Pennyburn Youth Club Trustee’s Annual Report
April 2023 to March 2024
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Contents Page Annual Report 2023-2024
| Chair’s welcome | 3 |
|---|---|
| Leader in charge Welcome | 3 |
| Background | 4 |
| Our purpose | 5 |
| Key priorities | 6 |
| Policies | 7 |
| Breakdown of programme | 8-10 |
| Photographic Evidence | 11-22 |
| Acknowledgements | 23 |
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Chair’s welcome
As the chair of the committee, I am constantly amazed by the amount of work that happens daily at Pennyburn Youth Club. As a past member, I understand the immense value of growing up in a youth club and the importance of having people there to support and nurture our young people. Annemarie and her team go above and beyond to bring out the best in our members. Their skills and qualities are highly regarded by our management team and local schools, which regularly utilize their services.
We have an excellent and robust system in place for finances and administration, which is overseen by our group of trustees. We meet regularly as a committee to ensure that all our policies are up-to-date and in line with current structures within the Education Authority (EA) and safeguarding policies.
Leader in charge Welcome
Pennyburn Youth Club thrived in 2023/24, delivering outstanding programmes for our members and receiving excellent ratings in our Moderations from the Education Authority (EA). We take immense pride in everything we do as a team, committed to working with young people and bringing out the best in all our members.
Despite another very successful year, I am disappointed that our funding does not meet the ever cost of living rise. Nevertheless, our club has, and hopefully will continue to have, an excellent reputation, with parents and grandparents now bringing their young people to the club they grew up in. I am grateful to have such a strong team of staff, volunteers, and committee members around me, supporting me as we navigate the uncertainties regarding funding. We will strive to deliver programmes as good as before. A heartfelt thanks to all our parents for their unwavering support and for allowing us to be part of your children’s lives.
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Background to our charity
Background to our charity Pennyburn Youth Club was set up in 1966 in a local primary school for young people living in the Pennyburn Area. After the club was established and proved popular and successful a purpose-built building was built in 1975 on the main Derry to Donegal route. Pennyburn Youth Club has always been described by service users a home from home. A friendly staff team who has every child’s need at heart. The Youth Club when originally built had four full time staff members however, today it has only one full time staff member and six part time staff members inclusive of a cleaner, caretaker. The youth club offers a programme of education, leisure, and creativity. Over the past forty nine years in the current building the club has helped in the development of teachers, youth workers, footballers, hairdressers, classroom assistants, radio presenters and much more talented group of members. The club’s programme has moved from not only youth club based to school based.
The club has strong links with Ardnashee School, and college formally known as Foyle view School and Belmont House schools for over twenty-five years. This strong partnership allows young people from the school to attend daytime programmes at the youth club. This in turn allows them to socialise in a safe environment and once established most of them have enjoyed participating in the life of our youth club. with programmes within the schools and the youth club. One of the biggest developments was the introduction of an inclusive youth club night.
Our current membership is broken down into juniors, intermediates, seniors, and inclusion members. We pride our self in having an excellent staff team who support each other and all our young people.
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Our purpose
The purpose of Pennyburn Youth Club is to encourage young people to participate in a wide range of activities appropriate to their age and stage of development. To assist young people in their personal and social development to encourage growth in self-esteem and confidence and help young people to learn from their experiences and cope with positive and critical feedback. To help young people to participate in the life of the unit, to express their views and play an active part in their planning and management of their own activities. To help young people to gain a greater understanding and respect for their own traditions and those of others by engaging in programmes that reflect the principles of equality, diversity and inter dependence. To assist young people to become aware of their rights and responsibilities as active citizens. To promote the welfare and safety of young people always.
All the above is evidenced in our daily work with young people. We are committed to meeting all the needs of the young people we work with and those who come across our path from other agencies. Our youth club provides opportunities for youth development, youth voice and reflection through a variety of programme from life skills to committee training. All our youth programmes recruit young people on these programmes some of which take on leadership opportunities, participate in activities that improve the community, and are trained and mentored to work alongside other staff members.
This purpose include has increased our links within the community and allowed for residents to participate in voluntary opportunities. our activities also give opportunities for young people to engage within the arts, community development, inclusion Good relations, citizenship, training, education, volunteering, social events, and residential activities. These activities and participate in the life of the youth club have and will continue to increase the social skills and development of young people, improve mental and physical health.
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Key Priorities
Our recent members survey has shown the need for work in following areas.
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Coping Skills: Helping members handle conflicts with friends, peers, and family.
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Buddy Programme: Assisting members who struggle to form friendships.
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Our Rights: Educating seniors at risk of antisocial behavior.
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Five Steps to Well-being: Focusing on overall well-being in all programs.
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Basic Cooking: Teaching cooking skills to those heading to university and learning to make meals at home.
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Basic IT: Equipping young people with fundamental online skills.
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Self-Awareness: Boosting confidence, self-esteem, and self-advocacy.
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Lawfulness Education: Educating about legal age requirements and responsibilities.
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Internet Safety: Teaching about support circles, age groups, and avoiding scams.
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Citizenship: Promoting good citizenship and social action projects.
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Environment: Emphasizing the importance of keeping the club clean and tidy.
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Our current policies are outlined below and will be reviewed within the year.
| Policy | Currently Implemented | Planned |
|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding (includes Child Protection; CSE/eSafety) |
yes | We plan to review these next year 2025 |
| Health & Safety | yes | |
| Equal Opportunities | yes | |
| Staff Development | yes | |
| Absence Management | yes | |
| Use of Internet | yes | |
| Special Needs Policy | yes | |
| Policy on Confidentiality | yes | |
| Anti-Bullying Policy | yes | |
| Substance Misuse, Drugs and Alcohol Policy |
yes | |
| Recruitment and Selection Policy |
yes | |
| Access NI Policy & Procedures |
yes | |
| Vulnerable adults policy | yes |
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As a team of youth workers and young people, we co-designed a 6-week coping skills programme. The programme was developed through a PowerPoint presentation, which served as the key methodology. We focused on getting to know each other, the importance of evaluation, and addressing hopes and fears to ensure everyone felt supported during the programme. We explored breathing techniques, coping skills, and maintaining positive relationships in areas such as family, peers, social interactions, and school. The young participants reported that their lives have improved as a result of the programme, and they are now helping their peers with the coping skills they learned at the youth club.
We also set up a befriending programme that emphasized tolerance, acceptance, and respect through a buddy system. This initiative has helped our members understand and appreciate the diversity within our society. The young people engaged deeply with the main themes, discussing each area and recording their thoughts on flip charts. The methodology involved PowerPoint presentations, followed by tasks using flip charts and small group discussions. The young people became highly engaged, with some openly discussing their disabilities and sharing their experiences. This brilliant programme will continue to involve others in the club, promoting inclusivity and tolerance. Many of the young people who buddied up have remained friends outside of the programme.
Our rights programme was initially planned for the 14+ age group. However, after conducting an intensive session with PSNI before April, we decided to extend it to a younger age group. This group showed great interest, and we used art and video methodologies to provide them with appropriate information. The young people learned IT skills, such as going online and printing letters for other participants to colour in, and helped create our rights notice board. They developed a strong understanding of their rights and how these affect them. This excellent piece of work will continue, with the notice board now displayed in our hallway. Our members have gained confidence, leadership, organizational, and teamwork skills.
Young people co-designed flipchart-sized posters, currently on display in our back hall, to share their understanding of the five steps to wellbeing with others in the club. This was presented to nearly 25 additional young people. The participants have become more observant, taking greater notice
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of people and things within the youth club. They encourage others to participate in games in the hall as part of staying active. As a result, some of these young people have progressed to the intermediate committee, helping them develop a sense of belonging and giving their time to receive training, assist with the door, help with breaks, and co-design future programmes. Young people learned how to make basic food items like lunch snacks and breakfast. This programme was co-designed and delivered by young people and staff. Participants took part in a "Cook It" programme with the Foyleside DEA, funded by Derry City & Strabane District Council. Young people will continue with basic tasks, such as making toast and biscuits, as part of their roles in the intermediate club. We hope to apply for small grants this year to expand this initiative across the club.
This programme is ongoing, with members having had too much on their plates initially, but it is expected to begin in early October and continue into quarter three. The young people are almost finished with their training and have been part of the planning team for the summer programme. Senior members participated in a teambuilding residential at Tullagh Bay on June 23rd, engaging in activities like raft building and crate assembly. The group co-designed the residential with staff, planning each aspect from food to activities and schedules.
Members have started looking around their own areas, discussing behaviour and risk-taking behaviours, and participating in a visit around the walls. Another visit is planned in the coming months, which will be part of a residential around November 11th. Members have also participated in workshops on tolerance and respect and are in the process of designing a new poster. We hope to continue this work with links to the PSNI, the Cathedral Youth Club, and a local agency to design a comic on this topic.
A second group of members took part in a "Cook It" programme over six weeks and earned certificates. Members are currently helping with snacks at the junior and intermediate clubs as part of their programme. They also assisted with lunches for other members over the summer months. Members have been involved in our summer programme, allowing them to visit their own city and providing opportunities for volunteering and leadership. They took on leadership roles as team leads and assistant team leads with various age groups, fostering good relations across the youth
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club family. Our members also participated in an interclub residential to Gortin with four other clubs in the Foyleside area, involving two voluntary and two EA clubs. Members co-designed a residential over the Halloween break with both disabled and able-bodied young people, focusing on good relations, tolerance, respect, and building relationships. We visited Corrymeela, a peace and reconciliation centre, where 22 members of our group participated in a co-delivered programme. The residential concluded the good relations work, with young people progressing in areas not initially planned.
A new committee has been established, with training scheduled for October 2023, running for four weeks and culminating in a residential at the youth club. Committee members will take on leadership roles, organizing games and making key decisions for the night. The senior committee has now split into two committees due to high interest. We anticipate that older members, who are nearly 18, will begin to drift away after Christmas, so we have formed a new group to take the lead from the older members. This new group is working on completing a small grants application.
Our five steps to wellbeing programme is planned for quarter three, involving members in identifying the needs of others by completing a small grants form to secure funds. Members will not only learn and participate in the five steps programme but also receive training to take on more responsible roles within the club, stepping up to volunteer and help recruit new volunteers for all our youth club areas. Members are currently working on an anti-bullying programme, using PowerPoint as the methodology for delivery.
I recently completed a course on digital awareness, which opened my eyes to the dangers of the internet for our young people. The participants benefited greatly, becoming aware of support circles, password control, and online safety. The programme also helped us understand what young people do with their time outside the youth club or school. As a result, we have asked all our intermediates to refrain from bringing mobile phones or other devices to the youth club and have sought parental support in this effort. So far, only members with shared parenting bring phones, but they store them in the office upon arrival at the youth club.
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Awards Day
Thank you for taking the time to review our report. Over the past 46 weeks, our young people have participated in 28 programmes, with 330 young individuals receiving certificates at the annual prizegiving. We delivered an excellent selection of courses that not only provided new skills but also boosted their confidence and self-esteem, developing them into positive role models for other club members. Our amazing team has worked hard on delivering all these programmes, and I take great pride in the teamwork and leadership shown by each member. Without our team, from management to members' committees, this youth club would not exist, and I am extremely thankful for all the support and commitment.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EA Youth Service for their ongoing funding to help facilitate this youth club. I also want to thank Youth Alliance for their continuous support, training, and efforts to help our youth club secure funding, allowing us to continue supporting our members.
Annemarie Bell
Leader in Charge
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