Thamesmead Youth Voice Residential

Thamesmead's leading community development agency and registered charity, Trust Thamesmead, recently took 15 members of Thamesmead Youth Voice (TYV) on a residential to Hindleap Warren in East Sussex, for a weekend of learning, teambuilding and event planning.

The two night break saw TYV members participate in seven workshops led by three different facilitators. Kinetic delivered the majority of the workshops, which included ‘Rights and Responsibilities, ‘Representation' and ‘Decision Making', whilst the YMCA, as part of their Myplace support for The Link Thamesmead, delivered a session on ‘governance', with the objective of preparing some of the young people aged 18+, for roles as Trustees for the world class, state of the art, community hub, The Link Thamesmead.

Trust Thamesmead's Lead Community Development Manager-Services to Young People, Janice Jones, said: “This residential was by far the most enjoyable and rewarding to date for both staff and young people. The venue was perfect, as was the positive engagement of the members we took along.”

Trust Thamesmead also supported the young people in developing their Vision of Success, which reads: “Thamesmead Youth Voice (TYV) is an independent, multicultural organisation, open to all young people who live, study, work, volunteer or socialise in Thamesmead. It encourages and motivates young people to take part in making decisions and learning new skills to help shape their future whilst making Thamesmead a better place to live. Through TYV young people's voices can be heard and they can benefit from their own hard work.”

The weekend wasn't all about ‘work' though; as part of Trust Thamesmead's reward and recognition scheme, which recompenses and acknowledges the valuable contribution made by TYV in shaping their community, participants were able to take time out to engage in five outward bound activities: Orienteering, High Ropes, Monkey Bars, Zip Wire and Tunnelling. “These activities provided the young people with the opportunity to team build, develop new skills and challenge themselves.” Janice said, adding: “For some it meant confronting and overcoming fears of heights and/or enclosed spaces. One TYV member in particular was petrified of heights, to the extent that walking on Tavy Bridge fills her with dread; so for them to climb a ladder (a wobbly one at that), balanced against a tree to attempt the Monkey Bars, was a real achievement, filled with tears of joy and relief when it was finally over.”

Thamesmead Youth Voice member, 16 year old Tahlia Williamson said: “The weekend was brilliant, we got to participate in everything; high ropes, zip wire, you name it!

“I always learn lots of new skills and get a lot out of residentials.”