15 October 2011. Raising Your Game is a Big Lottery Funded project (BIG) and works with young people with a communication difficulty or learning disability who may be at risk of offending.

The award comes as Raising Your Game moves into its second phase, developing ‘My life’ life coaching modules and training with young people and project partners Nacro and I CAN.

 Mark Perks, programme manager says ‘For all the young people and staff involved, this award recognises the energy and hard work of the past two years.’

 Helen Cole, Leeds Regional Co-ordinator for Raising Your Game, commented: ’The courses were designed and developed with young people who told us about their aspirations and the barriers they face in achieving their goals. We are looking forward to continuing our work with our current partners and to developing relationships with new organisations. Referrals are accepted from many organisations.’

 The awards ceremony saw 12 youth organisations gather to celebrate voluntary and community youth organisations and projects from England which actively involve young people in decision-making processes.

For media enquiries please contact

For further media information contact Katy Palmer on 0207 454 5583, email katy.palmer@mencap.org.uk or 07905 820571 calling out of hours.

 About Mencap

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also one of the largest providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.  People with a learning disability and their carers can find out more about our services by calling Mencap Direct on 0300 333 111 or by visiting www.mencap.org.uk.

About I CAN

I CAN is the children’s communication charity. We are here to ensure that no child is left out or left behind because of a difficulty speaking or understanding. Nobody wants a child’s potential to be wasted. It happens because communication difficulties are not visible, often mistaken for something else, or not noticed at all. I CAN’s mission is to make sure that everyone in contact with children knows how important communication is, what a communication difficulty looks like and what they can do to help.  www.ican.org.uk or www.talkingpoint.org.uk

 For further media information contact Emma Selim, email  eselim@ican.org.uk

 About Nacro

Nacro, the national crime reduction charity, works with disadvantaged people, deprived communities and ex-offenders to give them a positive stake in society. It has unrivalled expertise in developing practical responses to crime and stimulating fresh thinking on how best to reduce it through policy, research and campaign work. Every year Nacro works directly with over 80,000 people and many more benefit from our work with local, regional and national partners to help reduce crime. Visit www.nacro.org.uk to find out more.

 For further media information contact Alex Dziedzan, email Alex.Dziedzan@nacro.org.uk