Growing2gether Community
This innovative youth-led programme provides young people with the opportunity to work together as a creative team, to assess the needs of their community, identify an issue that they care deeply about and to design and deliver a project that will address this issue. It builds the confidence, emotional health, employment and life skills of young people, helping them to reach their full potential.
The young people research community need, plan the project and budget, use communication skills, and reach out to Third Sector partners specialised in their project topic. Two skilled facilitators run each 16-week programme, twice a year, outside of classroom time.
More than 90% of young people believe that they have learnt valuable ‘life skills’, as a result of participating in this programme.
Launched in January 2019, this programme builds on our nursery-based Growing2gether mentoring programme. It was developed because Growing2gether graduates told us that they wanted a follow-on programme, so they could continue giving back to the community in other ways.
For any other questions, contact our Community & Youth Participation Manager, Dawn Price, at cypmanager@growing2gether.org.uk
I decided to do the project again as I thoroughly enjoyed the last project and it gave me a sense of fulfilment as well as the opportunity to make friends, new and old. I would wholeheartedly recommend the programme.
Joshua Williamson, aged 15, Charleston Academy.
Youth Leadership Board
Young people who have lived experience of our programmes and meet with our board of trustees to ensure we are youth led.
Youth Leadership Social Action Projects
Our youth Social Action group is where young people create their own youth-led projects in partnership with a local community mentor. To date, young people have delivered seven Growing2gether Community projects on topics such as: stereotypes, violence, mental health, teenage pregnancy, homelessness, domestic abuse, self-harming and drugs. These initiatives have reached 14,000 people in the community.
Alness YSA sought to tackle hard hitting direct community issues facing the young people, their families and their wider community with projects addressing community violence and bullying. The group was 11 strong with a 50/50 split of girls and boys. These projects resulted in young people choosing to remain anonymous due the trauma experienced. They chose the medium of spoken word/poetry, animation and shadow puppets. These safe mediums allowed communicating their fears of safety and retribution more fluidly. This created powerful projects for change and awareness in community engagement and safety.
Inverness YSA was our largest and most diverse group with 14 young people in the programme from across Inverness. They chose ‘feel good’ content which was the creation of Mental Health Sooth Boxes. The boxes were created individually and contained feel good items specific to each young person. The group created a survey for schools which they intend to use in the next YSA group.
After 18 months of hard work and growth, students from Inverness Royal Academy, Tain Royal Academy, and Millburn Academy are thrilled to unveil their film ‘Stereotypes of Young People’! The excitement peaked at the exclusive premiere event at Eden Court, marking a resounding success for our Youth Social Action Group! We couldn’t be prouder of them for their dedication and passion. Filming, editing and sound design was created with Graham Roger & Ross Carbarns.
BAGS with positive affirmations
Bags with positive affirmations addressing mental health issues, produced by programme participants in collaboration with mental health charity, Birchwood Highland.
CUTS
A book with stories, poetry and illustrations addressing self harm and support for change - collected, written and illustrated by participants.
WALL MURAL
A mural was designed and painted by participants to highlight mental health issues.
FILM: Teenage Pregnancy
A film about teenage pregnancy was made by a group, which was presented at the Highland Youth Parliament.
“My mum had two teen pregnancies and was a mum of two by the age of 17. I’m a lot closer to my mum because of this project as I now know what she went through. I’ve become more confident in myself and I enjoy working in groups.” Kelly, participant in this project.
