MAD Blog
Posted: Thu, 07 Feb 2019 10:09 by Emily Wade
The MAD mentoring programme
One of the main goals for our project is to boost the aspirations of young people.
The MAD mentoring programme, which takes place in schools across Birmingham, was first set up in September 2017 when we realised there was a need to support the young people more widely than just during our evening weekly sessions.
Since the programme began, we have now engaged with 50+ students from secondary schools throughout the city and we are amazed by the change in mindset of these young people over the 6-week period of working with them.
Our mentoring programme offers the students a balance of indoor classroom and outdoor learning.
The important factor to this intervention is to provide a non-judgemental, confidential outlet / sounding board for the young people; gaining trust through a neutral, safe and trustworthy role models.
The sessions focus on teamwork, leadership, resilience and responsibility. The MAD team deliver these key themes through their own mini workshops, presentations, group discussions, classroom games and outdoor sporting activities.
After a term ends, we will then follow up with a consultation and touch-points to review and reflect on the progress of the young people in the schools.
The programme is tailored to the schools needs and timetable. We are a fully flexible team and will try our best to cater for the school.
Here's what a few of the young people had to say about our mentoring programme by exploring a few different themes.
1) How it has changed the young person's outlook on life…
"During the M.A.D program, which is a program designed to help you think better, I have found my sessions very well used as they have showed me much more in life and that how certain things can make you feel down if you don't use them right!... Thank you for letting me join!"
"You learn about why you need school… also they give you good tips like listening, respect, box clever. Also you can have fun with everyone in the group and the people that do it"
2) Developing their understanding on Mental Health…
"Mentoring is good because it helps me with stuff like understanding mental health and depression. Another reason it is good is their advice on how to avoid getting in trouble and I've used it quite a lot at home and at school. Overall I would recommend it to anyone and it is a good experience"
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my times with the mentor group as it has helped me to understand other people's views and to respect them, I have found that I can relate to most of what is said by the group and it gives me an opportunity to express views and share past experiences so that the rest of the group could possibly learn something new as I have when I have listened to other peoples stories"
"Sometimes we also do sports which I like so that we are not just inside…We speak about mental health and social media, sometimes the mentors tell us stories about them or what they have done or been through"
We also have a quote from a young person about our MAD staff…
The mentors use slang language that I understand and they know the streets better than us because they have lived through our generation. Talking to them is like talking to a friend!"
And finally, a quote from the Teacher at the school…
"Students who took part in the MAD programme really enjoyed the range of activities and the balance between learning in the classroom and outside. The team offer a non-judgmental and genuine programme which supports change and offers a safe space to try out new skills. The experience of team has enabled our young people to benefit from an opportunity outside the normal school day to participate in a highly successful 6 week programme focusing on teamwork, leadership, resilience and responsibility"
If you work for a school and feel like your students would benefit from the mentoring programme, please get in touch with the MAD team on email
Make.A.Difference (MAD Birmingham)
Posted: Wed, 30 Jan 2019 10:13 by Emily Wade
Round table discussions with MAD
At MAD Birmingham, we make it our mission to provide each young person with the understanding of how crime and anti-social behaviour can lead to consequences. We also promote social inclusion and community cohesion. The team will always support the young people and guide them in the direction to the more positive opportunities in life.
One way we do this is by discussing the real life examples shown on YouTube videos and documentaries. The topics of discussion include things like, crime, gang culture, knife crime and more sensitive subjects such as Mental Wellbeing and Pressure.
Below are a few quotes from our Mental Wellbeing round table discussion...
"Only emotion you feel is Sadness or no emotion at all"
" Some people turn to Drink and Drugs"
"When you get depressed its because nothing good is happening and then you have thoughts of around suicide"
A young person also commented on how the MAD sessions help the young people keep away from the streets...
"It's a thing that helps the youth to stay away from trouble, so the couple of days we be there gives us something and activities to do that will keep our mind away from trouble"
If you know of any young person/s who would be interested in this, please contact us and refer them to us!
Please visit our Instagram page here to see an example of a YouTube clip we showed the young people about crime and gang culture at our Perry Barr session in Holford Drive Sports Hub.
Posted: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 11:17 by Emily Wade
Music Production at the Pump ft. Ish
Ish is a very supportive youth worker at the Pump, especially for those young people who have a desire for music production and becoming their own artist.
From a very young age, he always wanted to become an artist himself, trying his best to record at home in his bedroom. Unfortunately the support and equipment wasn't there for him.
Ish thrives off the energy from the young people who come into the Pump week on week to record their own music.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
"With great thanks to Levi Strauss®, the Pump is able to offer everyone a brand new media space. It offers the state of art hardware and software for those budding creators out there. The room offers an industry-standard experience to generate ideas and create music and film that wil inspire young people to express themselves and produce the next hit track or movie!"
-Information taken directly from https://www.thepump.org.uk/levis-media-space
Follow us on Social Media so you don't miss out!
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/madbirmingham/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/MadBirmingham
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/madbirmingham/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7B27b7dNwQgERjUQENSIZQ
Best Wishes,
Emily
Posted: Wed, 16 Jan 2019 09:46 by Emily Wade
Talk with Kye and La’Ziah ft. Emily and La’Sharm
On Tuesday 15th January at Nechells, our Digital Marketing Apprentice, Emily, interviewed a few of the kids at the session that is held at Nechells Wellbeing centre every Tuesday!
Listen to our small talk about the MAD project and find out more about the kids who come along to our Tuesday session at Nechells...
Sessions are FREE and the vibe is great! Video below...
Posted: Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:59 by Emily Wade
A message to Sugar...
Hello Sugar,
We understand we need a little bit of you in our foods, but why do you have to be in our drinks too!
In just one can of regular coke for example, there's 11 grams of YOU :(
We all know how hard it is to make the decision what drink to have when there's so many sugar bubbles on our local shop shelves... but in all seriousness, people are finding it hard to break the relationship with you sugar!
Where can we start?
Here's a link for you to have a read if you are looking to cut down your sugar intake..
Please reach after you've read my blog post first of course :)
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-cut-down-on-sugar-in-your-diet/
(And if you do read it, I promise I won't tell Sugar you have considered replacing it!)
Less sugar = Less risk of medical issues
Some of the main related medical issues to high levels sugar consumption are:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Tooth Decay
- Increase risk of heart disease
- Decrease concentration
- Weight gain
Weight gain is the one particularly in discussion at the moment with it being National Obesity Awareness week.
In Birmingham, we are seeing figures of adult obesity at 26%, and child obesity at 24% , these children being year 6 students, and therefore only 11 years olds!
Could sugar be playing a huge part in these percentages?
At MAD Birmingham, we actually work with children as young as 11 years old!
Our team believe in keeping our young people active and healthy through all the weekly activities we deliver and the food and drinks we can provide during the holidays. (With special thanks to Fit & Fed and Bernardos).
If you would like to register your child onto our programme, please contact us by email: mad@sportbirmingham.org
So my final note to you Sugar would be, thank you, but we are so ready to replace you, next!
Thank you,
Emily
*All figures above have come from the online website resources. They can be sent to you on request.
Posted: Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:38 by Emily Wade
2018 has been a MAD year!
There is just not one word we could use to describe MAD. But in a few paragraphs, this is what MAD is all about…
MAD stands for Make a Difference.
It is a Youth Engagement Programme which uses activities, such as sport, to tackle social issues.
Our programme is about putting the young people first and presenting them with an opportunity to shape their future and the direction of the project.
Watch MAD in action on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqojUnnITQU&t=2s
(Subscribe whilst you are there too!)
Our Main Highlights of 2018 have been:
- 400 young people accessed the Summer/Autumn programme
- The MAD team expanded from 3 to 8 this year. This includes taking on a Digital Marketing Apprentice, a new Youth Engagement Officer for Stechford, two Youth Engagement assistants and a Coach Core apprentice.
- Holiday activities in the half term weeks have been in collaboration with Fit & Fed, with over 3,500 meals provided to young people during the holiday period as part of 'Holiday Hunger'
- We collaborated with Bernardo's and the Holiday kitchen programme to give free food to our kids during the holidays at the Nechells sessions.
- There was 20 hours of outreach work in South Birmingham, resulting in a new youth club to be set-up in Bartley Green. Read more here: https://www.sportbirmingham.org/mad-blog/2018/10/summer-in-the-south
- The music sessions have been really popular with the young people, whom have been able to express themselves through the mic, creating their own beats as well as some being involved in radio adverts for the programme
- 1:1 mentoring in 2 schools and 3 hub sites with over 30 young people
- Key deliverers: COB Wheelchair Basketball, Lorrell Dance, Youth to Legend Fencing and Birmingham Playcare Network
- The 'MADFam' volunteer programme has started, with over 20 new volunteers involved
What will 2019 bring?
The plans for MAD in 2019 are endless. There will be surprises throughout the year so keep an eye out across our social media pages…
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/madbirmingham/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/MadBirmingham
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/madbirmingham/
Best Wishes,
Emily
Posted: Fri, 14 Dec 2018 11:43 by Emily Wade
Rumai's Story
Rumai is one of many supporters for the MAD project.
Every week, he turns up to play with the kids at Holford Drive Sports Hub in Perry Barr.
His personality makes him a great influencer, and one of the young people have even said 'I want to be like Rumai'.
Holford Drive would not be the same without him and that's why he has developed with us, through the #MADFam experience, from a participant to a sessional worker.
You can read more on Rumai below.
You can hear more from Rumai on his experience with MAD Birmingham by watching the video on our YouTube channel below!
Posted: Mon, 12 Nov 2018 07:58 by Emily Wade
Supporting #YWW18
Youth Work Week (YWW) is an opportunity to explore the changing landscape for youth work delivery and a time to celebrate the incredible difference it makes to young peoples lives.
Youth Work Week 2018 ran from 5th – 11th November.
Our involvement in supporting last weeks celebration of Youth Work included the MAD team writing down what Youth Work meant to them...
You can view the #MADteam's thoughts on why Youth Work is important on the Instagram page here - https://www.instagram.com/p/BqErVYYD5pM/
The National Youth Agency (NYA) wants to recognise and raise the profile of the youth work profession and our impact on young people. Over the last decade youth work has seen significant change – youth work as a professional discipline less so – but the context in which youth work is used to impact young people has been transformed.
Posted: Mon, 12 Nov 2018 07:55 by Emily Wade
Q&A, about MAD with Jordane
Everyone has their own story to tell...
This week we have asked Jordanne, 16, a few questions in Q&A style on her experience with the MAD project.
Read below...
How did you find out about MAD Birmingham?
Through my friends at school
What does MAD Birmingham offer for you?
A safe environment to hang out and just a place to just chill and have fun.
What is your favourite part about the sessions?
The activities such as the music and sports with everyone
Why would you recommend MAD?
Because the leaders are great and understand the current youth compared to teachers or a parent
How has MAD helped you develop your skills?
It's made me feel part of a team and like someone cares about me and also being social able and talking to others
Has your self-confidence improved since being at MAD?
Yes it has, it has made me feel more confident and motivated to speak to different people.
If you would like to hear more on how you can get involved with the MAD project, please email mad@sportbirmingham.org
Posted: Tue, 16 Oct 2018 12:28 by Emily Wade
Summer in the South
The MAD team touched down in the South of Birmingham this Summer of 2018...
Bartley Green. Quinton. Longbridge.
With a range of pop-up activities and games for the youth, it brought them together in their communities to get involved and play!
The results were very rewarding.
Bartley Green
"I don't know what I would off done over the summer without you guys I haven't got money to take the kids anywhere so you guys have been a god send."
Quote from parent
The maximum number of kids on any one day was 29 attendances. Over the summer of an 8 week period, and 6 hours per week, a total of 157 attendances.
Quinton
"We need your team to come here every week."
Quote from parent
The maximum number of kids on any one day was 9 attendances. Over the summer of an 8 week period, and 4 hours per week, a total of 27 attendances.
Longbridge
"This is brilliant about time stuff happens for the kids there nothing for them to do."
Quote from parent
The maximum number of kids on any one day was 20 attendances. Over the summer of a 12 week period, and 4 hours per week, a total of 186 attendances.
With special thank you to our partners and funders, we could not have done this without you!
Partners: WMP/LOCAL COUNCILORS /BCPN
Funders: Active Citizens
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