High Oak Youth Group

High Oak have been delivering youth and community projects working with Volunteers, hard to reach, disengaged young people and communities for the past 8 years. High Oak is seen as a ‘doing’ organisation with a strategic role, achieving high quality, innovative and competitive outcomes in a professional and financially sound manner. The projects will be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and in time-fame. Positive Engagement We provide specialist help and support to young people designed to increase their confidence and self-esteem. Our aim is to get young people interested in the place where they live and to help them play a full and active part in society. Wherever possible we encourage interaction between young people and adults to help challenge the negative perceptions of youth that many people hold. Some of our projects are specifically targeted in places where there are high levels of crime as a way of harnessing young people's energy and reducing anti-social behavior. Delivery Objectives The projects take place across neighbourhoods in Dudley and the Black Country. Some of the areas suffer from poor local environment and low levels of economic activity, education, skills and income. High Oak will work with partners, youth and community groups, schools, training providers, local police and faith groups within these deprived areas to improve the capacity and skills of these groups. Enabling them to engage in positive activities and training that will improve their local economy and environment and give them a better chance to gain employment. High Oak will also be working with these organisations in the area drawing on their resources and expertise. The project will be working with young people, volunteers, qualified staff and other voluntary sector organisations. High Oak has been working with NEET groups for the past 8 years. High Oak run personal development programmes, looking at the individuals needs and requirements, creating action plans, community projects and completing qualification, E.g. Asdan Short Course and Awards. These projects help the young person focus on their own personal needs. Some of these needs are what stops the young person from progressing on to jobs or further education. So we try to address these before we move on. We provide one to one support and work with them building their confidence and providing assistance in whatever area they need it. The projects will also involve volunteers and Peer mentors, who would be trained up to work alongside the youth staff. They will receive Peer mentoring, first aid, health and safety and child protection training. They will receive skills to help them work with the young people and also be able to work in the youth field if they want to take the opportunity further. The young people on programme and volunteers will be recruited to the scheme from the local communities and will undertake one of the stated qualifications. The young people will also be supported through: • One to one support • Information advise and guidance • Action plans, SWOTs • Reviews monitoring and evaluation s • Progress and pathways support Government agendas High Oak youth Group will be working to support the young people in The Big Society Agenda this will focus on supporting people to be active citizens in their local communities. The Big Society themes encouraging people to take an active role in their communities and play a greater role in decision being made for them and about them. We already have a track record of this kind of work, from the past 8 years we have been working in the community. High Oak will also be encouraging people within communities to organise and undertake voluntary work, (or even form charities or social enterprises) to address issues they have identified in their communities. We aim to form active groups of young people who are able to identify issues within their communities as this is pivotal to Youth Participation generating a clear link to Big Society. We aim to engage them in decision making and making their voice heard. The Big Society, Government’s role is to support and stimulate the development of community led services and community organisations, rather than to provide large public services. The mentors and staff s will be able to support other young people to develop skills enabling them to be active citizens and to organise and run events or opportunities within their communities. High Oak Youth Projects Community Projects and Social Action: The young people, volunteers and staff will work together with the community to create innovative projects to help build relationships and create community cohesion and understanding of each other. Looking at issues around culture, traditions, intergenerational work and understanding of each other. Garden projects The groups work with the local Age Concern, The Lookout Project and neighbourhood offices to create garden projects and community clean ups in the local area. The projects support the older generation or people with disabilities who are unable manage their gardens, the young people will help then on one off projects clear the garden and improve the gardens appearance. This also helps protect the house as the police have stated that houses with overgrown gardens are more likely to be broken into. The group will also support the local communities with clearing up community areas and other community project in the area. Peer to Peer projects Young people working with other young people to influence change and positive behaviours. Young people learning from each another, coping mechanisms, social issues, sharing friendships and enjoying and achieving together. Creating positive projects, schemes and youth activities for other young people to engage in. Youth Exchanges and Youth Initiatives Projects; Young people working with Youth in Action to develop project around mobility, citizenship, cultures, traditions, understanding the European Union and working together with other young people across the world. Understanding mobility and gaining vast amounts of new experiences and skills. After school programmes Providing alternative provision for young people outside of school hours. These can range from a list of programmes identified by the young people and governed by the groups with support from the youth staff. Young people can engage in: • Recreational Activities • Arts and Culture • IT and Media • Environmental Activities • Healthy Life Style Projects School Support Programmes: The projects will be working with young people around the transition from primary school to secondary school. Supporting young people who are excluded or on the verge of exclusion and supporting young people finding it difficult to deal with school life for whatever reason. We will Offer young people Information, advice and guidance, through our trained staff and partnership work. • Offering alternative education programmes for young people 11-16 years old. • Offering Asdan and OCN awards and qualifications and up skilling young people. • Working with the groups on community projects, first aid skills, basic health and safety skills and arts, sports, academic skills Healthy Life Styles; Children are the future, therefore safeguarding them and improving their health is of paramount importance to the Group. The projects aim to empower young people to make the right choices in life for themselves and others around them. The programmes will engage with the community and professional to educate young people and their families about healthy life style choices. Looking at: • Sports, and fitness programmes • Eating healthier, • Learning to prepare and cook a balance meal, • Having a positive outlook on life, building confidence and self-esteem • Working with the young people and their family on physical, mental, spiritual well being projects. • Getting young people out and active in their local communities, using the parks and open spaces. • reducing childhood obesity • Achieve the recommended 60-90 minutes of daily activity. • The projects will also address other issues facing young people that cause them to engage in unhealthy lifestyles. • Sexual awareness • Personal hygiene • Drug awareness • Money management