CYCA Winter Newsletter
2009
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www.cycaonline.org Carmarthenshire Youth & Children’s Association
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our first newsletter which will be produced 3 times a year. We are so proud of what we have achieved at a time when funding has been substantially reduced everywhere. Our special thanks to the BIG Lottery, the charity's main funders, we would not be able to exist without their support. We are keen to develop our services with adults hence the opening of our second charity, CYCA Wales, which is still based in our community but has brand new facilities for training and counselling. Our bilingual crèche, Little Seraphs also benefits from brand new facilities wonderful big outdoor play spaces for children to learn in preparation for the Foundation Phase. This centre will also host our 2 new projects , ‘Looked After Children’ and ‘Deprived Area Fund ‘ (find out more on pages 15 and16). Although much has been achieved, we still struggle to find funding for our Dewi Sant Centre which needs some repairs, so at Christmas please see our wish list on pages 17 and 18 at the end of this newsletter! Christmas is magical when surrounded by children and we are so privileged at CYCA to be able to work with thousands throughout the year. But particularly this month, we ensure that all those who use CYCA services get the best possible care and support! Can I wish all our partners and friends who use our services a peaceful Christmas and healthy New Year! Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Tracy Pike, Association Manager
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WINTER 2009
CONTENTS 3—4
FIT 4 FUN
5—6
RELAXATION FOR KIDS IN GREAT DEMAND
7—8
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL REACHING OUT PROJECT REACHES ITS FINAL AND THIRD YEAR
9—10
NURSERIES—2 BECOME 3!
11—12 THE PALMS—OUR EXCITING NEW TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE 13-14
YOUTH CLUB
15—16 NEW PROJECTS 17—18 OUR WISHLIST & UPCOMING EVENTS 19—20 STAFF IN FOCUS www.cycaonline.org
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FIT 4 FUN
The end of 2009 has also seen the end of the first year of our exciting 3 year Big Lottery funded project—Fit 4 Fun. After a busy summer the team continued to stage a host of healthy living events within the Glanymor and Tyisha areas of Llanelli. Highlights included a busy October half term where Fabian supported Carmarthenshire’s Family Centres on ‘Wacky Wednesday’ in the National Botanical Gardens of Wales, Penyfan Park and at the launch of the new MUGA in Llwynhendy, where Llanelli’s favourite mascot, Fabian also made an appearance. Over recent weeks, Fit 4 Fun have also staged the first of many proposed sessions in St Paul’s Family Centre. The children learned about eating raw vegetables and exotic fruits as well as taking part in some fun dance and cheerleading sessions.
Volunteers get Dragon Sports Training
During November, Fit 4 Fun volunteers received some sports training courtesy of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Dragon Sports’ Team. This training will be put into effect in 2010 as Fit 4 Fun aims to launch new activity clubs within various communities. In December a taster session was carried out with the children and parents of Jellitotz and Teddybears nurseries.
In 2010, Fit 4 Fun moves into the areas of Llwynhendy, Felinfoel, Bigyn and Bynea, so look out for a new and exciting timetable of events, which will be added to our website. You can also sign up to receive our Fit 4 Fun emails, where you will receive all the latest news, events’ information, competitions and much more! Simply email the team at fit4fun@cycaonline.org to join in.
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WINTER 2009
Cooking at S t Paul’s Family Centr e
Cheerleadin
g fun!
Fabian The Fruit Cocktail— Fit 4 Fun’s friendly mascot
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RELAXATION FOR KIDS IN GREAT DEMAND There has been a very high demand for our Relax Kids and Massage in Schools Programme for younger children to be run within the school day. To date the classes have run in 5 Carmarthenshire schools, with a further 4 booked for the New Year and enquiries still coming in. The 2 programmes are both designed to promote respect, team work, care, self-esteem and self-confidence while at the same time encouraging children to learn how to relax, chill out and be still. We all live very busy lives surrounded by noise and technology. Younger children are increasingly exposed to noise exacerbated by mobile phones, the amount of television watched, computer games and mp3 players. These programmes are designed to help balance out all this noise and encourage children to learn how to enjoy soft music, positive relaxing touch, stretching, positive speech, appreciation and promote peace, quiet, calmness and stillness in their lives. The Massage in Schools Programme is best offered as a structured weekly programme for learning a set fully clothed, peer massage routine, over 6 weeks for an hour a week. Our Holistic Therapist has also designed some games to balance out the serious side of learning a massage routine with having some fun time too! This massage, although designed for younger children has also gone down well with teenagers and adults, with several family sessions having been run successfully too!
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WINTER 2009
The Relax Kids can be a one-off session and is structured and themed within each session. Examples of some themes are: nature; opposites; the toy shop; under the sea; rumble in the jungle; down on the farm; sporting activities, etc. etc. The structure covers warming up, movement activities and games, relaxation games, massage, affirmations (positive statements), stretching and visualisations – all of which take the children from high energy to low energy. Most schools have booked 6 weekly sessions of each programme for different classes but we can tailor our classes to suit your requirements. INSET training has also been booked by several schools to teach the staff how to use these programmes and the techniques within their own classes, as well as teaching some self-care techniques, so that staff can help themselves keep their own stress to a minimum too.
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HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL REACHING OUT PROJECT REACHES ITS THIRD AND FINAL YEAR
Our Emotional Health and Well-being Team has been working in all the Llanelli comprehensives on a Big Lottery funded project for the past three years. The project has provided a much needed Emotional Health and Well-being service to the teenagers in the town by going into the schools and delivering Yoga lessons, Holistic Therapy sessions and 1:1 counselling. The feedback we have received from the young people and school staff has been very supportive and nearly 800 young people have now benefited from the service. Over the three years we have also worked with members of the school staff and many parents and carers.
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WINTER 2009
Our office receives weekly requests for advice and support with regard to a variety of issues connected with Emotional Health and Wellbeing. In response to this, we are looking to further develop the services we provide at our sister site ‘The Palms’, in Queen Victoria Road. Closure of our schools’ service has meant that we have been able to offer limited counselling service and stress management strategies to families seeking our support and help. We are also delighted to be working with Carmarthenshire County Council to support Looked After Children in the county. This new project uses The Palms as their base where they can receive mentoring, counselling and a variety of activities such as digital diary work to help them develop their resilience, capacity and emotional well-being. Full details of this project can be found on page 15.
Children enjoy fun yoga session www.cycaonline.org
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NURSERIES—2 BECOME 3! Late 2009 saw us add to our stock of high quality nursery facilities with the opening of Little Seraphs complementing the well-established Jellitotz and Teddybears nurseries. All our nurseries have enjoyed a busy winter including staging their own special Christmas concerts. Teddybears Christmas concert
Little Seraphs is located at our brand new training centre The Palms, and boasts brand new facilities of the highest quality. Open on weekdays between 8.30am-6.30pm, Little Seraphs is a fully bilingual nursery that also offers a crèche service. In December, Little Seraphs held an open day where parents and children were treated to some festive fun including a Santa’s Grotto, Music Session, Face Painting, Free Play and an Aromatherapy Session. If you would like to find out more about Little Seraphs or would like to book a place for your child, get in touch with us now on 01554 757599. Brand new indoor facilities
Little Seraphs’ Outdoor play facilities
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WINTER 2009
HTV Wales visit Jellitotz Jellitotz Nursery received a visit by Education and Children's services managers in September as the nursery has been identified as a model of good practice by Flying Start. The nursery and reception children from Maes y Morfa came to Jellitotz to join in a messy play day for Children in Need; the children painted using spray gun, sponges, finger paints, and brushes. The children played in gloop and shaving foam— a lot of laughter and fun was had by all! The children were filmed by HTV Wales for the 'People’s Millions' program helping The Morfa Tenants’ and Residents Association with their ‘Spray & Play’ Project, to replace the old paddling pool in Havelock Park. Presenter Carl Edwards took to the children, the children shouted Spray & Play, looking at the Messy fun at Children proposed plans. The finished film was brilliant and In need event staff were very proud of them. Some of the children were also present when the cheque for £50,000 was presented by Carl Edwards live on TV . Next summer the children will be enjoying a fun, water play area in their own community. The children's Nativity play took place on the 10th and 11th December, where parents and the community saw their talented children in action.
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THE PALMS—OUR EXCITING NEW TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Mid way through 2009, saw us open our brand new training centre The Palms, and since then it has gone from strength to strength proving to be a valuable community resource. In partnership with Healthy Schools, over 30 schools have benefited from CYCA Emotional health and well being workshops to ensure that school staff nurture their own well being. Head teachers, teachers and support staff enjoyed learning strategies to deal with everyday pressures as well as enjoying some practical breathing and relaxation activities! Rob Long also facilitated a workshop in June to a wider audience which included educational psychologists. The day was hugely over subscribed , so a further day looking at supporting the reluctant learner has been planned for March 4th 2010. To book a place for this day or any other CYCA training contact Tracy at the office or by email on tracy@cycaonline.org
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WINTER 2009
Rob Long delivers an enthralling workshop
Packed out tr aining seminar
perb The Palms’ su s crèche facilitie
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YOUTH CLUB
Youth club music workshop
Our Youth Club operates on a Tuesday and Thursday evening between 6.15pm and 8.15pm for young people aged 11 to 16. We also operate a junior leader and mentor programme where young people over 16 can still stay with us through supporting new, younger members. The club operates on a drop in basis on a Tuesday nights, at a cost of 50p, where young people can come and just unwind, relax and be with friends in a safe, stimulating environment. Thursday nights are for structured activities, with costs varying dependant on the activities. Two or three activities are chosen each term, through discussion with the members. We also try to run a trip at least once per term, discussed and agreed on with our members. The youth club is voluntary operated and funded and all help is most certainly welcomed and appreciated, without community and local business support there would be no club for our young people, so if you feel you can support us then please contact Barry Johnson on 01554 757599.
Drama Group
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Warhammer!
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A CHILD’S VIEW “My name is Chelsea. I have been coming to CYCA Youth Club for about 8 months and I am loving it so far. I come here because it’s great fun and my friends are here, including the CYCA Youth Workers, and it’s a great way to meet new friends. The activities we do are great fun; take tonight for instance, different exercise workouts, called circuits. We also go on trips, mostly every other month, and these are great as we get to discuss and decide where to go, in two weeks we are going to Winter Wonderland in Swansea on the train. The club is very safe and the youth workers really care about us, we are allowed to check our social networking sites on the computers, but not allowed on live chat, which we think is cool. There is also some fun play equipment to have a laugh on and we can play football, netball and basketball outside, even when it’s dark as there are outside lights.” Chelsea Baitup – aged 14
“I am Ashley Copeman and I am 15 years old. I come to CYCA Youth Club because it gives me something to do and keeps me off the streets and out of trouble. We get to go on trips and have many activities, for both older and younger members of the club. It’s an all round fun and good place to come to.” Ashley Copeman – aged 15
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NEW PROJECTS
Looked After Children Project
We are really excited about a new project we are supporting with Looked After Children in the County. Working in partnership with Bethan James Corporate Parenting Manager, mentors will be helping the young people with preparation for GCSE as well as offering life skills and emotional health activities including relaxation and counselling therapies. The young people will also be producing a DVD charter as a mechanism for voicing their needs to other organisations. The DVD will be launched on the main screen at the Parc Y Scarlets at the start of one of their big games. We are also looking for additional funding to offer the young people some cookery and DIY skills.
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WINTER 2009
Deprived Area Fund We have also been successful in accessing some funding to help those needing support to access further training or employment. Those accessing the service can benefit from 1-1 life coaching or counselling as well as joining small groups for training in handling stress and dealing with difficult people. It is hoped that the scheme will give users specific skills to help them overcome barriers that have resulted in low self-worth and low self-esteem. The funding will last until March 2011. Anyone interested in joining the scheme can contact the mentor for DAF Helen Nicholls at our office or email helen@cycaonline.org.
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OUR WISH LIST & UPCOMING EVENTS
At CYCA, we rely heavily on the generosity and support of both the general community and local businesses., which can help us survive. Whether you are an individual whose voluntary work can help us deliver our projects and services or an organisation who can offer ‘in-kind’ or financial support, your help will go a long way. Here’s our wish list for 2010. Repair work carried out to our external wall at Dewi Sant Centre Funding to continue our valuable holistic services Repair work carried out to our leaking roof at Dewi Sant Centre
Our crumbling external wall is in need of restoration Funding for valuable holistic services ends in early 2010
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WINTER 2009
UPCOMING EVENTS & CLUBS CYCA Holiday Clubs—Christmas holidays and February half term holidays at Dewi Sant Centre. CYCA After School Clubs—We run a host of after school clubs across Llanelli every week night. CYCA Youth Club—Every Tuesday & Thursday 6.15-8.15pm at Dewi Sant Centre. All 11-16 year olds welcome. Fit 4 Fun—Throughout 2010, Fit 4 Fun will be staging a host of healthy living events in schools and in the general community. Visit the Fit 4 Fun pages of our website for more details. Motivating The Reluctant & Resistant Seminar—March 4th 2010 at The Palms Centre. For more information about all of our events and clubs, contact us on 01554 757599
Fit 4 Fun Healthy cooking
After school fun at Neuadd Dewi Sant
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STAFF IN FOCUS
KATH BOWEN—CYCA PLAY OFFICER
How long have you worked for CYCA? I have worked for CYCA for 5 years, it was my first job straight after college. What’s the best thing about your job? I enjoy everything about my job, but getting to work with the children is my favourite part. What’s the first thing you do when you get to work in the morning? Set up for a busy session at Little Seraphs' nursery! What do you do to relax after a long hard day in the office? I have a nice cup of coffee. What are you hoping Santa will bring you this year? A new car would be nice ! Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? Yes, too many . What has been the highlight for you in 2009? Getting promoted to my role as Play Officer
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OUR FUNDERS
CONTACT US For more information about CYCA and all of our services get in touch with us on 01554 757599, email cyca@cycaonline.org, visit our website www.cycaonline.org, or call in to see us at Dewi Sant Centre, Nevill Street, Llanelli, SA15 2RS.
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