Matt Pink
Dartmouth Youth Service
Celebrating the 25th anniversary this year of Youth Work in Dartmouth Matt Pink, Youth Service Leader for Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, intends to mark the occasion because he feels it is important to recognise the work that has been done and the resources that are available. National Youth Work Week takes place 1st-7th November. With cuts in funding, and unfortunately with more expected, he believes it is important to inform the community about the role of youth work, how it empowers and safe guards our young people, enabling them to have a voice in the community.
Matt will be arranging an Open Day when all local stakeholders such as the Mayor, town councillors, Devon County Council representatives and local people will be welcomed into the Youth Centre in Ivy Lane. Displays will show what has been achieved over the past 25 years, bringing people together to see the resources on offer and to answer any questions that might arise. The Open Day will be advertised in local press and with posters around the area. As he says, ‘Come along, have a voice, come and find out about what we are doing, what is available and give us your views on what is important. Youth Work is run by the public sector, paid for by people’s taxes. If you feel it is a necessary and viable service that people value then stand up for it. If public opinion is that it is good for our community and our young people who gain so much from it, then come and find out more.
Several initiatives have taken place over the last twelve months. Amongst these have been residential courses in Snowdonia and Newquay where outdoor activities were experienced and enjoyed. The Youth Service has also been working in partnership with Dartmouth Community College running the Active Learning Programme based around Environmental Education. Young people in Year 8 have been going out once a week for six months during school time doing a BTEC qualification in Work Skills which is credited to be the equivalent of two GCSE’s. This was done in a volunteer capacity working for organisations such as the National Trust and Sharpham Trust Estate, so learning how to manage woodlands, plant trees, improve wildlife habitats in marshlands, harvest willow and the correct usage of tools etc. It is a really substantial piece of work that includes theory as well as practice.
Another first for Dartmouth is the setting up of a Youth Council working alongside and shadowing the Town Council. David Gent and Steve Smith visited the Youth Centre to talk to its members and a constitution is being drawn up. The young people will learn about its standing orders and how a Council works. This will encourage feedback on young people’s needs in the community covering the whole catchment area including the outlying villages. These concerns and aspirations could be about transport, parks or activities. Matt will be the champion for this and will oversee this initiative to ensure it effectively gives young people a voice. Young people are being given the opportunity to stand up in a formal environment to effect change and also, importantly, to take responsibility. It will give them an opportunity to learn about democracy, how politics work and get involved.
The building works at Ivy Lane are now completed and have provided a fantastic educational kitchen with 3 cooking stations. Here they can obtain food hygiene and safety qualifications and learn how to buy, prepare and cook healthy food. What is really exciting is that they have linked in with chefs from BRNC who are passing on their skills.
The Ten Tors Challenge has now come under the Youth Service umbrella and Chris Long has come on side as a volunteer. 45 members have signed up for the training. Tuesday evenings are being used for theory and to learn map reading with a programme running until May when the Ten Tors weekend takes place.
Dartmouth Youth Centre also facilitates, for interested parties, first steps into youth work that lead to Open College Network certificates. This involves volunteering for the youth service for two years and covers a range of skills such as organising and running activities, being involved in decision making, social and personal development, fundraising, communication skills, equality and diversity – a very broad range of skills! This also gives them three OCN credits at Level 1, the equivalent of UCAS points, which can help them gain a university place, looks good on a CV and can help them in future employment.
So, as can be seen, there is a lot going on in Ivy Lane Youth Centre and the town should be proud to have such a facility available for our youngsters. If this has sparked your interest go along to the Centre or get in touch with Matt, he will be very happy to talk with you.
For further information contact Matt Pink 07970 895928
First Published November 2010 By The Dart
