 Youth Work for Health -
The latest news feed from the National Youth Agency relating to all areas of health.
"Getting it Right for young peoples Health - Opportunities for the Voluntary and Community Sector"
A series of workshops aimed at youth workers and managers working in the voluntary and community sector.
(North East Workshop will be at The Centre for life, Newcastle 2nd July 2009 10.00am - 3.30pm)
The National Youth Agency’s Youth Work for Health (YW4H) team has been funded by the DCSF to enable local partners to improve their services on health within non-formal education, through the use of newly developed group work resources and e-learning training programmes on health for the youth work sector.
A total of 400 places are available for youth work staff and managers in the voluntary and community sector to enable them to improve their health based work with young people aged 13 to 19. Other staff working with young people in related fields (housing, health specific and other projects) are also welcome. The cost to attend is £20 (booking and administration fee).
Delegates will:
- Receive free copies of two new health resources for work with young people in non-formal situations (rrp £55)
- Find out more about new, state of the art ‘e-learning’ programmes for training in healthy youth work.
- Network with like minded colleagues, swap ideas for work and sign up for free information and support
Click here to find out more or for a booking form
Some useful health fact sheets and leaflets
Here's a small selection, click on the fpa website for more.
 Just in time to coincide with new initiatives around PSHE, The National Youth Agency has re-launched its classic youth work resource, the Grapevine Game.
Given a 21st century makeover and re-titled Sexplanation! it retains its board game format which has been shown to open up honest, frank and informative discussions around sex and relationships. We have bought a copy for the forum if you want to borrow it.
 All youth projects have now signed up to be part of the SHOWT scheme enabling young people to have access to sexual health services and advice from their local youth workers.
View our Chlamydia information page here.
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 Smoking Intermediate Advisors Training
In November 20 workers took part in the 2 day Level II Intermediate Smoking Advisors training programme. Young people will now have access to stop smoking services within their neighbourhood youth projects. Young people will now have access to stop smoking services within their neighbourhood youth projects. Organisations where young people can access stop-smoking services are; A690 Youth Initiative ( & Grindon Young Peoples Project), Box Youth Project, Blue Watch Youth Centre, YMCA Foyer, YMCA Herrington Burn (& STREETZ Cafe), Oblivion Project, SNCBC (Incorporating all Downhill, Town End Farm, Monkwearmouth Youth Projects and Southwick Sports Hall), Oxclose District Young Peoples Project, Hendon Young Peoples Project & Easington Lane Community Access Point.
YOUNG FILM-MAKERS URGE MP's TO 'HEAR OUR VOICE'
AN EMOTIONAL plea from young North East film-makers is urging the North East's MP's to back new restrictions on tobacco promotion in this week’s Queen’s Speech. Young people from Sunderland and County Durham devised, starred in and directed a brand new DVD about the tactics of the tobacco industry which was premiered at Sunderland Empire Cinema on Friday, November 27.
The film - “Hear our Voice” – contains some disturbing stories on what lured teenagers to start smoking. It has been submitted to the Department of Health to back restrictions such as plain cigarette packs and under-the-counter displays, which Fresh says must form part of a new National Tobacco Strategy.
City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who was at the launch, has signed up to back new controls on promotion and said: “Tobacco kills one in two smokers, but these deaths are avoidable. We need to prevent children starting in the first place and make smoking history for them. "In the next few months MP's will be debating this in Parliament. I want them to hear the voice of our young people loud and clear. "I am backing tighter restrictions on the promotion of tobacco and urging all my fellow MP's to do the same.”
Fresh is now urging North East MP's to back these measures, which could form part of the new NHS Reform Bill to be outlined in the Queen’s Speech on December 3. You can contact your MP via the Fresh website at www.freshne.com. Smoking is the greatest cause of preventable death and disease in the North East. It kills around 5,500 people each year and around 10,000 children aged 16 and under are smokers.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “In the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday, our politicians have a great opportunity to help save lives and protect generations of children from years of smoking-related illness. “It’s a tragedy to see young people barely into their teens talking with real sadness, anger and regret about their addiction to cigarettes and the health problems they’re already experiencing. “This film gives a hard hitting account of how tobacco promotion reaches the youngest smokers. The young people felt very strongly they wanted to tell MP's and decision makers how they feel. “The Government should be confident to go with measures to protect children and which also have wide public support.”
Vicky, Gibber, said: “Young people rightly point out that they don’t often get a platform to voice their opinions. They were given complete freedom to say what they wanted to. “They have made a very moving and inspirational film that they feel proud and passionate about, and want to take this further. Now they are hoping their views will be listened to.
Over 10,000 people from the North East showed their support for the proposals in the Department of Health’s consultation, by signing postcards pledging their support for measures like:
• Tobacco out of the sight and reach of children in shops
• Ending the sale of cigarettes from vending machines
• Measures to protect children from tobacco marketing, including plain packaging on all tobacco products
In addition, each of the region’s primary care trusts, local authorities and key regional agencies such as the Association of North East Councils also submitted responses to the consultation.
The film follows a successful pilot of tobacco education in high schools
by Newcastle Primary Care Trust. Gibber Theatre delivered a production around the tactics of the tobacco industry in making cigarettes attractive to young people.
Young people involved in making the film were from Sunderland YMCA Foyer, Young Asian Voices, Investing In Children, Fresh and Oxclose District Young People's Project.
What they said...
"Just stop tabs. It's as easy as that. Just 'cos a couple of kids are sitting there saying stop tabs, there's going to have to be an argument against it with the government. But it's worth a try - to stop people from dying."
"I tried patches but they give us nightmares. I went two days without tabs then I was straight back on the tabs" 13 year-old.
"Think of your own health. You and your family. It can take one tab to get you addicted. I was really good at football until I started smoking." 13-year-old
"Lambert and Butler boxes are shiny now. I dinna if that makes a difference, but it does make a difference to me."
"When you're little you think about colours. Growing up, seeing mums smoking them - they're role models and you think its a good thing to do."
"I've been smoking since I was nine now. It’s been 10 years already and I think kids are ending up smoking earlier and earlier nowadays. Come to think of it, I wouldn't like to see my baby smoking. I wish kids didn't know what smoking was. |
