Vision
Winchester YMCA’s Youth Empowerment Programme Based at St John’s House
The diagram shows what the full potential of the Youth Empowerment Programme could be and is dependent on funding, staffing levels and the needs of the young people. It will take time to develop and will be led by the needs of young people.
Through the “Y NOT” group, young people will be challenged not to just think about local and world issues that concern them but to act upon them to help bring about change in their world. They will also be encouraged to take up new activities in sports and the arts. The aim is to help young people see that they could achieve much more than they might at first think.
There will be opportunities to be involved with our international partnerships work and our work in Winchester through ’the Originals’, our young people’s focus group. An annual residential trip away will be planned and organised by young people for young people with support from our staff.
A key to any youth empowerment programme is the ability of the youth workers to form good strong working relationship with young people. The youth cafe’s ”Open sessions” will enable youth workers to focus on relationship building which will lead to the more structured parts of the youth empowerment programme.
Throughout the programme opportunities for volunteering will be available in Winchester YMCA and in the YMCA nationally. As young people become more involved there will be the need and the opportunity to develop leadership skills that relate directly to where they are and in the social circles where they mix.
On some Saturday nights our youth cafe will host gigs. These events will see bands playing that will be made up of local young people and they will have the opportunity to show their talents off to their friends.
In all these ways young people’s self esteem will grow, social skills will develop and positive friendships with peers will be made through the widening of social groups.
We Will Help Young People To Fulfil Their God-Given Potential
- We will engage with young people and listen to their concerns, issues and ideas
- We will serve as advocates for young people
- We will encourage young people to engage with their community and with the world
- We will help young people to have a voice and influence in their world
- We will give opportunities for young people to explore their spirituality
- We will empower young people to take advantage of new opportunities
- We will act to protect young people at risk of harm
- We value human dignity and respect the right of young people to make their own choices
