Forum news
Archive - March 2009
Friday 20th March, 2009
Lowther Castle Regeneration (Click Below)
By Admin
Tom Chambers gives the youth view on a major regeneration project
Friday 20th March, 2009
Practical alongside Academic
By Admin
Dean Chappelhow argues for a mix of practical and academic learning
Friday 20th March, 2009
Leaving school for the world of work
By Admin
Friday 20th March, 2009
Fancy running your own business...?
By Admin
Friday 20th March, 2009
Hands-on approach pays off (click below)
By Admin
Wednesday 18th March, 2009
Alex & Sophie about Work Experience (click below)
By Admin
Alex Williams & Sophie Bee tell all about their experience of Work Experience
Wednesday 18th March, 2009
Its not how clever you are. . . (click below)
By Admin
Sarah & Fee argue that its not how clever you are; its how you are clever
Sunday 15th March, 2009
Our first experience at the Edge learner forum
By Admin
Our first experience at the forum was new and different. We learnt what the forum was about and how it works. Zoe and Colin were really nice and welcoming and they introduced us to everybody. Zoe and Colin were a great help, with the work and introducing us. Our first experience was fun and challenging, it was also nerve-racking because we were meeting new people. After we met everyone it wasn’t so bad. When we’re at the forum we get treated like adults instead of children where as at other meetings that are similar to this we do get treated like children. The forum is really interesting, it gives people something to do on a Sunday. It helps us to get an insight of whats going on in Rural Sussex. Zoe and Colin told us that we get opportunities to get involved in different activities like; voluntary work, get involved in projects, designing.
Tuesday 10th March, 2009
First Role model interviews at System group
By Admin
Role model interviews at System group Carlisle. Sarah Haughan and Harrison Ward recently filmed our first interview for learning role models with three accountancy students in Carlisle. We interviewed the girls on the pros and cons of their individual educations and asked their opinions on practical learning and academic learning; and what was best for them. The three girls have achieved a lot since they started their training; they made it to the finals of the UK skills event held in London in late 2008 the highest place they could achieve in the accountancy category. We asked them questions like “How would you describe your educational experience” and “What advice would you give a young person who felt an academic route was not for them?” The film will be available soon – Watch this space ! ! ! !
Tuesday 10th March, 2009
Brathay Eagle Crag Consultation
By Admin
This article was written by two forum members to be included in the Futures supplement in the West Cumbrian Times and Star newspaper.
Eagle Crag by Nick Hagan and Simon Binns
In the crippling cold of a January evening, Simon, Sam and yours truly jumped off the train in the heart of the Lake District. As representatives of the Edge Learner Forum (ELF) we had one destination in mind; Brathay Hall.
A stately, ivy-hugged building squatting on the shores of Lake Windemere, the Hall is flanked by an expanse of stunning countryside.
For the last few years, The Brathay Hall Trust has been collaborating with young people on a direct, honest basis to make its centre more youth-friendly.
Our members were more than happy to get involved with a project putting youth opinion at the very core of its development. This project is the development of a new accommodation and learning centre called Eagle Crag.
Following on from an initial brainstorm last year, ELF members from London and Cumbria were invited back to the centre, to catch up on the project’s progress and help shape the next stage.
So, the next day we met with the project’s lead architects to review developments. Results were positive, with members satisfied that their suggestions from last time had been fully taken on board in the plans for the revamped Eagle Crag accommodation.
Next came the real work; a vision for how the centre should be furbished, to make the facilities truly appeal to young visitors. Splitting into two teams, ELF members wasted no time in cooking up a space to truly appeal to young people. The focus was on functionality and style, with ideas ranging from drop-down TVs to making rooms customisable, by including moving walls and ceilings!
Brathay seemed to take a lot from involving young people in the design of the new living space for their young service users. With the young people, architects and Brathay staff all working in complete partnership they were able to build a powerful working relationship.
Godfrey Owen (CEO of Brathay) spoke of how important investment into the young people involved was. By giving them such a full ‘Brathay’ experience and having them working on the team from the very beginning of the project, as creators and not evaluators, led to an all round better result. And guess what? The young peoples’ ideas actually saved Brathay money.
This project was presented to Chief Executives, policy makers and many other delegates at a high profile event held in London by the Big Lottery Fund as a pioneering triumph in public involvement. For more information on the event go to: (http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/public_involvement_live.php)
The young people involved took away a real feeling of accomplishment and confidence in their own ideas as they saw the change that their opinions made. Brathay staff are now fully equipped for working alongside young people which can only build on the types of interactions future service users have with staff members.
The Edge Learner Forum is a nationwide network of young people, trying to change the face of the education system. We believe in learning by doing and engaging young people with the type of teaching they best take in. This whole experience has made Brathay an even more inspiring place.