Want to subscribe to our E-newsletter? click here to send us your information

Welcome to the 5th edition of our on-line newsletter. I hope you find it informative and interesting, don't forget if you have any news you would like to share then send it in ready of the next edition.

As always it's been another extremely busy month; we have come to the end of our Chlamydia pilot work with the NHS, the work has been evaluated and an event to celebrate the achievements of everyone involved was held at the National Glass Centre was a great success. We have also been busy facilitating some e-voting workshops in schools around the city, finding our first hand from young people what they actually know about Chlamydia.

Some exciting new developments for the forum will be up and running in the next couple of months, so keep popping back for more news. SVSYF now hold the licence for Keyfund in the city, the initiative will be up and running on 1st May 09. New opportunities with StreetGames & Community and Cultural Services should also result in more voluntary sector projects becoming involved in delivering Streetgames sessions.

We hope you enjoy a well deserved Easter break, and please don't hesitate to send us any comments, queries or questions.
Amanda and Steve

SVSYF News

Staff Volunteers Wanted - (workers who have been Chlamydia Screening Trained and hold current CRB check only please) The Regional Chlamydia Team are in the process of planning for the Evolution Festival on the 24th and 25th May 09 and are looking for volunteers to help screen the thousands of young people who will be attending over the two days.  Any willing volunteers please contact Michelle Stamp, Programme Manager on 2657014 or email Michelle.Stamp@newcastle-pct.nhs.uk State your preference for Sunday or Monday.  All staff who work will have access to VIP bar after their shift and the opportunity to see the bands	See the Chlamydia Page for more details about: The Creative Chlamydia Event (including pictures, songs etc) Press coverage of the event Our Star Screeners for Jan / Feb / Mar 09 Copies of the SVSYF evaluation report for the pilot 08 / 09. Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project - their winning idea Track 1 - (Click to listen) Track 2 - (Click to listen) Star Screeners for Jan / Feb / Mar 09 announced - see who they are here
Registrations New Keyfund registrations will be accepted from 1st May 2009 onwards. Please ensure your membership is paid for and up to date, and you have the correct paperwork before submit young people's ideas. If you want to download copies of the up to date paper work and you are a paid up facilitator please click here. (NB: All paperwork will be processed by the Sunderland office). Keyfund Facilitators training will take place on Wednesday 20th May 2009 9.15 - 4.30pm in the Board Room @ Havelock Civic Buildings. Anyway wishing to book a place please complete the application form and return to Amanda by email asap. A website for young people who are interested in the Keyfund. click here	Congratulations to the following organisations that have helped young people gain accreditation through the ASDAN short course awards; The Box Youth Project Easington Lane Community Access Point - Sunderland North Community Business Centre Oxclose & District Young People's Project YMCA Herrington Burn Between them they have helped 180 young people gain accredited outcomes; with 427 credits between them, a total of 4270 hours of accredited informal learning. Well Done! The next assessment session will be week beginning 11th May 09. (TBC)
Free Swimming for under 16 yrs and over 60yrs - download details here	StreetGames North East News have developed a Bulletin Message. it contains lots of information about streetgames form across the region and will be of particular interest to those workers who have undertaken the Streetcheer and Boxing tutors Training recently. To be added to the distribution list so this gets delivered directly to your in box please visit the Streetgames website

Sunderland News - Training Update

Streetgames click here for Website
The North East has hosted a number of courses over the last few months, each one proving to be very popular. The Boxing Tutors Award which qualifies attendees to run the ABAE Boxing Awards in schools, colleges and community sports projects, ran in both Tyne and Wear and the Tees Valley, each attracting over 25 people. The course covers basic skills of non contact sparring and boxing techniques. A large number of the people who attended the courses were part funded by StreetGames and Workforce Development funding and will now go on to set up sessions as part of the StreetGames network. Staff from Oblivion project, Swan Street and Lambton Street Youth & Community project attended this training. Further success was also achieved with the development of Street Cheer in the North East. A fifth Level One course ran in the in February half term, with this one attracting 39 attendees. If you want to advertise any of your Streetgames sessions you can download a poster here.

Streetcheer - The Sport of Smiles
FREE Taster
- For those workers who have already attended Streetcheer training or for workers interested into the training but not quite sure if they would enjoy it, or it would be beneficial there is a FREE TASTER session being held on Saturday 16th May 09 - qualified tutors can get the chance to enhance their skills, gain confidence, meet Rachel the local reps, and try out some new moves. Untrained workers can see what Streetcheer is like in practice.

Streetcheer Tutors level 1 coaching course
There will be another Streetcheer Tutor Level 1 course running in May 1/2 term Friday 29th May 09 10.00am - 4.00pm at Bunnyhill Centre for voluntary sector projects. If anyone is interested in attending the training please complete this application form and return it to Amanda asap. Priority will be given to projects which do not have trained Streetcheer tutors already and that have a clear plan as to how this they can incorporate streetgames into their youth work curriculum.

Keyfund Facilitators Training
Wednesday 20th May 2009 9.15 - 4.30pm. See above for details of how to book a place.

Go Create
A project to help young people into employment, education or training.

Go Create is a trailblazer project, launching in Sunderland that will eventaully be rolled out across the UK. It's a partnership programme between Connexions (Sunderland), COS College, Becta, Changing Media, Two four communications and Lancaster University.

If you or your organisation would like to be involved in this exciting new initative they are offerring a FREE opportunity for youth workers to be trained in multi-media skills including videoing, social networking, making a multi-media CV etc. Training will take place in May 09 (2pm - 4.30pm with dates TBC over 4 afternoons and workers will be expected to attend all 4 sessions), but anyone interested please get in contact with Peter Nicol asap. Tel (0191) 4432950 email p.nichol@sunderland.gov.uk .
Places are strictly limited.

GENTOO
Independent living skills

SVSYF Members News

A690 Youth Initiative Easter Programme	Youth Almighty Fun Day Easter Fun Day	South Area Youth in Touch Community Event North Moor Fire Station Thursday 9th April 2009 Drop-in from 12.00pm – 3.00pm Open to the public to promote the youth activities available in the South Area of Sunderland and a chance to talk to local organisations about services available for young people in your area. For more information contact Karen on 0191 5617470 or via email Karen.parkinson@sunderland.gov.uk.
New Vacancies added by YMCA Herrington Burn SNCBC ELCAP	Pennywell Youth Project Easter programme	Easter Programme

Free Resources
Free Online Capacity Development Tools

Free Video Conferencing Tool Using only a basic PC with any low cost webcam and headset you can use an online video conferencing tool. Allows meetings to be held online saving on travel costs and time Video and Audio broadcast over the internet No download and installation Easy to use - click the Broadcast button to start Public Text chat - chat to others while watching the broadcast Private Text chat - send private messages to individuals Online voting - share your opinions and feelings Record the meeting for easy web replay

Free Online Chat Room Tool Looking for a way to meet up and chat using text and voice with others in your community? This tool will offer you a technically secure way of texting or voice chatting over the internet without the need to install any software. Hexagon will work safely through a firewall

If you are part of a voluntary sector community or youth group and would like to register for free access to both Flash meeting and Hexagon please contact Amanda Gerry amanda@svsyf.org .The service is offered at no charge (for community and youth groups) and only requires a basic PC and broadband internet connection.

.If you want to know more about Digital Challenge - why not subscribe to their on-line newsletter? The latest edition can be accessed here.

Other areas of Interest

Consultations Drinkaware Trust/Guardian roundtable event – young people required
The Drinkaware Trust is currently running a partnership with The Guardian newspaper looking at the topic 'Alcohol and young people: what's the attraction?' which has involved polls aimed at parents, practitioners working with young people and young people themselves.

To further develop this discussion The Drinkaware Trust/Guardian partnership is running a young persons roundtable event in London in late May (date to be decided) chaired by Nihal from Radio One, which aims to create a debate around the results of the polls. They would like interested young people 16 to 18 to take part in this event. If you know of young people that may be interested please email Emily May, or telephone 020 7307 7459

Alternative Provision
Some 135,000 pupils a year - mostly of secondary age - spend some time in alternative provision. Roughly one third are placed in pupil referral units, with the remainder in a range of places including further education and the private and voluntary sectors.

This White Paper builds on the Children’s Plan proposals to set out a new strategy for transforming the quality of alternative educational provision for those who are excluded from, or who for some other reason are unable to attend, mainstream school.

The document emphasizes the key role for schools in identifying children with challenging behaviour early on, and being able to access the right support before they reach the point of permanent exclusion. As part of this, schools should be able to make more use of alternative provision as a preventative early intervention. Download a copy here.

Funding News

"I am delighted to announce that we are continuing to support and fund Media box. This is a vital scheme which helps thousands of young people across the country, particularly those who face challenges, get involved in exciting media projects. For most young people it's the first opportunity for them to have their say as well as developing new skills and the chance to be creative

BT Community Connections is Open for Applications (UK)
British Telecom has announced that their 2009 Community Connections Awards is now open for applications. BT Community Connections has been run by BT's Corporate Responsibility Unit since 2000. The scheme targets community and voluntary groups that could benefit from internet access and ICT but don't necessarily have the resources. Through the scheme, community groups can apply for the award’s package that consists of a multi-media internet-ready computer; a contribution towards one year's broadband internet access through BT Total Broadband; and a Community website. The package is valued at £1,300. Since the launch of the awards, it is estimated that Community Connections has enabled over 5,000 groups to get online including silver surfers, playgroups, out of school clubs, pre-schools, cultural groups, local environmental initiatives and youth sports organisations. The next closing date for applications is the 9th June for postal applicatiions and the 11th June for online applications.
http://www.btcommunityconnections.com/page.php?id=1

April 2009 Edition

The ISA site appears to be up and running now. There will be a series of workshop events across the country information road shows across the country, explaining the role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) and giving stakeholders the opportunity to put questions to members of the team.  Events will be free and delegates need to attend only one of the two sessions - either in the am or pm. The comprehensive agenda for the day includes a scheme overview, explanation of the supporting policy and legislative framework, information on how the scheme will work in practice and a one hour Q&A session. No dates appear on the website as yet but should be announced soon. Info - fact sheet

Just for Fun
For those of you who can remember the one hit wonder "The Sugarhill Gang" -
click here for an Easter take on the lyrics. - Happy Easter

This newsletter has been compiled with information which has been sent to SVSYF. Although we try to check the information for accuracy, SVSYF cannot be held responsible for details in relation to specific items within this newsletter .

Calendar of Events