Youth Support Newsletter Issue 4: January 2013

In this issue Read what’s been Welcome to the first newsletter of 2013 happening through

The Airplay programme is continuing its work, putting the needs of young people centre Airplay Youth Support stage. It is very important for children and young people to be involved in the planning around the country at: and delivery of services, and to give them the opportunity to influence decision makers and given a voice. Getting young people involved builds their self-confidence – an »» RAF Lossiemouth essential part of development. It also encourages them to value the positive impact they can have on society which they will inherit in the future. »» RAF Cosford

The Tri-Service Youth Forum (TSYF) is a great example of youth participation. Sixty-five young »» RAF Marham people from the RAF, Royal Navy and Army families came together to attend the forum which took place on the 23rd-25th November. This was a huge success. It gave the young people involved »» RAF Boulmer a chance to share their thoughts, identify common issues and priorities for young people living in »» RAF Linton-on-Ouse service communities. During the forum they prepared presentations which they then presented to key stakeholders and supporters and participated in workshops. »» RAF Scampton We want to carry on putting the views of young people at the forefront making sure their voices »» RAF Odiham are heard in the planning of services that affect them. This newsletter focuses on young people’s experiences of expressing their views and becoming more involved in decision making. »» RAF Henlow

About Airplay Airplay is the RAF Benevolent Fund’s (RAFBF) £24 million youth It has also constructed new Airplay Parks (state-of-the-art games support programme for the Royal Air Force. It developed the areas and play grounds) on RAF stations nationwide, giving RAF project as part of its commitment to relieving strain on RAF young people access to the facilities they deserve. Finally, the parents. charity has constructed or refurbished Airplay Childcare Centres at RAF stations, helping to deliver more affordable, accessible The RAFBF funds Airplay youth workers (trained by national childcare for serving parents. charity 4Children) on stations across the UK, to help RAF Community Support Teams deliver enhanced programmes of For more information visit www.rafbf.org/airplay safe, supervised activities for young people living on and around stations. Here are just some examples of

the activities that took place. “Then I started to head up the Youth Committee when I Young person becomes a youth worker became a sessional youth worker. Being in charge of the “I have lived at RAF Marham so long now that it has become Committee and working at the youth centre gave me a great my home and the many years living there have always involved sense of achievement and built my confidence immensely. I the youth centre. It began as a place for me to go and chill tried new things whilst in the Committee. We set up fashion with friends and eat sweets until I was sick! Going to the youth shows, which I even took part in (the young me would be centre was the highlight of 10 year old Emily’s life (which is shocked!), and we began trying to set up a briefing session for young people whose parent had been deployed. This was them noticing. The key issues identified were movement, probably true for a lot of the a massive task and involved both me and others getting the Lossiemouth young people attend the deployment, isolation and bullying. I enjoyed going to the centre’s members today). courage to talk to the RAF and ask important questions. We London Eye and the Christmas market the most. I also enjoyed However, it began to have also discussed some of the issues involved with living on an Tri-Service Youth Forum learning all the things needed for a great presentation. My best a bigger influence over my RAF base and many of these issues were brought up when Joanne and Laura attended the TSYF in November 2012, this memory is meeting everyone and making loads of new friends.” life as I began to grow out attending the youth forum in November last year. I had the is what they had to say about it. of playing in parks but still courage to bring up these issues for the sake of the other was not old enough to spend Joanne Watson (young person, age 14, RAF Lossiemouth) young people at Marham, proving to myself how much my “We are children with parents stationed at RAF Lossiemouth. hours in the pub. I would go to meet new people, to take confidence has grown whilst attending the youth centre. We think that living on camps makes us feel isolated from “I thought we wouldn’t get much achieved as this was the on a role as a peer mentor Unfortunately I did have to leave Marham in September, when everyone and we are restricted by the number of activities that first forum. I also thought it would be awkward between the for younger members and I began university, however I know that my work there and we can do. The hardest thing about being in a service family services as we are all in different situations. We prepared for get out of the house for a few experiences brought me out of my shell and taught me to try is having to move so much and leaving friends. The best thing the forum by doing a presentation and gathering the views hours instead of complaining new things, listen and give support to others.” is Airplay because it makes us feel as though we are part of a of the young people in Airplay Lossiemouth. Throughout the of boredom. community, not just an individual who has to take on the world weekend we had lots of discussions and in the evening we Raf Marham by themselves and it also helps to boost our confidence. One went to visit the London Eye. I believe it could have been a bit Emily Driver (young person, age 18, RAF Marham) of the problems I (Joanne) felt would never be solved is when I more organised and have a better balance between breaks and moved from Northern Ireland to Scotland, I had to be put down discussions. However, I enjoyed the whole experience. I don’t a year at school because of the different curriculums. have a favourite part, this is because I was with great people in a great environment.” fun because I got to learn new things from it, like going on the “At the TSYF we learned valuable life skills such as presenting Young person’s ideas become reality internet to research the stuff we needed. and expressing our views in the right manner. We also learned Laura Miller (young person, age 15, RAF Lossiemouth) Cameron, aged 15, and volunteer Ryan Bogden from RAF some amusing skills such as catching a ball one handed Boulmer had been very busy writing out an application to bid “We also came up with some ideas to bid for other things and how to stick a sticker onto someone’s back without for activities for their youth club. This is a great example of such as a pool table and a football table or some trips to go youth participation because it puts the young people in charge outside of the youth club like going to the cinema and going of deciding where the money should be spent. on walks around lakes. These activities would be suitable for anyone aged 6-18, even adults! The reason behind these is to “I decided to write a bid for the youth club because we, the get children and teenagers involved with the activity and to get young people, wanted music equipment like guitars, drums, them to learn new skills and goals.” lights, DJ equipment, software and music lessons with a tutor with the £500 that we had to spend. Cameron William (young person, age 15, RAF Boulmer)

“Ryan helped me write out the application and it was so much

each for the interview. I asked if the interviewee had previous Empowerment – in their own words experience and she said that she had run a youth club where A great example of youth participation is involving young the young people make decisions about what happens in the people in interviewing youth workers who will be working with youth club. It was an interesting experience because we were Tri-service Youth forum them. This helps young people feel like their ideas are valued able to ask what we wanted and give our own opinion. We and gives them an opportunity did a second interview, which was quite nerve-racking and it Tri-Service Youth Forum – what’s your outlook? to gain valuable experience was hard to read some of the questions that the young people Would you attend another forum like this again? and skills. Young people feel had written. I enjoyed interviewing both times and I would be 16 year old Reece Bailey from RAF Cosford attended the I would like to do the whole weekend again if I could.The more empowered because it happy to do it again.” TSYF. 4Children asked him how it went: activities we did at the regional residential initially really is ultimately their decision that prepared us for the presentations we had to do has made a difference to who Ewan Patterson (young person, age 13, RAF Linton-on-Ouse) How did you feel about attending the TSYF? should be recruited. Plus it At first I was very excited to meet the people I had met at the looks great on their CV which is “I felt quite honoured to be asked to interview for a new regional residential and also excited to make new friends. I What has the forum taught me? It has taught me to be more confident when making speeches. an added bonus! member of staff. We prepared for the interview by getting also was disappointed that the TSYF passed so quickly and I the group to discuss question ideas. I didn’t know what the wish it could have gone on for longer. Also it has taught me how to plan speeches and presentations and make them effective and be memorable. Two young people, Ewan interview process was going to be like so I felt a bit nervous Patterson and Andrew because I didn’t know how it was going to turn out. When we What did you like about the forum? How would you sum up the overall experience? Davies, have successfully sat down for the interview I felt confident and empowered by The activity I enjoyed most was when I learnt how to properly interviewed and recruited two the environment I was in. I felt a bit older and wiser because Overall the weekend was awesome and I really enjoyed it and create and present presentations so that they are memorable RAF linton-on-ouse new members of staff. The I was talking about younger children’s safety by asking the would love the chance to do it again. I would like another one and get my point across quickly. I thought that the forum was interviews were recorded, interviewee about certain scenarios. After the interview I felt each year to meet up with the people I met and to re-share very good with lots of useful activities that will help me in later photographed and discussed in a group session before and more confident and was looking forward to doing another one. our problems and find ways to solve them. Over the weekend life. The activities kept us occupied and were enjoyable. after the interviews. I was happy to do another interview because I knew what to I have learnt a lot of things, made some more amazing friends expect and I understood what the answers were going to be and also learnt that lemon curd really does go with any food! What do you think could be improved? “When I was asked to do the interview I wasn’t sure what like. I wasn’t as nervous the second time round.” The food that we were served at the venue. It was awful and to expect. But then we were given the chance to think of Reece Bailey (young person, age 16, RAF Cosford) can definitely be improved. Also maybe a better hotel as the some questions, which we discussed at a previous youth Andrew Davies (young person, age 14, RAF Linton-on-Ouse) rooms were a little cramped and the bathrooms were tiny. club session. We were all asked to think of three questions took their coats and showed them around. Katie and Bree did Scampton Winter Prom a welcome speech and explained what was on offer for the “In the summer we went to Airplay Digby’s prom and enjoyed evening. We had a disco, food and our own band played a set it so much we decided to have a winter prom at Scampton. for us. Then we (prom committee) got together to perform our We had loads to plan including: food, entertainment, venue, very own song. We were excited but very scared but it was a photos, decorations, guests, invites, letters and posters. great night. Permission was needed from our Station Commander and not forget our outfits, nails and hair. “It was the best night ever; everyone had a really good time and they all hope to support the next Airplay prom……” “On the night of the prom we got there early to get the room decorated and organised food and drinks. Once everyone Molly Burton (young person, age 13, RAF Scampton) started to arrive we welcomed them and offered them a drink,

“Because I go to boarding school I don’t know anyone around the area so Airplay has helped me make friends that live near me.” (Young person, age 11, from MOD St Athan)

Airplay proved an easy task. Words such as ‘fun’, ‘support’, Airplay Film Project ‘commitment’ and ‘food’ featured heavily in their statements. “A small, select and very talented group from the Airplay Not only did this group show themselves to be talented Programme at RAF Odiham had the fantastic opportunity to actors, public speakers and film producers they also created a become part of Airplay’s film during October half term. A quiet fantastic piece of original music to accompany their creation. and reserved group entered the day, but what followed was far All in all the day was a hit and the bus journey home proved from reserved! RAF Odiham is the home of Britain’s Chinook the group had gained confidence, yet had not lost any energy force and this formed a central part of our film, with young as the noise levels soared with laughter and fun!” people performing skilled forward rolls and jumping stunts in front of the huge gate guardian. Editing these clips to include Anna Johnson (Station Youth Worker, RAF Odiham) their own thoughts and feelings about their time involved with

“Fun and a great place to hang out and meet new people.” (Young person, age 12, from RAF Northolt)

varying from 8-11.There were two of us that organised it. It’s all kicking off at Henlow We also went to Peterborough Many stations are now offering young people the opportunity to watch a football game and to take part in ASDAN programmes which offer programmes went to meet the players to get and qualifications which explicitly grow skills for learning, skills their autographs. for employment and skills for life. ASDAN offers a wide choice of flexible activity-based programmes. A young person from “When you start the football RAF Henlow is currently taking part in the football short course course I was given a book course. Let’s see what he has got to say. to tick off all the modules that I have completed. I am “The ASDAN football course is for people of all ages. The now collating all the evidence course consists of five different modules; each module is of the activities by taking based on a different aspect of the football world, like injury, photographs.” meeting professionals, making profiles of your favourite players, nutrition and asking a referee questions. Luke Adams (young person, RAF Henlow age 14, RAF Henlow) “For part of my course I did a penalty shootout with ages

© 4Children January 2013 Designed and published by 4Children, www.4Children.org.uk