Blog

ESCAPE is run to provide a positive shared experience, memory for young people. We work to support young people on a whole range of issues they face and these activities allows us to build up what we hope to be a good relationship with a team of dedicated youth workers who provide a listening ear, support, information, advice or guidance where necessary to assist them in achieving in life. If we can be part of that solution and help a young person in need then that to us is so worth it and makes an incredible difference.

This half term we offered local young people the opportunity to get stuck into several activities: laser quest, leisure pursuits and off road driving. We also took a group from Woodfield School out bowling and to Nando’s as a reward for taking part in several SMART courses. Woodfield School pupils have really embraced SMART, see below for their amazing animations.

On the Smart Photography project we learn to take really good photos and how to edit them to look even better!

We take lots of different styles of photographs over the course and even learn how to airbrush out those spots and wrinkles!

These photos were all taken with the brief of 'Close up or Macro' images. We got up and personal with our props and got the cameras to focus in closely on objects so they looked really abstract or different! Lots of fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDk_jo_uIXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOWUETj5wMQ

The ESCAPE and SMART projects are working well to engage young people for the first time that have been identified as being at risk of NEET (not in education, employment or training), so we are pleased with the outcomes we are seeing and look ahead at improving that offer to young people in Reigate and Banstead in 2013.

An update from the end of 2012

‘ESCAPE’ the Christmas break...16 young people met up over Christmas to take part in Ice Skating, Ten pin bowling and a meal. The team carried out some consultation with the young people to feed into reviewing the whole local prevention framework projects offer to young people of Reigate and Banstead.

The feedback was insightful, young people mentioned that they often need some time away from the stresses they face of life and the trips facilitate that for them. They meet new people and have fun and are not judged or treated any differently. Young people have asked for residentials, a weekend or longer away together. The issues they mentioned that could prevent them leaving school and going onto employment, training or education are: bullying, lack of motivation, family, peer pressure, lack of confidence, attitude, mucking about in school, police, fighting, smoking drugs, self harm or no money.

ESCAPE works well to begin building a relationship with a young person at risk and then hopes to refer that young person onto additional support to help the young person address the issue or need that they have in their life. Conversations are being had as to how to extend the ESCAPE project to happen beyond school holiday times to ensure that the relationship can continue to be built and support these young people.

The SMART project has had some unexpected outcomes from last term. The projects are over 4 – 6 weeks working with small groups of young people. It provides an activity per week with outcomes (photography, film making, graphic design & animation) but also provides a safe social environment even for those who choose not to engage in any other youth provision after school. Young people enjoy the format so much they bring their friends and go on to do 2 or 3 of the courses. In the feedback they have requested that they would wish for it to be every week even after the course has finished. These courses do meet a need in the young people and we are in discussions to see how we can facilitate that.

On my way to Stubbers Activity and Adventure Centre, I knew I was going to face fears such as my fear of heights. I was thinking this is a great opportunity for me to boost my confidence and meet new people.

This has helped me in my life by allowing me to experience new things that many other people had experienced that I hadn’t. I also feel more confident in the things I do now. I also had the opportunity to speak my mind and put my point of view across in a calm and respectable way. I have suggested new ways to fundraise money and help Ashtead Youth Club.

During this project I have learnt how to do things I have never even heard of doing. I have been around another youth group and seen how they all communicate in team challenges. I really enjoyed facing fears and achieving new goals.

I feel like I have been able to experience something new and enjoyable and to be able to be part of a team and help other team members around me.