Youth Democracy from Worcestershire to Paris via London.

Well, many people don't look forward to a Monday after their weekend but for me I couldn't wait to get the week started! 

A week in London for the start of the YMCA England Youth Democracy Project residential with 7 other young people from YMCAs in England and a group of French young people from 2 YMCAs in France was something I had been looking forward to for a few months.

Monday started with a meeting of all the English young people at YMCA England's head office in Farringdon. We discussed what we were looking forward to getting out of the week and we then came together to put together 2 presentations.

The first was to be on Britain which covered everything from our culture, to our music and even to our sports and history which we would present to the French Participants and their staff in the evening. The second to be a presentation on Democracy in the UK and everything associated with it to be used after the visit to the Houses of Parliament.

Tuesdays morning session we all got into small groups which normally was 2 people from England an 2 people from France. Myself and Maxine were sat with Mathilda from Toulouse and Fatou from Lyon. We discussed the issues that young people face in both of our countries. It was very interesting as many of the issues that we discussed were very similar to what the girls from France were telling me.

Unemployment among Young people in France is also high and they have a lot of young people who are classed as NEETS (Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) although in their country they don't use the term. Another issue issue surprised me was the issue in France of people going to study at university or college in France but when they are qualified they have no job or opportunity to go into. This then means they have to work somewhere where they are over qualified and they are not using their qualification and skills to the maximum opportunity.

Obviously this is also a problem in the UK with many graduates coming out of uni and if they aren't opting for a masters they have to find themselves a part/full time job because they can't find anything in their field of work.

On a final note through our discussion we discovered many issues that are similar but one problem in particular that young people face in France that match the issues in England is the problem of young people leaving school at the age of 16 or below. Instead of continuing after secondary school into college, sixth form, training or employment they are using a lifestyle that attracts them to illegal activities such as drug dealing and trafficking. 

This can then lead to violence issues in their local area with other young people but especially in some areas of England where the reality is that the attraction of the gang lifestyle is just around the corner and with a change of mind they can easily take the wrong path which eventually will leave them in a place they are unable to change and end up falling off the map into what can only be described as a downward spiral that is tough to get out of.

Tuesday afternoon we took a tour to the Houses of Parliament which for myself was very interesting and as I hadn't been since I was 12 years old I found it fascinating and Mary our guide was absolutely brilliant! The French told me they enjoyed this trip as they had never been to a place of such importance in their lives before which really felt great!

I am going to let Alex Taylor and Alex DB go into more detail regarding the trip to Parliament and Wednesdays trips to West London YMCA and Ealing Council as for me the discussion with the French young people was a part of the week I throughly enjoyed and wanted to share.

In 4 weeks time I will be looking forward to a 4 day trip to Paris for the second residential of the project.

A residential I am even more excited about as it means we will learn more about democracy in France and another 4 days of exciting activities where just like this week I have come back with more knowledge, more motivation and a positive outlook on Youth Democracy in the UK which I can take back and work with my young people to learn about Democracy and the Government on both a Local and National level.

It will be tough, but l want to change young people's views and stereotypes of democracy and the government. I would like to encourage young people to want to have a say instead of shying away from a subject just because they don't know enough about it, but more importantly aren't given the chance to learn about it.

A place to call home...

There is nothing more rewarding than returning home after a long journey. This journey was worth it though. After a productive and motivating meeting in Strasbourg, the capital of Europe, I cannot say that I am not happier see my own bed! But to the meeting! 5 of us from YMCA (Vardan, Rezi, Marius, Dorina and I) were joined by Ivana from the Council of Europe Educational Adviser to plan the next Peace Work Institute Session III to be held at the European Youth Centre in December. 



We were planning things from the practical elements of the session, which participants will be there and the session plan. We worked hard and well together and after in depth and detailed conversations about aims and objectives, the flow of the session, how over 30 years old participants we had, we got there. We finished in a remarkable time and were done by 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Just enough time for us to enjoy some time in the city before we started to part ways and make our way home. For me, this achievement alone, getting so much into such a short amount of time with us all having little to no sleep (Dorina arrived Friday morning and didn't go to sleep until Friday night). We all have different ways of working and different processes, yet as a team we worked. I think it is fair to say that we all felt that it was a productive meeting. 



In the city, trying to find somewhere for us to eat on Saturday afternoon we were treated to a carnival style show, from bagpipes to rain dances to zombies all walked or danced past us while we enjoyed the food. To add a little excitement to the whole thing, the clouds decided to open, this is when sitting outside maybe wasn't the brightest of ideas but it was only a little bit of water! It is these times when you have some of the most valuable and thought - provoking discussions with like-minded people. Vardan asked us all a question when sitting and enjoying coffee in Petite France; "where have you been, that is not your home country, where you feel most at home?" On reflection, this was difficult to answer because all of the places I have been, there has always been a part of me that felt right, at home. My answer; where ever YMCA is, I feel at home. It is not always the place but the people that you are there with that make it the experience that it is and I know that the places I have traveled over the last 2 years would not have been the same had it not been for the amazing and inspiring people that I have met along the way. 

Here I will end, keep watching the site in December to see how the session goes...

Iceland supervision in youth work training reflection...

welcome to my blog reflection on my time in Iceland - the country where if you don't like the weather you only have to wait 5 minutes for it to change!

so I am now back in the UK after the most amazing, experience gaining 5 days in Olver where I attended a supervision in youth work training course, led by Dr Brain Belton, with international support from Birgir Asgeirsson and Katka Hommel. Now I am home and refreshed I am ready to share and reflect upon my time and learning, everyone who attended the course had very different levels in their supervision knowledge so this is my reflection and what I have taken away from the training and my time in Iceland (I will apologise for the length of this blog as I had no stable Internet to blog while away) .

Having never travelled to this country and never attended a YMCA international event before I was a little nervous but these nerves were soon overcome by excitement! after a long 12 hours travelling I was on my final transfer from Reykjavik to Olver, the YMCA summer camp we were staying at, at the bottom of a mountain, and this really was one of the most pictures places I have ever had the luxury of visiting! the views were unreal. after settling in I got an early night in preparation for the upcoming training and adventure. 

Day one of Training 

Day one brought 23 people together from 12 different countries this day was all about gaining an introduction to supervision and what it was and getting to know one another. Brain suggested that all being from different countries and the language barrier we may have faced is good for supervision as it is all about understanding one another through language and body language. We also set out the aims for the week and what we wanted to achieve and learn from the course; that we would gain more knowledge around supervision, giving supervision, and receiving supervision. My personal wanting was to gain a better knowledge of what supervision was and to learn from both Brian and others so I could use new tools and understandings to better my work in my YMCA. 

                  

we had a long lunch and 45 minutes interactive space so we all decided to take a walk to get to know each other and our surroundings. 

Supervision is a relatively new concept to me so from day one I learnt loads. including that supervision requires equal input, energy and commitment  from the supervisor and supervise, and that supervision is not about telling people what to do but finding out what they want and need to do to better themselves and the job they do with youths. supervision is all about personal judgement, continuous leaning, discovery, curiosity and much more. Brian said something which I thought was great, in order to learn we have to be prepared to be fools, that is asking questions, learning from mistakes and saying if you do not understand. 

and on the evening we really did act like fools... we all played YMCA camp games which others use on the camps they work on, the night involved dressing up and taking on the role of a Viking as well as other games where I pretended to be an animal, and played games from my own childhood. This was really great to get to know one another and have a laugh. 

As you can see we all took our roles dressed as Vikings very seriously!

Day 2 of training 

Day 2 we got shown some various models of supervision, and how supervision may draw up on a number of different things such as counselling, mentoring, coaching and psychological aspects, but that ultimately it is about one person overlooking another in an organisation and together developing personal skills within a professional relationship. supervision was pointed out not to be a personal therapy but instead to insure the supervise is ok, happy and confident in the work they do as well as engaging in continuous learning and discovery to enhance professional development and the work we do with clients and youth. we then looked at where we as individuals were at with supervision, and how supervision might help in our own workplaces but also what can go wrong with supervision. this involved being shown a clip which highlighted good and bad supervision which really helped! We then got introduced to smart targets and how they can be used in supervision! 

the evening activity was INTERNATIONAL NIGHT!! one of my favourite nights where we got to learn so much about one another and the back grounds we all come from! Where Me and Linda from Worcester YMCA shared a bit about the famous Worcester sauce recipe,  & brought English tea and told a few English jokes. Rosie Belton made English sweet goodie bags and another English participant Ben brought English Tea and biscuits!...one of the highlights was getting to Irish Dance with Brian Belton!! 

The united kingdoms table on international evening!

Day 3 of training 

Day 3 started with a morning lecture off Brian where we were introduced to a few more models which helped better understand the concept  of supervision! we then discussed the environment of supervision and questioned why we do it, how we do it, where we do it and when we do it. we also looked at how to present yourself in supervision and acknowledged that it is about life long learning. We learn in many different ways every day of our life and supervision allows for quality assurance and the delivery of correct practice to the people we work with. Supervision is bound by government and organisation policies, to ensure we are working within a certain criteria. We then go to reflect on what we had learnt so farm this was great as we got to understand about what levels of supervision others engaged in allowing us to gain new skills and knowledge as to how people work differently all over the UK.To finish the day we had the opportunity to practise what we had learnt in speed supervision. 

The evening Activity was YOUR YMCA!! where we all got to tell each other about or YMCA's and the work we do. This was one of my favourite nights because I love the work I do and I have pride and passion in it so sharing it with others was great! we explained about our YMCA being supported housing, our job roles, showed many photos and the sleep easy DVD where our YMCA slept rough to raise money and awareness for homelessness. equally learning about other YMCA's was a great experience too as the work others do really differs from ours as they work on summer camps with children, so it was fantastic to gain an insight into what they do and how there work differs. we also had social time in a hot tub! yes that's right a hot tub on a training course!! where we would sit and wait to see if the northern lights to appear, although I wasn't lucky enough to see them I did see multiple falling stars!!

Day 4 of training 

we looked at does supervision work, and some evidence which suggests it does, but however if we do not look and reflect back on what we have done we cant improve ourselves or the work we do and this can result in bad practise. Supervision promotes accountability and safe practice. we then got to reflect on the speed supervision we did and discuss in groups what went well and what did not, and develop smart targets to improve and better our practice. 

EXCURSION TO REYKAJAVIK!!! in the afternoon we got to have a half day trip out where we had a bus tour and then some free time in the capital. on the bus tour we stopped at a local swimming pool which was outside and heated from the natural hot water that runs under Iceland and also the pearl which was a viewing point where you could look out over the city, and it really was a fantastic view!!

In my time in the capital I decided to go down to the harbour 

In the evening we returned to learning where we all as a big group took part in a peer supervision role play exercise which was great fun and really made you learn and question your supervisory skills. The task was specifically designed to promote confrontation, and it highlighted that in real life that peer supervision is good when everyone goes the same way but in fact in life this is rare! it blows up realistic concepts in peer supervision and we had to find our own paths on how to deal with these. 

Day 5 the final Day of training 

Day 5 we got to reflect on previous group work and the smart targets we had developed which provided suggestion how we can grow and develop in our roles, professions and as individuals. We also go to see  clips on what areas of the brain effect judgment making and in turn reflect our supervision. In the afternoon we got to practice what the whole week had built towards, and this was doing an hour supervision as a supervisor and then another hour as a supervise, and then were given time to report and reflect how both roles went, what we did well and what we didn't do so well!! 

My overall learning from the course has given me the tools to become a more efficient supervise, which will allow for a better working relationship with my supervisor. I have also learnt many supervisory skills which are very valuable and will benefit me as they are transferable to the one on one work I will be doing with service users in support plans, such as asking questions, listening skills, having a better judgement, time boundaries, rapport building, developing smart targets and working together to find a path which will help the young people I work with move forward, and hopefully make a positive difference to the lives of those I work with. 

Me very happy to have received my youth pass certificate for attending the training!

23 people from 12 different countries all with the same goal, to better them selves and the work they do with youth's. This week has made me very thankful not only to Brain and the training he delivered but also to each and every individual I have met along the way who  have learnt something from. Words can not explain how magical it was to be united with so may different  people with the same goal it was truly inspiring and empowering, and now we part we can all take what we have learnt from one another to grow as individuals and to make that difference

amazing experience, amazing place, amazing people

Amen

Supervision in youth work training - ICELAND!!

This is my first time writing on a blog, so I am by no means an experienced blogger but here goes… after volunteering and working for the YMCA as a relief member of staff, after finishing my degree, I managed to secure a job as an assistant development worker. Upon taking this position I had no idea what opportunities lay ahead of me…

I have learnt a lot the last few months within my role, and I am amazed at the work the YMCA does world wide.  I feel privileged to be involved with the Global YMCA Movement to establish youth empowerment, and I am excited for the opportunities, engagement and adventures that lie ahead of me.

I am very lucky to have been given the opportunity to attend supervision in youth work course in Iceland! I feel privileged as I feel I personally will take so much away from this course which I can use to benefit my YMCA in Worcestershire and I also get the chance to visit a country which I have never visited before! I choose to attend the course as I do not have masses of experience in supervision and I believe it is a key concept in building working relationships and providing a sense of belonging and support. I am looking forward to learning about theoretical approaches to providing supervision, rapport building, communication and listen skills as well as leading and receiving supervision. I am also very much looking forward to meeting and being taught by Brian Belton from YMCA George Williams college  who is going to be supported by an international team!

Not only am I looking forward to the training, but also meeting all the other individuals attending the course from all over the EU and learning from them and gaining information about there YMCA’s and the work they do. I have a few images which I am going to share to represent my YMCA in Worcestershire and the UK nationally.

This is Reggie our YMCA cat and I think he represents our YMCA in so many ways he is in a sleep easy hat here where staff and residents slept rough to raise money for the homeless. Reggie represents responsibility where residents care, feed and look after him. He represents happiness, support, and a sense of family/home in our supported accommodation and I look forward to sharing this image on the course.

A personal aim of mine is to make a difference, through the job I do and believe the course I am about to attend, will teach me valuable skills, and knowledge to do a better job in my YMCA. This was only a small post but I will blog all about my trip to Iceland and the supervision in youth work course I am attending to share my experiences and what I have learnt with you all.

YE Festival 2013: I love to live for this stuff

In 2007 when I was asked to attend the Prague festival I was not in a position to go. After being involved in our movement for years and having been to international experiences that helped shape who I was, I had turned my back on the YMCA in favour of a hedonistic passage into my 20's, I was doing my own thing and that was that.

In the weeks after that festival, friends who returned were beaming from their week in the Czech Republic, seeing friends old and new and experiencing something that perhaps they couldn't fully put into words. I knew I had missed out.

Some years later things had become hectic for me in London, I was working in a job going nowhere with no real qualifications to draw on so I decided to leave London and come back to Newcastle. On my second day "home" I paid a visit to my old YMCA and spoke to my youth worker about volunteering and getting back into youth work. A few meetings that flew over my head and a chance conversation later, I landed a job in YMCA England and have been involved in the movement ever since and now work for Y Care International as well as being part of ILP and GLYN.

When the time and opportunity came to attend the 2013 Prague festival, I signed up. I was sure that I wouldn't miss out this time.  So after looking though the photos and reliving the experience that happened just a few weeks ago, I've realised I live for this stuff. I love to live for this stuff. I’m not going to give you a day by day account but more of the feeling I took from the festival.

A typical day might consist of seeing an old friend who has been nothing but a status update or an uploaded photo for the past five years and finally hugging them and catching up. On my way to lunch I’d maybe see a young group of Colombians facing off on a basketball court against a group from the US. If I got thirsty, I’d throw some shapes and get a refreshing mocktail from the Calypso bar. If I needed a pick me up I’d head over to the café and get a quick espresso and find myself chatting to the wonderful and industrious team. And on any given day I’d side step countless faces recognising me as "the Y's best talent guy", I mean not everyone said hello but sometimes seeing a celebrity in the flesh can phase people...they're only human ;)

In seriousness this festival has embodies the YMCA, sure we are in a bubble, sure it's sunny and it's a great time but something nuanced is threading through all of this. Some collective spirit, being on the same page, being supportive of each other, that all comes from an innate human nature and doesn't stop or start in the festival.

I understand now why those friends in 2007 couldn't put into words what they had experienced in Prague, because I can't quite either. But everyone feels something. Perhaps the reason we have a shared and mutual sense of our lives being altered is that through this experience, we see the world in a different way and so in turn we see ourselves in a different way. We don’t have to describe it. Just know that new possibilities await, possibilities that transcend culture or language. Keep the momentum going. I'll be looking out for that young Robbie who doesn't think it's for them and telling them that they missed out. 

Particular thanks to

The teenage Russian rock band on the Forest Stage
Cedric dancing like a mad man in cross bar
Tom and Ian smashing countless Big Macs
Vladi directing me and Y’s Best Talent
Ken making me us like a giant
Ben wearing that bandanna and just being himself
Romulo dressing up as a Village Person who doesn't really exist (seriously.. where is the sailor in the YMCA video?!)
The thunderstorm
You

One month to go...

One month to go… 

Well. My last piece was just before the YMCA France General Assembly. As predicted it was extremely hard for me to keep track with what was going on but it was nice all the different people from the French YMCA’s. 

It has been a sad couple of months because I have had to say ‘Auf Wiedersehen‘ to three Germans. Tim the bully, the silly Sophie & the crazy man Dominik. After a good part of a year together, even if I didn’t show it, I was truly gutted as they left one by one leaving me and Clara (the laughing cow).  Soon there will just be me... For like 5 days till the new volunteer comes and I set off home. So it’s cool, I can handle it. 

Works been the same as always really so I’ll fast forward to my tri-national pre-Prague trip to the YMCA House at Salm. This was one of them moments where I get asked to do something and say yes without even thinking or asking about it. Also Cedric went from I have to pay half the fee to just the train ticket to nothing at all to get me to go because my plans had changed for Prague. So yeah, quite interesting being the only English guy but I’m used to that now so it was no biggie. All members from all three nationalities (French, German &  Hungarian Romanians) were all really down to earth and keen on taking part in all the activities. My least favourite being the all day hike. Yeah it was cool doing it but my days did my legs hurt in the morning... My favourite, as always, the international evening!  Each country did a presentation, song and supplied specialities from their country.  

France: Stinky cheese, Wine and Ricard. 

 Germany: Bratwurst, Pasta dipped in apple sauce and German dark beer 

Hungarian Romanians: Sadly only had found out about the trip 48hrs earlier and brought nothing with them, made a sausage out of biscuits. Which infact was quite nice but I wouldn’t advise it in large quantities! 

My last day with the Tri-national crew was spent in Strasbourg. Loved it! Guided tour of the European Parliament, boat ride down the river and a meal with a free bar.  The meal ended up with me, Floriane & Cedric doing the Llama Song for the only YMCA France pin badge. Was probably not my finest moment but was well worth it! 

Now the big one! The Festival itself. Oooooooooh man. You should have been there! First day, as expected, was all the hard graft setting up all the Team Ken shops. First the T-shirt emporium (Martine & Johnny) & YMCA Shop (Rahim & Kelly), then the Tower Café (Rachel & Jack) & finally the Calypso Bar (Me & big lad Tom). The next day was stock up and kick off the festival. Was going smoothly until the storm hit and cancelled the rest of the day... One person injured and two tents destroyed... Not the kind of bang I imagined the festival to start with but a bang nonetheless!  

I could probably go on for pages about it but I'll just hit up 10 of my favourite moments. 

Ken's pre festival 'standing on the shoulders of giants speech' 

Me & Tom SMASHING our 18000 Koruna target by 90000 Koruna 

All the amazing people we met 

Robbie & American Eric's rap duets 

Cedric's dancing skills (In & out of the festival) 

All the nights at the cross! 

The crazy Danish 

Tom's Selfies 

Final night/morning 

The all round feel good sensation throughout the whole time. Rain or shine. 

In all it was a blast. Yeah me and Tom worked all day everyday but we loved it. Without Tom the Calypso Bar would have been an epic fail so thank you ever so much for being part of it! Both of us have gone back with collections of T-shirts & Pin Badges & we would like to know what makes you a collector? 

Would have loved to see a lot more of Team Bolton but we were 40 minutes away from each others hostels so that was the only downside but stuff like that happens you know. 

All in all I will be truly gutted if I don't meet some of these amazing people again & will make it my mission to do so! 

Well. I guess my next post shall be my Post-France blog. Bound to be full of mixed emotions. I still do not know what lies ahead after my time here but I do hope a certain opportunity comes reality! 

One more month to go, 

One more month till the next step on the spiral staircase of life...