Press Release
Bridges Project Students attend National Youth Conference
A group of students from the Bridges Project along with staff travelled to Southport, England to attend a National Youth Conference. The Conference focused on health related information and issues for young people. The conference project took place between 23rd and 27th April.
The Bridges project allows young people who are in need of more choice and chance to gain the skill to move into employment, education or training. The Bridges students gain opportunities to develop skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work, linking with the national educational framework Curriculum for Excellence. Students can gain a variety of qualifications when attending Bridges. They do SQA qualifications, ASDAN and other nationally recognised qualifications. The Youth Conference, which the students attended, was part of the students ASDAN portfolio.
The trip to Sefton has enabled students to take part in a broader learning opportunity and enhance their skills for life and skills for work through this experience.
The students attended a Youth Acts weekend in Southport. Here the students got to work with other students from Glasgow, Birmingham and Sefton.
Everyone involved with the conference took part in making their own presentations. The Bridges students made a fantastic presentation, which gave the other students information about Bridges and what you can do. It also gave some information about Shetland and what Shetland has to offer. Overall the presentations went down very well with the students and gave each individual an opportunity to find out more about each other.
The students took part all day Saturday and all day Sunday in small groups. Participating in workshops relating to young people’s health. Each group had a health topic to discuss; they then had to do a presentation by video, newspaper, radio and internet to local Sefton Council Officials and staff.
The young people taking part in the conference had great fun and met new people as well as increasing their confidence, raising their awareness of others and learning something new.
The students at Bridges raised money to fund the trip by selling home bakes, homemade card and word searches. The group also took part in a Tesco bag pack and Voar Redd Up at Bod Ayre, Lunnasting.
Brenda Leask Bridges Coordinator said “It was a great opportunity for the young students to meet other young people and discuss health issues. The students worked hard and produced some meaningful leaflets, media clips and websites. This is accessible for all young people, and you can find this link on the SIC Website and the Bridges Project. It is great to see these young people getting the opportunity to express their views and opinions. It has been a life changing experience for some of these students who have never been off the island before.”
A Bridges student said “The conference was amazing. The weather was good as well. I really enjoyed meeting people from different youth groups.”
Councillor Bill Manson said, “I’m delighted that Bridges students from Shetland are able to take part in the conference and using the Voar Redd Up as part of the fundraising is an excellent idea.”
If you would like further information about the Bridges Project please feel free to contact Brenda Leask on 01595 74 4451, email bridges.project@shetland.gov.uk or check out www.shetland.gov.uk/youth/bridges.
By Antonia Laurenson, Bridges Student