Contact Details
Woking YMCA
Chobham Road
Woking
Surrey
GU21 6JD
Tel No.
01483 757160
Fax No.
01483 763269
VAT Reg No.
879 3560 71
What is Nhance?
The Nhance project is a creative and innovative programme working with young people. A number of these young people are in danger of being excluded from school as a result of their behaviour, and others suffer in a different way due to bullying and low self-esteem.
Nhance is designed to support and equip young people (within relational and group work) to re-engage with education, through a programme that encourages a holistic approach to growth in mind, body and spirit, in keeping with the aims of ‘Every Child Matters’.
Nhance is a successful project which Guildford YMCA has been running for a number of years, under the name Ngage, working with Christ College and George Abbot Schools in Guildford. After the re-commissioning of Connexions Surrey services, the NGage project is now being replicated at Woking YMCA and offered to Woking secondary schools, under the name Nhance.
Why is Nhance important?
Nhance tackles many behavioural problems, such as fighting, disruptive behaviour, drug abuse, bullying, truancy and self-harming. We aim to address the root causes of these problems through group work and individual mentoring.
The aims of Nhance are:
- To build self-confidence
- To encourage young people to re-engage in learning
- To prepare them to take a positive role in society
We operate an intensive programme comprising: social and personal education, specialised workshops, residential experience, school work, support and mentoring.
Who runs Nhance?
Nhance is run by Woking YMCA and Connexions Surrey. The 2 Connexions PAs leading Nhance are Hannah Robinson and Paul Langtree. Both of whom are qualified youth workers, with combined experience of over 10 years, who have been through all the relevant and necessary vetting procedures to ensure they are suitable to work with young people.
How does Nhance work?
We will work with a group of 8 young people from one school for one day a week. The programme lasts for 10 weeks. The schedule is carefully planned so that the young people are undertaking different activities each week designed to increase their self confidence, develop their team work and target any challenging behaviour.
The programme includes a 2 night residential in the second or third week which aims to strengthen the relationships between staff and students and build a strong sense of team amongst the young people which will benefit the whole programme.
It is a crucial factor to the success of the project that these activities take place off the school site. The base for the project will be Woking YMCA’s Ypod Centre in Woking town centre. Some activities will be based at the centre and others will involve travelling to other locations.
At the completion of Nhance, the young people will gain a Bronze Youth Achievement Award (accredited by ASDAN). For some of the young people, this will be the first achievement they feel really proud of.
The activities combine team building and physical activities, arts and creative activities and personal and social development. For more information about the activities please see the attached programme.
Who is Nhance for?
Students in year 9 or 10, depending on the school, who are in danger of being excluded from school because of various behavioural and personal issues and who feel disengaged from the educational programme.
When will Nhance take place?
The project will take place for one day each week for 10 weeks, not including the half term break. It will begin in the week commencing 22nd September 2008 and the last session will be in the week commencing 8th December 2008.
At present we are able to offer the project on a Tuesday, a Wednesday or a Friday. The majority of the programme will take place on the same day each week, apart from one or two off-site activities which are only available on a particular day.
Other details:
Referrals
It is up to the school to decide which students they will refer to us. The project is aimed at students in either year 9 or year 10 (depending on the school) who are at risk of exclusion or who struggle to engage fully with school. This could be for any number of reasons such as behavioural problems, learning difficulties, bullying or personal and family issues.
Policies (available on request)
- Child protection (including staffing checks)
- Drugs and alcohol
- Attendance
- Unacceptable behaviour
- Policy
- Insurance policies
- Risk assessments
Youth Achievement Awards (YAA)
“The Youth Achievement Awards are an activity-based approach to peer education. The Awards are designed to help develop more effective participative practice by encouraging young people to progressively take more responsibility in selecting, planning and leading activities that are based on their interests. The peer group model encourages the development of a wide range of life skills through a flexible and informal approach.” (www.ukyouth.org)
The residential
The residential will be 2 nights at Fairthorne Manor (www.ymca-fg.org). Fairthorne Manor is a YMCA residential centre on the outskirts of Southampton set in 111 acres of parkland and woodland on the banks of the River Hamble.
Fairthorne Manor provides young people with opportunities to participate in challenging outdoor activities, environmental discovery, team building and play. All activities are led by fully trained and qualified instructors.
Transport
Most of the programme will be based at the Ypod centre in Woking. Transport to ‘off-site’ activities will be by minibus.
Transport to and from the Ypod at the beginning and end of each day will vary depending on the school.
