It's a matter of Principles!!!

I've completed the 11-wk Principles and Practices of work with Children and Youth course, which I started back in April. Phew!

The individual and group assignments, youth work placement and reviews of 4 individual sessions I planned and delivered (including a Jubilee event, Father's Day event and choreographed dance session) have all been completed and handed in.

I also delivered my final illustrated oral presentation which was based on a circus skills session I developed for a group of 8-teens at Prestonpans Red School Youth Club.

In order to fully align this planned session with the three component elements that fundamentally define Youth Work: young people choose to participate, the work must build from where young people are and youth work recognises the young person and the youth worker as partners in a learning process; I incorporated Youth Literacies, a key element of the course throughout the circus skills session. It also enhanced the overall educational value for the children.

The session and my presentation were both very well received. :)

All that remains is to hear the outcome of all my hard work from the awarding body, North Lanarkshire, and then I'll be notified when and where the award presentation will be held through LAYC and East Lothian Community Learning & Development tutors.

Well done everyone for your commitment!

Edinburgh Olympians event

I am excited to announce my new event for 7-13 year olds, 'Edinburgh Olympians', will be held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh on Thursday 12th July at 11am-12noon.

It's an ideal hour for you, or a visitor to the area, to take in the Old Town whilst the children are enjoying Greek and modern-day Olympic-inspired events - such as hippodrome chariot and torch relay races, with a sprinkling of stories and anecdotes too!

Please call the Scottish Storytelling Centre for booking details and further info. http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/

School's out for summer...well nearly

Feeling great!

The 'Principles & Practice of Work with Children, Young People' accredited course I'm embarking on is nearing an end!

All self-study assignments have been handed in early :) The last theory training day is happening (all day) next Saturday, then its a youth work placement with follow-up and that's me!

Battle of the braincells

Never one to rest on my elke, I have accepted a place on East Lothian Council's youth work training course, "Principles & Practice of Work with Children, Young People.

It began on Thursday and will continue until June 28th and is situated in the pleasant Musselburgh Community Learning Centre.

The study elements are a mixture of classroom/1:1 tutorials/youth work placements, self study preparation and assignments. The course is delivered in conjunction with LAYC.

A vast amount of topics will be covered and I'm looking forward to the theory behind the practice. Best away and sharpen my pencil for the full day's training session tomorrow!

New Business Email

I am fading out my existing email RamonaKirkness@xalt.co.uk.
I am now contactable via RamonaKirkness@hotmail.co.uk

Going for a spin...on 1 wheel?

I've been taking the unicycle out as and when - but because it's such an attention grabber, I hardly get a chance to practice and I rarely get the concentrated time to devote to such an intensively focussed skill.

Shame my brother doesn't live closer to me, because it would have been great to have had his unicycling support.

However, I'm organising some training time with an experienced unicyclist (my local hero - I chased him in the car!) and that should hopefully get the cogs turning! ~;[] I'm hoping it's achievable and runs in the family!

Playing The Game; So What!

The Youth Scotland Training Essentials event was fantastic.

I applied for the Games workshop and the Evaluation and Outcomes workshop - hence the title of my post!

Well done to the organisers - YS, LAYC and Midlothian Council for providing stimulating workshops, giving participants transferable skills and knowledge which they can in turn utilise in their various youth settings.

These workshops have enhanced my personal and professional growth in my both my voluntary and W&A youth work positions.