Lynne's Story
The Youth Achievement Awards
The Youth Achievement Awards are a project based approach to education and are available through youth organisations, schools and educational projects. In order to achieve an Award, young people must begin a project which requires them to take on increasing levels of responsibility for their work, helping them to develop a sense of ownership over their activities and the learning involved. The Awards enable young people to build self-awareness, self-esteem, communication and negotiation skills and teach young people how to work with others in teams.
Lynne's Story
In 2003, Lynne McAlpine was referred to South Tyneside Youth Action Volunteers by her education welfare officer. Lynne's welfare officer was worried about Lynne because she was failing to cope with the routine of her mainstream school. Through doing the Youth Achievement Awards and approaching learning in a new way, Lynne was able to re-gain an interest in her education. Using her Achievement Awards as a first step back into mainstream education, Lynne was able to gain the skills and determination to complete her first year in a Health and Social Care course. The course has also inspired her to be ambitious in setting goals for herself and Lynne plans to begin a level 2 course in Youth Work in order to enable her to work with young people for a living. Lynne recently won the Pride of South Tyneside Award for her achievements. Over the past few years the team at Tyneside Youth Action Volunteers have seen a big change in Lynne and are immensely proud of her achievements.
A New Start with Bronze
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The KRAN Riverside Project offers Life Skills education for 16-18 year old unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). The course has boosted the students’ independent living skills, and gradually improved their English. These young people are now living independently within the community.
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Alasdair's Story
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With the help of Edge, the independent education foundation, Alasdair was able to realise his ambition to become a diamond-setter.
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Carly's Story
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BTEC Performing Arts student Carly Cook explains why she chose to study for a diploma at college.
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Claire's story
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Claire didn't realise how rewarding volunteering could be until she started volunteering at her local primary school through Worldwide Volunteering.
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Conor Smith
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Connor Smith, 14, is studying the Higher Diploma in C&BE at the Construction Design Centre.
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Dan's Story
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Dan Evans is a 19 year-old from Kent whose life changed when his school joined CCE's 'Schools of Creativity' programme. Dan began to realise he had an interest in dance and this became a channel for his emotions.
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Fran's Story
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Fran Matthews recently completed her Bronze and Silver Youth Achievement Awards.
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Jade's Story
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Jade was one of the first girls to be referred to South Park Enterprise College because of her challenging behaviour.
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Janine's Story
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How work experience in a dental technology lab inspired one student to make it her career, combining paid work with a part-time BTEC
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Karl's Story
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Karl Francis has been working with 'Personal Best', using the prospect of working at the 2012 Olympic amd Paralympic Games to allow disadvantaged young people to learn and develop new skills.
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Kat and the Youth Achievement Awards
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Kat undertook the Platinum Youth Achievement award which had five challenges, including training, volunteering and taking ownership of a project.
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Kayly and the Youth Achievement Awards
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Kayly recently completed her Gold Youth Achievement Award. She says, "From all of my challenges I feel I now have more confidence and have gained new skills". Find out what she did here.
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Kyle's Story
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Kyle joined the South Park Enterprise College in June 2004 following severe bullying in his mainstream school.
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Laura's Story
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South Park Enterprise College's work-related learning programme gave Laura the opportunity to work in a nursery for a year whilst taking a Diploma in child care. At the end of the year Laura was offered a job at the nursery because of her success.
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Lynne's Story
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Lynne McAlpine struggled with school until she began the Youth Achievement Awards Scheme.
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My Success Story by Jane Berry
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The Youth Achievement Awards helped Jane gain confidence and find a career path.
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Niall's story - Salford Lads and Girls Club
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Niall Armsden has organised weekly activities for more than 200 young people and campaigned to raise £1,000,000 to keep the Salford Lads and Girls club running,as part of his ASDAN Certificate of Community Volunteering.
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St Benet Biscop School in Lesotho
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Students from Sutherland School in Shropshire and St Benet Biscop School in Northumberland helped to run a student co-operative conference in Lesotho. Zoe and Charlotte from St Benet Biscop talk about their experience.
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The Bloomer Family
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Helen, Sam and Eve Bloomer all left school without qualifications. They have 18 children between them, and already had four grandchildren when still in their thirties. The Innovation Unit's Communities for Learning project has helped to transform their lives.
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Victoria and the Youth Achievement Awards
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Victoria Murrell recently completed her Gold Youth Achievement Award. She says, "I already had silver so I thought ‘this should be okay’. Boy was I wrong!"
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