Junior YIP

BENWELL BELTERS

The Benwell Belters are a group made up of 8 young men aged from 13-14yrs, at the moment they are working along side a senior YIP group on a peer mentoring music project based at the Park Centre at Cruddas Park. They have already completed and gained the first certificate in the Life Routes programme, and are just coming to the end of a 6 week plan where they intend to evaluate the music project in the next couple of weeks. The track they are working on with the park road group will appear on a compilation CD called “West end Perfection” working towards a residential in the summer.

THE DALES

This particular group are made up of about 10 young people 3 girls and 7 young men they are in a bit of a transition at the moment as attendance has become very sporadic. The workers feel the group has come to a natural end and feel the time is right to move the group on. The 3 girls have shown a real interest in joining the Pink Ladies an all girls group that meets on Monday nights. Most of the other members are involved with other groups at The Strategy and the couple who are left will be offered alternative provision in an existing lads group.

BENWELL GIRLS

This group consists of 8-9 young women, based at Dolphin Street Community Centre. The group had a really big break after the summer of about 3/4 months due to staffing problems, but are back on track now and have been working well for about the last 8 weeks. They have spent the last 4 weeks working on a Keyfund application based around the X-Factor, they had there panel on the 4^th of Feb and were successful and given a grant of £250.

They intend to plan the next 6 weeks of their group based around sporting activities such as trampoling, they are also working towards a possible joint venture working along side a group based in Gateshead to learn circus skills.

THE STRAIGHT 8s

The straight 8s are an all boys group based at the pink palace in Scotswood. They are a group of 8 young men aged 9-13yrs they have been running for about 12 weeks. They started off doing team building and self esteem sessions, and have moved on and developed a 6 week plan. They have just started an art project to design a logo for their group and produce a series of T- shirts, which they intend to wear to the sessions every week they are about to start the Life Routes process from which they hope to gain their first certificate. They have also talked about being involved with the youth gym based a Westgate Centre for Sport combining that with a six week healthy eating project and health based art activities. In the spring they hope to apply to the Keyfund for a grant for a team building day at Broomely Grange Activity Centre.

THE PINK LADIES

The Pink Ladies are a girls group and have been running for around 4/5 years in that time we have probably worked with around 60 young women, the group works on a moving on basis where girls join the group, are worked with for about 6months/a year and are then moved on to other groups or projects at The Pink Palace. The group has just had a new set of girls join after moving the original girls on to the volunteer’s course. The new girls are working on a project funded through The Community Space Challenge (CSC) working in conjunction with a mothers group from the area they are going design and make a proggy mat to present to the Chartners ambassadors. In the past they have organised Christmas/Halloween parties for the local community. Their 6 week plan includes Life Routes and a possible residential in the summer.

BENWELL RAVING CREW

This group has had a lot of changes over the last 6 months due to staffing issues, but have begun to settle down over the last 4 weeks. The first few sessions were just games and getting to know you/teambuilding. The sessions were kept quite short at the beginning as quite a lot of bullying was taking place within the group, and they found it difficult to settle. They are working on steps to going on their first trip with their new workers which will involve ground rules and 1:1 sessions. They are hoping to work towards a bike maintenance course in the future.       

THE CLASSIC CREW

The Classic Crew a mixed group of 13 young people made up of 6 young women and 7 young men are about to begin a health project which will run for 10 weeks, learning about healthy food, cooking and taking part in sporting activities every 2 weeks,

THE COWGATE MAD DOGS (CMDs)

The CMDs is made up of 6 young men and 3 young women,  Have produced a six week plan which includes art and design projects and outdoor activities every 2 weeks.

For further information please contact Joanne Milburn on Tel: (0191) 274 2429