Welcome to our first on-line newsletter of 2009. We hope you have all returned refreshed from the festive break as already it looks like another busy year ahead for us all.

We hope to keep you up-to-date with news from the forum and its members. Don't forget if you have anything you'd like to share please let us know and we'll include it in the next newsletter.

Don't forget we have our "Information Day" this Thursday from 1.00pm - 3.00pm, please feel free to come along; why not join us for lunch at 12.30pm? If you want to come along please book a place by giving Amanda a call on 5655144.

Chlamydia News & important dates for your diary

Don't forget to check out the on-line events and training calendar for future events. Feel free to load your own events onto the calendar; it's really easy. Click on the day, click on "add event" type in details as requested and press enter. your event should appear on the calendar instantly.

Chlamydia Valentines Awareness Campaign - The Regional Chlamydia Team, Peer Educators, and volunteers from the voluntary sector and COS College will be hosting an event on 13th & 14th February 2009 in the Bridges Shopping Centre and Park Lane Interchange, Sunderland to raise awareness of Chlamydia, we will also be offering on-site screens free for all young people aged 15 - 24 yrs. Why not pop down and say hi.

Star Screeners - December 2008 - SNYP (Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project) have received the Star Screener award for December 2008 for their continued commitment and enthusiasm for the Chlamydia initiative. Well done Julie and Ruth.

Peer Educators - The Peer Educators have been out and about again in force supporting projects at their Chlamydia events. Don't forget if you are planning an event to promote Chlamydia and you would like some of the peer educators to come along, give Amanda a call and we can see if they are avaliable.

Statistics - We are reaching the end of year and the end of the initiative. Projects involved in the initiative have worked extremely hard to meet targets, we have another 219 to achieve. A concerted effort by all in the last 3 months should help us reach our overall target of 17% of the youth population of the city.

Consultation Events

"Growing up in Sunderland" - a consultation in partnership with Save the Children. The full report is now avaliable to download here.

Area consultation events - Advance notice - The Youth Development Group is entering into a Needs Assessment process which will inform the development of future arrangements for Commissioning of Youth Work. These consultation events are for young people, professionals and Councillors and will be carried out in five areas (these reflect the proposed regeneration areas) details of the events are below:

• Sunderland North: Tuesday 10th February 2009, 5pm to 8pm, at the Stadium of Light
• Washington: Wednesday 18th February 2009, 10am to 1pm, at the George Washington Hotel
• Coalfield: Friday 20th February 2009, 12noon to 3pm, Houghton Sports Centre
• Sunderland West (Wards: St Anne’s, Pallion, Sandhill, Barnes, St Chad’s,
  Silksworth): friday 20th February 2009, 12.00 - 3.00pm, Lambton Street Youth Centre
• Sunderland East (Wards: Millfield, Hendon, St Michaels, Ryhope, Doxford): Friday 27th February 2009, 5pm to 8pm, Bangladeshi Centre.

The events will be based upon the approach used at the annual Youthinc events (Youth Service Consultation Conference for Young People) which aims to bring young people, professionals and Councillors together through joint consultation. Further details will be circulated in the New Year including booking forms. Please book the appropriate event for your area into your diary. If you have any queries regarding this matter please do not hesitate in contacting Michael Elsy on 5617416.

Web Forum - There are a couple of new posts on the forum asking for help / information - why not see if you can help in any way or post your own query / question?

Training opportunities

FREE Hex Training
Anyone interested in getting into the HEX room who hasn't yet contacted us please let us know. The on-line HEX room is a great way of interacting with colleagues across the city on a 1-2-1 or whole room basis, it can be used for a variety of reasons including on-line consultation,getting instant advice, arranging a 3 way meeting etc. No software is needed, only a web cam (we have a few here is you don't have one) and access takes just a few minutes.Sign up in the HEX room.

We are hoping to host a "HEX Party" in the room in March, so sign up now or miss all the fun.

ASDAN News - Congratulations to ODYPP, Box Youth Project and YMCA Herrington Burn for a record number of short course awards assessed on Monday.

The next assessment session (the last one before the end of the financial year) will take place on Tuesday 10th march 2009 at YMCA Herrington Burn 9.30am - 12.30pm

Members News

PYP Newsletter January 09

Southwick Hacks Issue 5

The Source January 09

ASDAN Bulletin January 09

The Box Youth Project - On Monday 9th January staff from The Box Youth Project & SHOWT team went into Farringdon Community Sports College to deliver the 1st ever SHOWT Road show. Staff worked with over 150 young people from year 9 to promote sexual health and relationships, anti bullying, puberty, drugs and alcohol awareness and other issues facing young people.

The Road show was a huge success and feedback from young people and school was extremely positive.


The Go4It programme has been running at The Box Youth Project on Hall Farm Road, Hall Farm, since October 2008 where youth workers have been working with young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).The programme aims to support young people aged 16-19 years into some kind of employment, formal education or training programmes.

We are currently worked with 11 young people and have progressed 9 of these onto formal training programmes of their choice where they hope to gain a qualification and progress onto employment. The young people attend the programme three days each week and take part in various activities which will help build confidence, give them an idea of the world of work and gain support with any additional individual support they may need.

The programme is supported by Sunderland City Councils Youth Development Group and the Connexions service.If you are interested and you are currently not in employment, education of training why not pop in or give us a ring on 522 5031 and ask to speak to Melanie Pounder or Laura Spensley. If you are accepted on the programme and participate you will receive £30 a week and tailor made support to help you.

Funding News - O2 "Its your community Award" If you could change one thing about where you live, what would it be? awards of between £100 - £1000 avaliable to community groups. More information here

Calendar of Events