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°¬²æAƬ Celebrating Youth Work Week

Youth Work Week is an annual event created to celebrate the achievements of young people and promote the benefits and impact of the work of the Youth Service across Wales.  The week began on Friday 23rd June with the Welsh Government’s Wales Youth Work in Wales Excellence Awards.  The °¬²æAƬ Youth Service’s Inspire 2 Achieve project was shortlisted to the final 3 for a Youth Work in Wales Excellence Award and was delighted to win the category.

During the week, the °¬²æAƬ Youth Service is organising additional events to promote the week.

These include:

Regional Youth Work conference

Tues 27th, 6-9pm, Llancaiach Fawr, Caerphilly

The Regional Youth Work Conference has been organised between the 5 LA Youth Services: °¬²æAƬ, Caerphilly, Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen.  We have held the conference annually for the past three years, and it is used as an opportunity to bring youth workers from across the region together.  At the conference youth workers share good practise, identify areas for cross boundary working and identify training needs that can be addressed across the region.  Young people also get the opportunity to present some of their work. This means that while each Youth Service is different, young people can expect the same quality of provision and access similar types of support no matter where they go in the region.

°¬²æAƬ Youth Service Awards evening

Thurs 29th, 6.30-9pm, Llanhilleth Institute, Abertillery

The Thursday BG Youth Service Awards evening is an event to celebrate the achievements of young people who attend the Youth Service throughout the year.  The event has been sponsored by Circuit of Wales and Aspire °¬²æAƬ. Young people from every project will win an award with then three young people achieving Youth Service Learner of the Year, Youth Service Volunteer of the Year and Youth Service Outstanding Young Person of the Year. There is also an award for Youth Worker of the Year.

Youth Clubs

°¬²æAƬ Youth Service have three Youth Clubs which run during term time offering young people a chance to make friends and participate in a range of fun events and activities. Youth Clubs are in Abertillery, Brynteg & Cwm.

Abertillery – Wednesday & Thursday 6-8pm

Ebbw Vale – Monday & Wednesday 6-8pm

Cwm – Monday & Wednesday 6-8pm

Girls Only Youth Club – Tuesday 6-7pm, Abertillery

Positive Futures

Youth workers operate in a range of settings providing group and one to one support to young people. This is to assist with their personal development and thus reducing anti-social behaviour.

School groups – Monday and Wednesday

Evening groups – Tuesday and Wednesday 5-7pm, Cwm youth centre

Inspire 2 Achieve

Is an 11-16 ESF funded project with youth workers supporting young people aged 11-16 in °¬²æAƬ’s Secondary Schools to improve attendance, attainment, behaviour and health and wellbeing. Young people create individual action plans to reach their potential.

Activities include 1:1 support sessions, structured group activities and open access clubs/groups.

I2A Youth Worker in every school and Canolfan yr Afon

Gardening Project – all schools and PRU (Canolfan yr Afon)

Inspire 2 Work

5 x I2W Youth Workers supporting young people to enter employment, education or training

Inspire Changes Project, launching Friday 30th – Abertillery Youth Centre

Detached Street Work

Thursday and Friday 4.30-8pm

Detached Youth Workers allows to meet and engage with young people on their own territory where they ‘hang out’ in °¬²æAƬ outside of school hours. This could be on the streets, in café’s and parks or at rail and bus stations.

Free Football Fridays

Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre 6-7.30pm

Jo Sims, Youth Service Manager for °¬²æAƬ County Borough Council Said:

“The Youth Service is providing a fun filled week of activities in addition to its regular calendar and celebrates the excellent work of the Youth Service, recognising the achievements of all young people throughout the year.  Young people are often portrayed in a negative light and this is an opportunity to celebrate the excellent and positive things they have done for themselves and their community.â€

For further details about these events, please contact Joanne Sims on 01495 357866 / 07772 755435 or email Joanne.Sims@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.