Wild Wednesdays at St Barnabas School
St Barnabas foundation and year one pupils have enjoyed a year of monthly Wild Wednesdays. Funded by the Community Wildlife grant scheme the school employed the help of BTCV staff to develop and deliver a series of morning sessions for their pupils. The aim of the activites were to get the children out and about in the school grounds and local green space and to foster their enjoyment of the environment. Activites were developed to be hands on, fun and educational, taking the children into a world of mini beasts, environmental art and games and nature discovery. The seasonal weather changes were embrased and parents encouraged to join their children for the sessions.
Ready, Steady, BUGG
Congratulations to the BUGG who brilliantly designed, organised and ran a local food day for a special needs group in York. SNAPPY snapped at the chance to learn all about food hygiene and cooked delicious pasties and carrot cake from local produce. Everyone had a fantastic day and learnt lots of new skills and made new friends at the same time.
Project update
Here's a litle update from a young person on the York Youth Community Action Programme..."I really enjoyed the week I spent with the BTCV. We had three days at ‘Sleeper Path’ and one doing dry stone walling. I learnt how to make a fire, a kazoo and made a bench as well as cleaning the pond and a bit of weeding. We cooked the food on the fire which was really satisfying. The dry stone walling was hard work but the end result was brilliant! I would recommend anyone of any age to do conservation with the BTCV because it is just so much fun!"
Charity of the Year
I’m delighted to let you know that BTCV has been named Charity of the Year by Charity Times magazine.
BUGG training
BUGG (Buddy Up Green Group) are ready for their next project with SNAPPY after completing their Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (well done everyone). The next project is all about local food, healthy eating and organics so watch this space.
BUGG (Buddy Up Green Group)
The BUGG group has been very busy volunteering over the summer holidays with their first project group SNAPPY.
SNAPPY (Special Needs Activities and Play Provision for York) is a voluntary organisation that has been providing York's special needs community with an invaluable service for almost 25 years.
BUGG volunteered in the school holidays helping the young people from SNAPPY to make edible hanging baskets. The baskets had vegetables, herbs and even edible flowers in them! The Curry Plant (Helichrysum italicum) was a hit and everyone had a great day.
BUGG look forward to seeing the baskets in full bloom and would like to thank SNAPPY for all their hard work.
Feel Involved
BTCV York Youth are delighted to be taking part in the Feel Involved programme, York Youth Community Action for 14 to 16 year olds. Over the last three months the BTCV York Youth team has run volunteering opportunities for 655 young people with the aim of promoting volunteering amongst 14 to 16 year olds. Activities have so far included replanting the gardens of a respite home, compiling an OPAL worm survey, cleaning up an allotment, building a compost bin, painting an orchard fence, making benches, bramble bashing, a giant litter pick and making lots of bird boxes!
The Feel Involved programme, York Youth Community Action, aims to involve all 14 to 16 year olds in volunteering and community action activities to benefit young people and local communities. The programme, which will see 1.38 million invested in the city, is being managed by the City of York Council in partnership with the York Council for Voluntary Service and York Cares.
If you or your group would like to get involved contact us on york-education@btcv.org.uk or call Naomi on 01904 644300. More information can be found on the BTCV York Youth website at www.btcv.org/yorkyouth.
New BUGG logo
Here's the 'all new' BUGG logo designed by the committee. We hope you like it and see it around York as the group work hard on the project. If you'd like to take part in the project please get in touch. We have a few places left in the committee, or if you work with a group of disabled young people contact us to see how we can help run an activity for your group.
BTCV York Youth Big Tidy Up
We have joined forces with St Peter’s School in York to clean up Leeman Road Millennium Green in time for summer. The students who are taking part in the BTCV project are tasked with cleaning the site of unsightly litter as part of a week long project. Through their volunteering they have the opportunity to complete awards, be guided all the way through the environmental work they qualified BTCV staff.
The event is supported by Keep Britain Tidy, litter is a big problem but we can all do something about it to help keep England clean and tidy. Keep Britain Tidy’s campaign is set to get the entire country cleaning up and you can order your free clean-up kit now online at www.thebigtidyup.org!
If you have a site in mind, require further information or know of a group which you would like to get involved please contact Naomi on 01904 644300 or york-education@btcv.org.uk
Forest School at Rowntree Park
As part of the Park Active launch at Rowntree Park, BTCV and Brockendorff the Wizard had a magical day in the woods making fairy wands, toad tokens and even a magical colour changing, fizzing potion!
Those with extra wizardy skills even won a Wizard's Quest T-shirt (courtesy of Muddy Faces) and if they completed all of the challenges, they won a packet of seeds to plant in their garden over the summer.
York Youth Community Action
BTCV have been busy working alongside York Cares and Huntington School on their volunteering taster day. The whole Year 9 group spent a day experiencing volunteering and what's involved. The group did a fantastic job painting a fence, having a go at woodland management and even had time to make benches and bird boxes. Well done to all the group you did a fantastic job and we hope you take up volunteering in the future.
Greenprints Flagship project
Great news to start off the New Year! Joseph Rowntree School and BTCV York Youth has secured funding from SITA for a Greenprints Flagship project. The students will be creating a tree trail with interpretation boards around New Earswick for the local community to enjoy. Huntington School are also getting involved in events and are busy constructing in the snow. Well done to everyone and enjoy the project.
GreenPrints is a partnership of five of the country’s leading not-for-profit organisations, offering funding and practical support for greenspace improvement projects carried out by young people aged 16-25.
BUGG (Buddy Up Green Group)
Congratulations to the BUGG group who have been successful in gaining Yorkash funding!
The group of 13-19 year olds wrote the application, talked to the interview panel and secured funding to run the buddying project for a year. The group meet regularly to design, deliver and run activities for groups of young people with disabilities throughout York. The group receive training to run the projects and learn how to run fun, yet safe activities, such as creating hanging baskets, designing nature walks, bulb planting and willow weaving.
If you have a group who'd like to take part or have someone who may be interested in being on the comittee of young people please get in touch on 01904 644300.
Photos on Flickr
Want to see what York Youth are up to then have a look at our photos on Flickr.
