Creativity=Freedom Report

Creativity = Freedom Project Report Content pg 1. Project Background pg 2 Creativity = Freedom Project pg 12. Funding Partners

1. Project Background There is a growing misinterpretation of young people today, leading in much of society labelling them as menaces, or irresponsible members of the community who seek thrills in making life difficult for others.

Sadly it only takes a bit of media hype and a stereotypical teenage 'yob' or group of 'yoofs' to add to what many see as a huge issue in today's world.

This generalisation has meant that the problems surrounding the youth today are being neglected and rather than solutions we have a ‘moral panic’ distancing us further away from tomorrow’s future.

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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2. Creativity = Freedom Creativity = Freedom is a project coordinated by a group of four young people, from different backgrounds and countries part of the European Union, who are part of a not for profit organization called No Bounds.

The project aims to create a social support network between young people, young offenders and their communities, applying an informal mentoring approach that will help young people to re-integrate in the community overcoming social, economical and cultural discrimination.

Their ethos is to understand the youth and connect with them by using creative arts to encourage social awareness and change.

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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2.1. The Approach Informal Learning Identifying the need for solutions rather than neglect ‘Creativity = Freedom’ is solely dedicated to bringing us closer to the youth and provoking a change in society. In order to achieve this, the methodology used was mainly based in informal education. The core group of participants formed by 4 youngsters started their learning journey by researching and supporting each other in the different tasks they had to take throughout the 150 days that the project was developed

“Friends of ours are involved in gangs and drugs because of the lack of opportunities for them. This opportunity was very important for me because I can now show other people that young people can also contribute to society."

Indra Gavėnaitė, Participant

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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Motivational techniques were applied and practiced. The aim was to encourage them to expressing their views and thoughts through a set of workshops where they developed new skills of communication by using art activities such as: Journalism, Visual Arts, Illustration, Creative Writing and Poetry “I have learnt so much from all the researches we had to undertake, as well as a lot from my team mates,� Azad Kamall , Participant

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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“I have gained confidence in speaking with new people and confidence in myself as we started out the project without knowing how things would turn out. So far everything has been great and I would recommend the project to anyone who is interested to join�.

Shamim Kysakye , Participant

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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2.2. Marketing The Project Initially the project was planned to be marketed in HMP Wandsworth Prison in London. However, after the core participants established contact with the Education Department at the prison, they learned that HMP Wandsworth Prison is classified as a category B prison and they are subject to rigorous security requirements and regime procedures.

After intense research the team established contact with the Education Department of HMP & YOI Isis prison, that holds sentenced young adults and category C offenders who are under the age of 25.

Unfortunately YOI Isis Education Department officers did not fully cooperate with the requirements of the delivery of workshops in the prison. As a result the team started to research distance learning, and took the decision to market the workshops as Distance Education.

Creativity = Freedom was run for 5 Months from the 4th of May up until the 27th of October 2012. workshops were delivered in HMP & YOI Isis prison ( Western Way Thamesmead SE28 0NZ).

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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2.3. The Participants Through the implementation of the project 19 participant were involved.

The majority of workshop participants were 20–25 years old, some had been in prison with no intentions to take the learning opportunities offered within the main prevision. Most of the participants were Black and most of them were male.

It is notable that participants were willing to take the opportunity offered by an alternative provision. “They need loads of support, they struggle and don’t trust some methods used by the main provision, Intensive support is still needed to encourage them to continue education“. Azad Kamall, Participant The project was adapted to the circumstances and successfully delivered informal education using distance learning. Five participants produced works that were showcased in a public exhibition outside the Chelsea Theatre. (7 World's End Place)

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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2.4. The Impact Success factors for Creativity = Freedom included: • linking the informal education with real situations where participants had the opportunity to actively put in practice their skills .

• the willingness to be flexible and think positively to overcome obstacles the participants encounter in their learning journey.

• the ‘Personal’ side - The core team who provided support for participants, enabled them to see the options the use of creativity offers.

• the holistic approach the participants used, offered additional support, encouraging a network of young people willing to collaborate • the establishment of on-going support; the project just finalised a stage.

The core team is looking forward to continue working and involvement with more youngsters.

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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2.5. The Highlights The project was successfully launched in an event that gathered 200 youth from across London. Musicians, Visual Artists and Poets contributed to the initiative of spreading awareness and the aims of Creativity = Freedom.

In the highlights of the nigh, B4U Network part of Bollywood broadcasters, produced a report about the team members of No Bounds and coordinators of the project, the report was produced with the aim to promote the youth work in London.

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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The event was amazing, all the performers had a positive message to send, I congratulate the No Bounds team that clearly put loads of effort and energy together to deliver such a good event . Danny D –Boy , Music Producer

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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In June 2012, three participants of Creativity = Freedom received the Southwark Stars award, rewarding exceptional commitment to volunteers in front of 200 guests “We started the project with no knowledge on working with offenders or much of project administration skills, now we are in a position to lead others in the area! �. Fernando Bonenfant , Participant

Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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Funding Partners Youth In Action Youth in Action enables young people to: • learn skills which will help them to get a job • explore other societies and cultures in a safe and supported environment • develop international friendships based on learning and collaborating together • learn more about the countries of Europe and its neighbourhood • learn how to contribute to shaping society’s future • participate free of charge in its programmes regardless of their educational, social, and cultural background • put into practice their ideas on how to make their communities safer, more harmonious, and better places to live.

Programmes range from group exchanges and community improvement projects run by young people themselves to individual voluntary service.

The Youth in Action Programme (2007-2013) is funded by the European Union. The British Council is the UK's National Agency for the programme.

For more information go to http://www.britishcouncil.org/ youthinaction Haven Books for prisoners Haven Books for prisoners is a charity that has been running for 15 years and provides free books to prisoners. They began supplying dictionaries in over 20 different languages and started buying educational books in order to cover the growing demand. For more information go to http://www.havendistribution.org.uk/ No Bounds No Bounds is a not for profit organisation that aims to break the cycle of poverty, crime and discrimination fostering a commitment to young (ex)offenders and youngsters not in education, employment or training in order to provide them with a new sense of hope for the future.

For more information go to http://www.nobounds.org.uk/ Creativity= Freedom, supported by Youth in Action Programme, coordinated by No Bounds Report completed by Indra Gavenaite , No Bounds, 07 January 2013

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