The Youth Team provides a range of services and activities for young people, aged between 8 - 25. The Youth Team provides a welcoming environment where young people can develop and achieve their potential.
Mentoring is an effective way of supporting young people. It is informal, confidential, and it is focused on the individual's needs.
Alternative Sports and Recreational Activities Group
This takes place most Saturday mornings predominantly between 10:00-1:00pm at various locations and venues (meeting at Caia Park Partnership) and is for young people aged 10 and above. The staff have so far delivered informal alternative sports and recreational sessions providing young people with tasters of a variety of different sports and healthy lifestyle activities, including castle walks, golf, nature walks, cook and eat workshops, football and gym sessions, trip around Chester Walls and Museum and Nantyr Outward bound centre. Each of the trips have specific learning outcomes.
SPLASH Programme
During school holidays the Youth Team organises Splash trips and activities for children and young people who live in Caia Park aged between 11 and 18 (have to be in High School). Splash gives young people something different and constructive to do during the holidays and reduces anti social behaviour on the estate. Some activities also improve their health, fitness and well-being and gives them an opportunity to make new friends and visit places they have not been to before. Activities include trips to the cinema, museums and parks, camping, educational activities and sports events.
Summer Splash
Watch this space for more information regarding the Summer Splash programme of trips, activities and camps!
Youth Clubs - The Youth Team runs Youth Clubs for males and females aged between 10-18. The Youth Clubs provide fun and educational activities for young people including arts and crafts, pool, table tennis, cook and eat sessions and multi-cultural events. Outside agencies also deliver workshops on issues that affect young people including drugs, smoking and alcohol, dental hygeine and sex education.
Outreach
Youth workers undertake outreach sessions on the estate three times a week. Different wards of the estate are targeted during the sessions resulting in overall coverage of the Caia Park area. It has proved very successful with staff engaging with many young people, and it is a great way of encouraging these young people to attend our services, give information about our services and also work with young people who do not engage with us and also consult over their current needs.
Info Shop / Drop in
The Info Shop has a vast range of information on different services available to young people, healthy living, drugs, alcohol, education, sexual health awareness and much more. The shop is regularly updated with leaflets and booklets. Laptops are also provided for research as well as revision purposes, games, news and current affairs and social networking. Throughout all Drop in sessions, staff encourage internet safety and interact fully with the young people. These Drop in sessions are for children and young people aged 11 and above.
Youth Forum
The Youth Forum is continuing becoming established in each youth club. A Caia Park Youth Forum will bring together representatives from each club and will meet at Caia Park Partnership at least every three months. The forums will provide young people with the opportunity to influence the delivery of services which impact upon them, which will ensure the needs and priorities of children and young people are taken into account.
We have also had a visit from Senedd Yr Ifanc who have delivered workshops on increasing young people’s knowledge of participation and their rights (The Big P). The workshop has taken place at Smithfield and Pentre Gwyn Youth Clubs so far (see picture).
We also have our very own Facebook site which advertises upcoming events, groups and clubs taking place. It also gives young people the chance to speak to members of staff online. Click on www.facebook.co.uk and search for Caia Park YouthTeam.