National Support Project for Young People

The aim of the National Support Project (NSP) for Young People is to raise the basic skills levels of young people aged 14-19 who are at risk of disaffection or exclusion, focusing upon those with existing low levels of literacy and numeracy. To do this, it is important to work in ways that engage young people with low levels of literacy and numeracy attainment, using activity-based approaches – so the NSP uses the PLUS Strategy which focuses on motivating young people to become more actively involved in learning. PLUS provides enrichment programmes, with embedded literacy and numeracy activities and materials for young people, through which they can enjoy active learning, develop creativity, learn new skills and increase their self-confidence, while also tackling literacy and numeracy difficulties. There are 14 enrichment programmes mapped to Adult Literacy and Numeracy curricula and Key Skills. These are environmental-based (eg Pond Kit, Tree Kit) or arts-based (eg Digital Music, Drama). One, Child’s Play, is specifically designed for use with young parents.

Jane Llewellyn Dixon is the Development Adviser for the NSP for Young People. She has seen the spread of these activities extending across Wales, into a range of environments working with young people – such as schools, pupil referral units, youth centres, youth offending teams and training centres. The NSP provides training and materials for these organisations, to show how the PLUS enrichment materials can be incorporated into their work with young people. It also works with providers to help them reach the standard required by the Basic Skills Quality Mark. Networking events are held to share good practice and case studies of effective practice are being developed to support those incorporating PLUS enrichment materials into their learning plans. Two of the programmes, Storytelling and Child’s Play, have been re-versioned in Welsh.

Janice Gardner is a Basic Skills Tutor on the Flexible Learning Programme for Neath Port Talbot Youth Service. She works with young people aged 14-16 who are referred by Education Welfare officers, because they are truanting, excluded from school or at risk of anti-social behaviour or offending. These are disaffected young people with poor basis skills, who are really ‘turned off’ from the learning process.

Janice has been using some of the PLUS enrichment materials in her basic skills groups, and speaks with enthusiasm about the way developing Circus Skills has motivated the group. She has been working closely with Martin Cope, from the Creative Arts Therapy Service, Ragamuffin, to see how circus skills can be used to re-connect young people to learning. Martin introduced circus skills in the lunch break, with Janice participating; and after lunch Janice based her basic skills work on the skills they had just practised, with Martin offering encouragement and reminders of what they learned. A key component was that the young people chose which skills they wanted to develop (from options such as juggling, diablo, stilts, devil sticks, spinning plates etc).

Janice has been delighted to see how these young people, who dislike writing intensely and avoid it if at all possible, have been ready to record their achievements in circus skills, to write in their Programme diaries about what they learned and their aspirations to develop the skills. One typical comment read: “the bit I enjoyed most was when I was learning these new tricks” - this was a first in enjoying a piece of learning. The key for Janice is how success in one area (eg juggling) and the enthusiasm it engenders can transfer across to another area (writing) once there has been a successful learning experience, based on trial and error, practice and more practice. The impact on self-esteem has been remarkable. “It’s been fascinating to witness the young people’s engagement in practical tasks, and to see them recognise they CAN learn, and are GOOD learners.” There is now a possibility of working towards a performance, with opportunities for learning in designing the show, managing the process and writing the promotion material.

As the Project comes to the end of its first phase, Jane Llewellyn Dixon reports that practitioners at around 65 sites across Wales are working with the Project, and there are many more people working with the target group who could be trained. “We’ve done a huge amount of training, but I keep coming across more areas where this work could be used, it could go on and on! We’d like the next phase to build on what we’ve learned, and perhaps focus on specific models of delivery that have proved successful.”

For more information, please contact:

the Development Adviser, NSP for Young People: jane_dixon_nspplus@ecotec.co.uk

or the PLUS Strategy Team: plusinformation@ecotec.co.uk

Annexe

PLUS Enrichment Programmes

Environmental Enrichment Programmes

Pond Kit

This programme guides learners in planning, building and maintaining their own pond, using literacy and numeracy skills throughout. For example, they will need to measure and estimate materials required and the costs of their project, ensuring that they stay within budget; they will need to write letters and do research to obtain more information; they will also keep diaries and collect data on the plant and wildlife. In addition, there is lots of outside activity, both observing and planning and then doing the physical work to build their pond and develop a natural wildlife environment. This programme encourages young people to work as a cohesive group.

Tree Kit

This programme focuses on trees and the birds and other animals that use them for food and shelter. It is a practical project in which young people are given the opportunity to engage in a range of activities, many of which are outdoors. Participants learn about the importance of trees, scope out the potential of their own local environment in terms of trees and nesting for birds; build and place nesting boxes; and observe their use, collecting data and evidence along the way.

GroundWorks

This programme contains a range of core activities for planning, developing and planting an allotment or other growing space, composting etc. together with activities based around the year’s growing calendar so that, whenever you start this programme, there is something for learners to do. There are indoor and outdoor activities for each month, as well as a conservation corner and information on lore and customs. This programme can be used very flexibly and, as not everyone has access to a large allotment, it will also be usable even if learners are working with window boxes, a few raised beds or a little greenhouse.

Arts Enrichment Programmes

Digital Music

This programme uses electronic keyboard and computer technology to engage young people in developing their own musical material. Music is a naturally engaging subject for this age group and digital technology provides a natural link to numeracy in particular, through musical beats and rhythm. If you have access to the technology required, this is an ideal opportunity to put it to good use.

Sounds Good

Sounds Good gives learners the opportunity to become the virtual manager of a band. This is an engaging ‘Pop Idol’ type of scenario, where learners can pick their own band. They then follow them through their career, making key decisions about all aspects of their lives from publicity and touring to CD production, merchandising, money matters and attending award ceremonies, ending with the production of a ‘radio interview’. Ideal for this age group and there is also an accompanying interactive CD-ROM, which has some great activities and provides some useful tools for practitioners.

Drama

This is a programme of exercises which aim to develop dramatic ability, together with story-boarding skills. A group can work through the programme just for the development experience or can continue their activity to actually develop and perform a drama piece to an audience. Drama provides a natural vehicle for developing Speaking and Listening skills and team-working ability.

Visual Arts

An artistic and creative programme that introduces and develops themes of colour, shape and pattern and can culminate in the development of either mural tiles or a large-scale mural. There are some natural opportunities here for using skills in Measures, Shape and Space and other areas of numeracy and the programme provides learners with a creative and engaging experience which they can apply in other settings.

Style Yourself

This programme focuses on developing basic design skills using fashion areas such as bling jewellery, decorating clothes and designing footwear to engage learners. This programme offers an opportunity for lots of creative work and problem-solving. This new programme was published in January 2005.

Poetry

A creative writing programme which leads learners towards appreciation as well and the writing of poetry. The practitioner resources are varied and include audio as well as written poems. The sessions look at different types of poetry, approaches and aspects of writing and guide the learners to start developing their own perspective and ‘voice’.

Storytelling

This programme offers learners the chance to both listen to stories and to start developing their own. The approach to storytelling, basic storylines and the development of myths are explored through an active programme which encourages learners to become involved and to get their own stories down on paper or audio.

ViewPoint: Digital Photography

A programme that explores the development of photography to the digital era and leads learners through sessions focusing on the uses of photography and how learners can use different effects to creature their own style and to convey messages. The sessions look at using lighting, camera settings, portraiture, action shots, editing digital photos and many other areas. Outputs include creating documentary and news stories, exhibition work etc.

Circus Skills

An active programme that looks at circuses, particularly in terms of human skill development. The sessions focus on skills areas such as juggling, diabolo, poi, stilt walking and clowning. There is ample opportunity for learners to develop their literacy and numeracy skills while also developing new performance skills and general fitness.

Alphabets, Letters and Words

An exploration of the development and purpose of visual language and communication using creative activities such as printing and paper-making. This programme then goes on to explore written communication through letter-writing for different purposes and audiences, such as letters to family and friends, letters of complaint (stating your case effectively), understanding correspondence and with an emphasis on job applications.

Now Move (Dance Enrichment)

A dance programme encouraging learner’s to participate in a range of dance forms including urban, salsa/Latin and Bollywood. The activities provide opportunities for developing literacy and numeracy skills and a DVD is included to encourage interactivity within the programme. Developed with specialists from national dance organisation, Tin Productions, the dance Enrichment programme takes the learners through the journey of dance in different cultures and culminates in the creation, rehearsal and planning of a dance performance.

Parenting-Linked Enrichment Programme

Child’s Play

This is a programme that looks at developing parenting skills in young people through focusing on what kind of parent they themselves want to be and addressing areas of communication and interaction with children generally. This is done through the medium of toys and games. Learners will plan and make toys/games/books for children and then use them in development of interaction skills.