The Campaigners' Blog

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 at 02:34PM Aug 05, 2008 by Moira  |  Comments[1]

Friday May 09, 2008

Volunteer Management Course completed yipeeeeeee

Hey everyone,

Hope your all enjoying the good weather.

Ive recently completed my Volunteer management course which is brill because I thought I would never finish it.  Just on completing my YAA now trying to get it finished, so what i should probably be doing now is writing up about my challenges and preparing my presentation which is going to be in July; provided all goes well but it is pretty much completed folks.  

Ive been meeting with a new young people who are joining Barnardos YPRAG.  Its great to see the group getting bigger.  Ive been working with them some of the time individually on thier YAA which is a lot easier than having to speak to 6/10 people at once haha! 

The volunteers that Ive been managing have moved on and got full time jobs which is great, and we're still in touch.  Anyway this is a short entry I know but, until next time.

Debating at the moment whether to do some volunteering this summer again with the drama group hmmm we'll see.

The Governers board is a bit hard to get to grips with but apparently it takes everyone a while so im just going with the flow still trying to work out my role in it. Honest it would make you laugh, when new people join you go round and introduce yourself and nearly every says their name and there title i.e tutor at college etc.. however I go Moira...........and then nothing hehe ah the joys of the unknown ha!   It is great experience though.

Bye for now

Posted at 03:10PM May 09, 2008 by Moira  |  Comments[1]

Friday Mar 07, 2008

News Flash!!!

Long time no blog sorry people

Going back to my last blog around research we're just starting to recieve questionnaires from Volunteer Managers which is a good sign. At the moment I'm advising the Researcher volunteer on where to look to find out about what other charities similar to Barnardo's do, for volunteers training.  So all moving along nicely.

My volunteer management course is on its way to being completed I think, I hope, can't wait till its finished. 

I was working with one of the young people from YPRAG on their own Youth Achievement Award ; which was fun.  Its getting much easier now; in working out whats needed to go into the Youth Achievement Award; its took a while but its getting there   As Im also part of YPRAG the young person and I, with the Participation Manager; went to meet with a new perspective member who is starting the group.  Where we explained what the group did and what it was about; outcome being that we've another new member; we have a few new people joined lately which is brill!

I think I had better go work on my vol management course see if I can get it somewhere near finished ha!

Oh yeah I don't know how I forgot this bit ha! In January I started as a member of one of the local colleges Derwentside College Governers Board.  Went to the first meeting in January all exciting stuff! It meets every couple of months. So I'll be busy doing that too! 

And amongst all this I'm rehearsing for a play with Jackass Youth Theatre which will be performed in a few places around the North East very soon.

Anyway tatty bye

Posted at 02:04PM Mar 07, 2008 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Thursday Dec 13, 2007

Research

Hi

Short entry this week.

Well this week was fun I was working with another volunteer on putting together questionnaires to volunteers and staff on Training and Development.  To be sent to Volunteers and Volunteer Managers Barnardos UK. The idea of the research is to see if the training available to volunteers is helping and whether there needs to be more training put in place or qualifications and programmes like the YAA.

Next week we're going Christmassy were going for lunch and I think I will be looking at my own training and development as well.

Don't forget if you want to know anything about volunteering at Barnardos leave me a question on the comments and I will try and answer it in my blogs.

Anyway bye for now.

Posted at 12:21PM Dec 13, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Wednesday Nov 28, 2007

YAA+personal development

Hi People,

I hope your enjoying my blogs and there not too boring!

Well I had a meeting yesterday to double check how I was going with running the award with YPRAG whether I was doing it right.  As I don't want to get too far ahead of myself in doing this work with the group and then it being written up wrong. 

I got some tips on how to evidence what the young people do more as sometimes its hard to evidence it even though you know the young people are leading in whatever challenge they set.  Which was good. You have to keep a diary of hours and things you do and I've just been using what I developed for the young people in the group to use.  Not anymore though I'm going to use a proper diary so  I can describe more how i feel about how im progressing as well as what I'm doing.

I'm also seriously thinking about going into Youth work or teaching as I progress through my own Platinum Award.  As I really enjoy working with the group through thier award and getting a feel for what it would be like.  Not to blow my own trumpet or anything but I think I would be quiet good at it. ha!

So the group are coming along nicely in doing thier Youth Achievement Award and I'm leading it right which is what I was worried I was doing it wrong.

Posted at 03:52PM Nov 28, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[2]

Friday Nov 16, 2007

YPRAG+ YAA

Hi Everyone,

This week has been really good and productive week

We have had our monthly YPRAG meeting which hasnt happened for a while and was great fun.  Theres lots coming up which the group are going to be involved in from planning the B'OSCARS to meeting Corporate Forum, to all other usual goings on.

Now the Youth Achievement Award (YAA) as the group are doing this we also did a bit on this....the difference was though that i worked with only 1 of the group members on filling out a challenge and it was loads easier.  I think it helped the young person understand better what he has to do as well.  So I may start trying to work with the young people even for a few minutes...on thier own when it comes to the YAA.  This experience is really challenging me and I keep having to adapt to the situations as they arise and learning the best way to work with the young people through thier award.

I mentioned before in a past blog that I was putting together an achievement board for YPRAG which shows everything that YPRAG have been asked to do.  Showing what has actually happened within Barnardos and the region as a result of the work that YPRAG do.  And what was really good was that YPRAG have done even more than they were asked to do ha!

The board looks pretty impressive and the year isnt over yet so there will no doubt be something else appearing ha!

My Volunteer Management course is coming along and have been working on it a lot this week, with the help of the volunteer I'm managing at the moment So thankyou to them!

Anyway bye for now

Posted at 12:42PM Nov 16, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Thursday Nov 08, 2007

Update

Hey long time no blog.....I've been busy...

Well the YPRAG are still working towards thier YAA but hasn't been hapeening since Aug as its had a bit of a break after a busy Summer, but should be meeting up again soon Back at the end of September I did some planning with the Participation on the group writing out a challenge which was interesting; and is just to give the group some hints on what kinds of things to look at when reviewing what they did.  In the case of this challenge it will be from when they Reviewed the group as a whole. The group will be working on this sometime this month so we'll see if we're all getting used to reviewing our work as the YAA is rather good tool for reflecting on what you do; I think.

I am in the middle of updating our YPRAG display board; which shows what the group have been asked to do and what has changed within Barnardo's as a result of the work the group does. I've done all the hard work of writing up all that we've done nxt is the fun part of putting the display together...so it will be lots of gluing and sticking. or MESS, mess, MESS! Haha!

As far as my volunteer management is going is going slowly ha! Its really hard to keep motivated in doing a course when you are doing the course by long distance learning.  Although I have done some of it, it's hard going.  

Plus I have been doing a trainee placement with Jack Drum the youth theatre lately which has been gr8 fun! Thinking about volunteering with 1 of thier other young people's groups, havent decided yet though.  Might help me decide tonight; when I go to the older group within the youth theatre though as the group im thinking about helping out at is...on just before my age group.  So we'll see!

Posted at 11:12AM Nov 08, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Wednesday Sep 19, 2007

Where has the summer gone?

Last night we had our Oxfam End of Summer Party, where did the summer go? I suppose I spent a large part of it in America and due to the large amount or rain we have had I guess it never really felt like it was here. It was fantastic to see lots of the new volunteers really beginning to feel at home in the team – although they were a little to good at the quiz and showed me just how little I knew about famous people and geography! It was sad to say goodbye to some of our staff members, however I am confident that our Outreach team will continue to be fantastic and grab every opportunity to have fun while collecting signatures for petitions. The next challenge is Oxjam, our month full music programme raising support for the great work Oxfam does, so watch this space for stories about that.  

Posted at 05:02PM Sep 19, 2007 by Helen Bryant  |  Comments[1]

Thursday Aug 30, 2007

Working with YPRAG in doing thier YAA

Yesterday was an exhasting day for everyone involved.  We spent half of the group meeting working on filling out the 1st challenge of the Youth Achievement Award, which was all around meeting with Corporate Forum and the roles they took in delivering and the lead they took in this.  Even though I've had the training it was still difficult to ensure everyone filled out thier challenge appropriately.  Which they all did, very well at, I think once they fill out a couple more challenges then they will feel more comfortable in writing up there challenges.  Fingers crossed.

We then had the rest of the meeting which we used to evaluate where YPRAG was at and where it wanted to be in the future, the general feel of the group and what the members felt they got out of being part of the group.  Which wasn't too bad.  It was bit of relief from working on the YAA booklets!

So all in all I think it was a good start to using the booklets and everyone will get used to using them......Including ME!!!!  Start to work in my award group next week as I have to have a seperate award group, to the group I'm working with.

Anyway tomorow for all the work YPRAG have been doing lately were getting to go to South Shields Fair which should be fun!

So till next time

Posted at 06:02PM Aug 30, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Thursday Aug 23, 2007

FUNdraising week for Barnardos

Hey!

There has been a few things going on to raise money for Barnardo's this week so yesterday was well a silly day! You had to dress up in fancy dress which quite a few did.  There was a few witches and harry potters flying around (or if you've seen the  Simpsons Harry Plotters haha!) and yes flying well ok..... I didnt see them fly but they did have broomsticks!  I dressed up in my Ireland gear as I knew no one else would have that I found out the day before so it was a quick think to see what I could rummage up.  It was good laugh!

There was 'Bring and Buy' lunch which was great and 2 cakes were auctioned off too! And loads of other stuff like Guess the Baby's name; where there was pics of Management when they were younger and you had to see if you could guess who was who.

So that was part of my day the other part we came up with a plan of things to happen at the party meeting this evening and put that together.

I went through what I had done so far on my Youth Achievement Award and what had happened with the work Im doing with YPRAG too.  Seem to be all on track, looking forward to Wednesday when we do an evaluation of the group and look at putting together files for YPRAG's YAA.

Posted at 08:00PM Aug 23, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Friday Aug 17, 2007

Volunteer Management Training- Dare to Care

Hi again people!

On the 30th July I went to a Volunteer Management Training Day - 'Dare to Care' which was lead by Volunteer Management Guru Steve McCurley from the USA.  It was about developing your organisation for involvement of volunteers and Capacity building through your volunteers.

He talked to us about recuiting volunteers, interviewing volunteers, confidentiality, retaining volunteers, finding appropriate positions and where in the organisation you can have volunteers...which is practically everywhere  How you can lose volunteers interesting fact for you people.....'You can lose a volunteer in the first instance of making contact with them' if you don't get in touch as soon as possible and keep in touch you are likely to lose a volunteer, before they even start to volunteer.

We did a lot of group work too...Looking at your own role and how much time you spend on doing different bits and peices and where you could actually recruit volunteers, to do parts of the work you do within an organisation.

Do-it.org got a mention too

It was really a good day's training....

Posted at 02:33PM Aug 17, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Friday Aug 17, 2007

YPRAG meet with Barnardo's NE Corporate Forum

Sorry for lack of entries!

Lets see where I left you last oh yes the YAA training....Well I think I've been putting it to good use....As this week we finally got the booklets needed for young people to do their Youth Achievement Award helps keep record of there challenges and Review them.  They came just at the right time too.....

This week I gave a presentation to Barnardo's Corporate Forum (In english that's- Regional bosses! hehe)  the presentation was on my Youth Achievement Award (YAA) which covered my final challenge of delivering a presentation about your award; which the members of Young People's Regional Advisory Group completed there presentation challenge also Oh its good when a plan comes together  

So as my award is on running the YAA itself it was a great way to explain what it was all about and see what they thought and explain how it was being run as a pilot study with the group and if Corporate Forum would have input when it came to evaluating it and what they thought of it after I explained all about the award.  I was nervous I tell you, but I did it.  The Young People's Regional Advisory Group completed theres by updating them on work the group has been doing in the region; everyone leading on there own parts that they've been involved with.  It was a good meeting all round I think. 

On the 29th we're having a review of the group and also using part of that day for the young people to put their files together properly, so I'm looking forward to that. 

Posted at 02:10PM Aug 17, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]

Thursday Aug 16, 2007

Wet and Muddy ...and still loving it!!

My new job is taking over my life, although i have never been happier, its a fantastic job and its taking up lots of my time - its just making it difficult for me to blog, sorry!!

So as well as starting a great new job, working with young homeless people getting them to volunteer, i have spent the summer at music festivals.

With the strange weather we have been having this summer, i suppose it wasnt too surprising that they have been really really wet and muddy. I have been told that Glastonbury wouldnt be the same without it - however after 5 days of constant rain and knee deep mud - my boyfriend and i decided that by Sunday, mud really wasnt that glorious after all and our beds and showers were calling us.

We had hoped that WOMAD would be slightly drier...we were wrong!! again knee deep mud and losing our wellies as they got stuck. At WOMAD similar to last year, as volunteers for Oxfam, we were asked to work on the accessible camping area, we quickly realised that mud and wheel-chairs don't go well together, by the second day half of the people using this area to camp in had gone home after struggling to get round the site on 4 wheels. It was really sad to see people leave and to keep a smile on our face while volunteering - making it even more important to remember that we were doing it for the fantastic cause, Oxfam (and the free tickets!!) 

Glastonbury despite being wet mainly attracted people who were happy to party in the rain and roll in the mud, we even had a number of rather drunk people who after having mud baths were keen to hug us ...we did our best to avoid this affection! I was responsible for supervising a team of 20 volunteers, keeping them happy and dry where possible, this was manic yet great fun - although after 8 hours standing in the rain it became a challenge to keep a smile on our faces!

Despite the rain, mud and moans i love festivals and will keep going back for more, remembering the difference we are able to make to Oxfam's work overseas.  

Posted at 09:42AM Aug 16, 2007 by Helen Bryant  |  Comments[0]

Monday Jul 09, 2007

Alas no more drama club :(

Hey people,

Just thought I would post my last blog (at least for now) on the Drama  club yes thats right people no more drama club.  I did think it would be over next week but as majority of the group didn't turn up this week and those that did....3 out of 7 of them are away next week so... (We usually have about 20 kids altogether) ....due to this factor drama club is finishing a week early.

Ah the fun we've had.....Refer to past blogs on the drama group :P

This week has to be one of the best weeks though (only 1 of the best hehe) even though there was a poor turn out. we, well I wouldn't call it dressing up...More just wearing hats.  So after I signed in those who did turn up we had  to act out how you think a person would if they wore a particular hat..So it was teaching our small group of 7  how to change in to character in fun way. 

Basically we partnered up with whoever wore a similar hat which was great fun! And we were at opposite ends of the room and you had to walk (in character remember!) and meet in the middle of the room and do a small scene together depending on your character, which again depended on what hat you wore.  So I was in a pistols at dawn scene (cowboy hat) and was a part of a posh duo (in a smart posh style hat) and we acted out reading the paper.  Which they learnt to do in the warm up when we did ...what shall we call it... follow the leader... You had to act out being a person doing little things and then everyone had to copy you.  So guess it was follow the leader a bit.

I also ran the tuckshop and well lets just say there was no queuing, and yes those lollipops again came to everyones attention unable to be opened lol

I have to say though volunteering with the drama group has been great fun and you never know might do it again

Posted at 11:30PM Jul 09, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[2]

Friday Jul 06, 2007

YAA Training

Hi

Yesterday was a long day.... I went on a bit more training for the Youth Achievement Award (YAA).  This time though it was to learn about being a moderator for the awards. 

This was the first part to the training and there is a couple more parts to it.  It was rather useful in some ways..Well you got see what other young people had done to gain there awards and talk to those running the award about how they doing it.  So you get ideas for challenges for young people to do which really can be anything!

Gave a better idea of what young people need to be able to show and information thats needed to be able to gain the award at certian levels.  Think it also showed how much work is involved in and how much commitment is needed for the whole YAA, from all involved, from the young person, to the group leader and of course the moderator. 

So all in all it was a good day and may things a bit clearer. 

Posted at 01:29PM Jul 06, 2007 by Moira  |  Comments[0]