Changing Young Lives
Wolverhampton City Council commissioned Changing Our Lives to consult with children and young people with disabilities on short breaks services. The aim of the consultation was to gain a better understanding of what short breaks services children and young people are currently using, what they think of short breaks and what they would like future short breaks services to look like. We also talked to young people who are not currently using shorts breaks provision about what activities they enjoyed accessing in their spare time.
We went to three schools in Wolverhampton; The Orchard Centre, Penn Fields and Penn Hall and spoke to 35 children and young people. We planned fun and accessible workshops which young people enjoyed taking part in and were able to contribute in may ways – for example through drawing, speaking or writing. We found that young people with disabilities want to take part in the same activities as those without disabilities.
Exciting news!!
During this consultation, we also were able to identify young people who are interested in becoming young leaders in Wolverhampton. Changing our lives are developing a young voices network which will enable young people with disabilities in Wolverhampton to help shape services locally. This is a really exciting opportunity for young people to have their voice heard and make a difference. For more information, please contact Ellie at Changing Our Lives.
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We went to three schools in Wolverhampton; The Orchard Centre, Penn Fields and Penn Hall and spoke to 35 children and young people. We planned fun and accessible workshops which young people enjoyed taking part in and were able to contribute in may ways – for example through drawing, speaking or writing. We found that young people with disabilities want to take part in the same activities as those without disabilities.
Exciting news!!
During this consultation, we also were able to identify young people who are interested in becoming young leaders in Wolverhampton. Changing our lives are developing a young voices network which will enable young people with disabilities in Wolverhampton to help shape services locally. This is a really exciting opportunity for young people to have their voice heard and make a difference. For more information, please contact Ellie at Changing Our Lives.
Celebrating it's fourth successful year and welcoming Crockets Lane Community Primary School to the Young Voices Network, this year's young peoples forum day was a huge success.
Moving away from the usual style of bringing the Sandwell schools in the Young Voices' network to the Public, this year's event was delivered in the style of a road show working directly in the schools.
Employing the Bristol based company The Poetry Slam and local street dance artist Amy Ince, the young people explored the theme the network have been working on this year, Staying Safe, through creative arts. The Poetry Slam workshop offered young people the opportunity to explore self-advocacy through writing their own poem, illustrating the poems through drama, and finally presenting the poems in the form of a slam.
Some of these poetry slams can be found following the link below: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChangingYoungLives
Facilitated by Amy, the young people flourished in the street dance workshops. The sessions gave the students the opportunity not only to develop the skills associated with street dance and urban dance, but to explore self-advocacy. What was most noticeable is that the young people, especially in Bristnall Hall, really found their voice in the workshop. Some of these young people who find social situations difficult due to their Autism, became entirely submerged in the workshop, and were some of the best performers!
In total 10 workshops were delivered throughout March 2013 working with 207 students, aged 8-16 years old all with a range of disabilities and sensory impairments. The road show visited Victoria Park Primary School, Crockett's Community Primary School, Westminster School, St Michaels and Bristnall Hall Academy
Please enjoy the photographs of the workshops following the links below:
Read more...
Moving away from the usual style of bringing the Sandwell schools in the Young Voices' network to the Public, this year's event was delivered in the style of a road show working directly in the schools.
Employing the Bristol based company The Poetry Slam and local street dance artist Amy Ince, the young people explored the theme the network have been working on this year, Staying Safe, through creative arts. The Poetry Slam workshop offered young people the opportunity to explore self-advocacy through writing their own poem, illustrating the poems through drama, and finally presenting the poems in the form of a slam.
Some of these poetry slams can be found following the link below: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChangingYoungLives
Facilitated by Amy, the young people flourished in the street dance workshops. The sessions gave the students the opportunity not only to develop the skills associated with street dance and urban dance, but to explore self-advocacy. What was most noticeable is that the young people, especially in Bristnall Hall, really found their voice in the workshop. Some of these young people who find social situations difficult due to their Autism, became entirely submerged in the workshop, and were some of the best performers!
In total 10 workshops were delivered throughout March 2013 working with 207 students, aged 8-16 years old all with a range of disabilities and sensory impairments. The road show visited Victoria Park Primary School, Crockett's Community Primary School, Westminster School, St Michaels and Bristnall Hall Academy
Please enjoy the photographs of the workshops following the links below:
Changing Our Lives is delighted to announce that it is one of fifteen organisations across the UK to receive a Clore Poetry and Literature Award funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation.
The Clore Poetry and Literature Awards, founded in 2011, specifically target the development of imaginative new ways to engage children and young people in the experience of poetry and literature, both in and out of school. They represent a £1 million strategic investment in poetry and literature for young people in the UK.
This award will enable Changing Our Lives to run a series of eight workshops with poets from Poetry Slam, together with contributions from performance poet, Dreadlock Alien. The workshops will be offered to 80 young people aged 11-18 with disabilities across Sandwell and Wolverhampton. Each workshop will end in a poetry slam and will be filmed and shared on social networks. A motion typography exhibit will be created to showcase the poetry through projected graphics. A final evening Poetry Gig will give young people an opportunity to perform for their friends and families. They will link to the Poetry Society via the Young Poets Network on Facebook.
For more information about how to get involved contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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The Clore Poetry and Literature Awards, founded in 2011, specifically target the development of imaginative new ways to engage children and young people in the experience of poetry and literature, both in and out of school. They represent a £1 million strategic investment in poetry and literature for young people in the UK.
This award will enable Changing Our Lives to run a series of eight workshops with poets from Poetry Slam, together with contributions from performance poet, Dreadlock Alien. The workshops will be offered to 80 young people aged 11-18 with disabilities across Sandwell and Wolverhampton. Each workshop will end in a poetry slam and will be filmed and shared on social networks. A motion typography exhibit will be created to showcase the poetry through projected graphics. A final evening Poetry Gig will give young people an opportunity to perform for their friends and families. They will link to the Poetry Society via the Young Poets Network on Facebook.
For more information about how to get involved contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
During February half-term week, Changing Our Lives is held free fun workshops call Street Cred, including art, graffiti and music production. Everyone is had a great time and you can see all the photos below:
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11 Dec
December Young Voices
The monthly Young Voices meeting welcomed Anna Kaur, who is the Public Health Children's Project Officer, working for Sandwell Primary Care Trust, to their monthly meeting. The Primary Care Trust are commissioning a School Health Nurse Service and wanted to hear from young people what they expect from a school nurse and what their role should be. So, the session opened by finding out what our young leaders knew about their school health nurse and what sorts of things they used the nurse for. As always they were very outspoken and provided Anna with lots of ideas!
Isabelle, one of the young leaders, led the session, which involved designing a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be used to find out information from other young people in Sandwell -
What they understand about a school health nurse?
What they would expect from their health nurse?
What sorts of things would you talk to the school health nurse about?
When they should be available?
How students can contact them?
One young leader Samee said, " The questionnaire needs to be fun otherwise young people wont fill it in". Hannah suggested, " Young people should lead this piece of work in group settings, in schools, as young people prefer to talk to other young people". They reminded Anna that the questionnaire needs to be really accessible; using easy words and pictures. The young leaders will be helping with the design of the questionnaire in the new year.
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Isabelle, one of the young leaders, led the session, which involved designing a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be used to find out information from other young people in Sandwell -
What they understand about a school health nurse?
What they would expect from their health nurse?
What sorts of things would you talk to the school health nurse about?
When they should be available?
How students can contact them?
One young leader Samee said, " The questionnaire needs to be fun otherwise young people wont fill it in". Hannah suggested, " Young people should lead this piece of work in group settings, in schools, as young people prefer to talk to other young people". They reminded Anna that the questionnaire needs to be really accessible; using easy words and pictures. The young leaders will be helping with the design of the questionnaire in the new year.
This year's Children's Commissioners Take Over day saw over 50,000 children and young people taking over Schools, Parliamentary meetings, Councils and the Police to name but a few. Samee Ahmed took over the role of Jan Britton, Chief Eexcutive Officer, Sandwell MBC for the morning. Samee is 12 and has been going to Young Voices since 2011. He was involved in putting together the Whole of Life standards and believes that everyone should be equal and young people with disabilities should have the same rights as everyone else. His current ambition is to be a computer programmer.
Samee arrived at the Council House in Oldbury full of excitement about taking over the role of the Chief Executive. He was greeted warmly by Jan who took him through to the board room and explained the work of the council and the format the day would take, which was to include lots of meetings. Pretty much a typical day for a Chief Exec apparently!
The morning's first meeting was to discuss who would receive employee/team of the month. Jan said how important it is that staff are recognised for their achievements. With over 7000 council employees, Jan's staff help him to find out when good work has been done, so that he can say 'thank you'. Samee listened intently as the staff nominations were read out, before reaching his final decision, which Jan agreed with.
A second meeting took place, followed by a third, which had been called urgently at short notice. Samee soon realised how being a Chief Executive means you have to be flexible and change your plans for the day at short notice. Into the fourth meeting and lots of coffee later, Samee and Jan met with the organiser of a forthcoming trade event for local businesses. After a gruelling meeting, Samee declared the conference would, "Encourage businesses from other councils to come over to Sandwell" and was looking forward to hearing how it all went.
In between meetings Samee asked Jan more about being Chief Executive. He wanted to know what he thought the good and the bad bits were. Jan explained he had worked for the council for over 6 years and really enjoys his job. "No two days are the same - its really diverse and there is always something different happening". Samme commented, "I bet - just look at all these people you meet!". Jan went on say the sometimes he doesn't see his family as much as he would like because his working day often starts early in the morning and goes through to early evening. Samme wondered if Jan had ever met the Queen? Unfortunately Jan hadn't, but he had met Lord Sugar! Samee wondered if he said "Your fired!". Jan laughed and responded that he hoped he he would never hear that because he loves his job.
After an enjoyable but tiring morning Samee and Jan parted company, with Samee adding that he would like to become a Chief Executive!
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Samee arrived at the Council House in Oldbury full of excitement about taking over the role of the Chief Executive. He was greeted warmly by Jan who took him through to the board room and explained the work of the council and the format the day would take, which was to include lots of meetings. Pretty much a typical day for a Chief Exec apparently!
The morning's first meeting was to discuss who would receive employee/team of the month. Jan said how important it is that staff are recognised for their achievements. With over 7000 council employees, Jan's staff help him to find out when good work has been done, so that he can say 'thank you'. Samee listened intently as the staff nominations were read out, before reaching his final decision, which Jan agreed with.
A second meeting took place, followed by a third, which had been called urgently at short notice. Samee soon realised how being a Chief Executive means you have to be flexible and change your plans for the day at short notice. Into the fourth meeting and lots of coffee later, Samee and Jan met with the organiser of a forthcoming trade event for local businesses. After a gruelling meeting, Samee declared the conference would, "Encourage businesses from other councils to come over to Sandwell" and was looking forward to hearing how it all went.
In between meetings Samee asked Jan more about being Chief Executive. He wanted to know what he thought the good and the bad bits were. Jan explained he had worked for the council for over 6 years and really enjoys his job. "No two days are the same - its really diverse and there is always something different happening". Samme commented, "I bet - just look at all these people you meet!". Jan went on say the sometimes he doesn't see his family as much as he would like because his working day often starts early in the morning and goes through to early evening. Samme wondered if Jan had ever met the Queen? Unfortunately Jan hadn't, but he had met Lord Sugar! Samee wondered if he said "Your fired!". Jan laughed and responded that he hoped he he would never hear that because he loves his job.
After an enjoyable but tiring morning Samee and Jan parted company, with Samee adding that he would like to become a Chief Executive!
This year's Children's Commissioners Take Over day saw over 50,000 children and young people taking over Schools, Parliamentary meetings, Councils and the Police to name a few. One of our young leaders, Gemma Caffrey, had the opportunity to take over the role of Dr Maggie Atkinson, The Children's Commissioner for England. Based in London, Gemma travelled down the morning of Take Over day, arriving at Greycoat Street in London, where she met four other young people who were also involved in the day. A young person called Tom led the day, which started with a fun ice breaker, and an opportunity to meet a new professionals and find out a bit about them and present back to the group. True to form, Gemma did this both professionally and confidently. One of Gemma's first official tasks was to scrutinise the complaint procedure the Children's Commissioners office use. Gemma confidentiality spoke about young people being able to speak up for themselves and challenge things that do not support this or oppressed them. She also stressed the importance of a complaints process being accessible to young people with learning disabilities. Working with the other young people in the group, they established what the procedure might look like. A comic style was the most popular choice!
Following on from the working group, Gemma was invited join everyone for lunch. Greeted by a waiter, she was seated at an 'French' style restaurant, which had been recreated in the conference room! Over lunch, Gemma and Sue Berelowitz chatted about all the work Changing Young Lives did, and then finished off with a game of 'cheat'. What a perfect way to spend your lunch break!
In the afternoon Gemma and another young person Duanja met with Maggie. They would be taking over Maggie's role in the afternoon, which was a meeting at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Curators at the museum had been taken over by a group of 40 students who were designing exhibitions that would entice more young people to visit the museum. Picked up in a private car, and driven to the museum, Gemma thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Gemma chatted with the young people finding out why they had chosen the design for their exhibitions: designs included a live display charting the dance and party movement. This interactive display would have music through the ages and outfits. Another one looked at the evolution of street clothing and music, from Nike and Adidas trainers to Hip hop and dance music. Martin Roth, who is the Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum joined the young people. He also was impressed with ideas they young people had developed and "Could see some of the designs being used in the future". Maggie was very impressed at the great job Gemma did working with both the staff and the young people, saying "She did such as great job, I could have gone off and had a cup of tea and no one would have noticed".
The day ended with a formal presentation by Dr Maggie Atkinson and Sue Berelowitz, The Chief Executive and Deputy Children's Commissioner for England.
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Following on from the working group, Gemma was invited join everyone for lunch. Greeted by a waiter, she was seated at an 'French' style restaurant, which had been recreated in the conference room! Over lunch, Gemma and Sue Berelowitz chatted about all the work Changing Young Lives did, and then finished off with a game of 'cheat'. What a perfect way to spend your lunch break!
In the afternoon Gemma and another young person Duanja met with Maggie. They would be taking over Maggie's role in the afternoon, which was a meeting at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Curators at the museum had been taken over by a group of 40 students who were designing exhibitions that would entice more young people to visit the museum. Picked up in a private car, and driven to the museum, Gemma thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Gemma chatted with the young people finding out why they had chosen the design for their exhibitions: designs included a live display charting the dance and party movement. This interactive display would have music through the ages and outfits. Another one looked at the evolution of street clothing and music, from Nike and Adidas trainers to Hip hop and dance music. Martin Roth, who is the Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum joined the young people. He also was impressed with ideas they young people had developed and "Could see some of the designs being used in the future". Maggie was very impressed at the great job Gemma did working with both the staff and the young people, saying "She did such as great job, I could have gone off and had a cup of tea and no one would have noticed".
The day ended with a formal presentation by Dr Maggie Atkinson and Sue Berelowitz, The Chief Executive and Deputy Children's Commissioner for England.
On 22nd October four young leaders from the Young Voices Network headed to London, to the Office of the Children's Commissioner to meet Dr. Maggie Atkinson.
Gemma Caffrey, Isabelle Brant, Sarah Bentley and Gina Patel presented an array of the work they have led on within Changing Young Lives, including the 'Quality Crew' audits, a young people led audit team that check services for young people who have a range of disabilities to ensure they have good quality experiences.
Read more...
Gemma Caffrey, Isabelle Brant, Sarah Bentley and Gina Patel presented an array of the work they have led on within Changing Young Lives, including the 'Quality Crew' audits, a young people led audit team that check services for young people who have a range of disabilities to ensure they have good quality experiences.
May 24th was our annual young people's annual forum day and the best yet! 40 students from Westminster, St Michael's High School, Victoria Park and Bristnall Hall came to join in the fun. They enjoyed a range of special workshops including art, comic life, music production and street dance. The event closed with two live street dance performances - you'd have never guessed that they only learnt the routine that morning!
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This is what the young people thought..
"Brilliant, uplifting, confidence and self esteem building, children had freedom to express themselves - when is the next one?"
"I liked making robots and it was funny because they had a battle, it was sick".
"We loved the street dance 10/10".
"Fun, fantastic, brilliant, wicked, can we come again?. The DJ was really good".
Have a look at our photos on www.flickr.com/photos/changingourlives
Following on from the peer lead research in 2011 around adolescent health & teenage pregnancy, young leaders will be undertaking some development work based on the recommendations made in their final report.
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The young leaders have met with various professionals from a range of organisations that support young people in Sandwell around their health & wellbeing. They have pulled together agencies like Brook Advisory and DECCA and included health professionals from Sandwell to address issues like forced marriage. They will work in partnership to develop a relationship and sexual health programme that will be piloted in two schools in the borough later in the year.
