Let's face it, most people who volunteer are passionate about helping people - but for some influencing social change is also important. Volunteering for a campaigning organisation allows volunteers to help make things happen for large charities. Find out what the grass roots activists get up to here.

All | Helen | Rachael | Carolynn | Moira

Tuesday Aug 05, 2008

Adventure to Bournemouth

Hi

Well last weekend I was in Avon - Tyrell in Bournemouth with Youth Achievement Award Youth Board group at the confrence 'Trouble in Little Britian' and we did loads of activites and 3 workshops. 

It was an adventure from the start first of all I nearly (well I did!) got on the completely wrong train and had to be whisked off it! Then we stopped at a Station too late which was hard work because of all the stairs; not good it still wasn't going to spoil my weekend.

There was 3 of us from the North East at the event and we were the first to arrive so we missed nothing ha! We did team building exercises and a treasure hunt all in one activity which was good; and had some free time; in which you could go swimming on the Saturday.  Plus it was in the middle of no where.

Then on the Saturday we had to do 2 workshops all based around issues affecting young people now.  I did 1 on the Media, one around drugs and alcohol and one on bullets and knife which was around gun and knife crime.

The workshop on the Media and Gun and knife crime had to be the best :D  I learned skills on how to cope with the media when being interviewed and was shown how the media can twist what you say; which is very easy.  I did an extra workshop around the media on things to remember when being interview and the main point is to think your brilliant and dont let the interviewer get the better of you ha! Seriously!

For the Gun and knife crime we watched a video which showed how young people were feeling about crime and the statics for the UK on Gun and Knife Crime; something which I have also has some part in researching with Barnardo's NE Young Peoples Regional Advisory Group.  As a group we recieved funding to do a Poster / Poem competition and a questionnaire.  The group interviewed about 10 young people each and with that information we collated a report. Which is going to be sent to local MP's Children's services and the Competition entries are being displayed around the North East.  We found we got a lot more response from the questionnaires than the competition so the report seemed the way forward.  We shared this  report with those at the event to add to the statics given at the workshop.  And it was in the last week after another member of the group and myself took part in an interview.

On the last day we also had a nomination event where you could nominate or put yourself forward to be a representative for your region on the UK Youth Voice Board. And it was agreed that two of us that went down would go forward so I will be doing that for about 2years along with another lad who is part of my YPRAG who put himself forward too. Which includes putting on another Confrence a year from now and loads of other stuff. 

Coming home again was a lot easier than going. Cant wait till October when the first meeting is held

Oh and I got my Volunteer Management Course certificate too last week!

Thats all from me :D

Posted by Moira ( 2:34 PM )
Link to this post Comments[1]