LEADERSHIP Year one
About The Programme:
The year 1 programme follows on from Summer Camp and operates across the academic year. The steps within this programme focus a broad range of topics, themes and skill areas. We’ve details these below.
1 - Leadership & Skills Development
Accredited training delivered in partnership with Foroige Leadership for Life provides the young people with valuable ucas points upon completion of their booklets. Approximately 40 young people per year complete the qualification and attend a graduation ceremony in Galway University.
3 - Community Issues & Social Action
Looking at issues within R-Communities is vital to the development and understanding of the young people participating in the year 1 programme. Each year the programme selects relevant and arising issues in the Communities the participants live within to highlight and discuss.
2 - Goal Setting: Personal, Social & Educational
At the beginning of the year 1 programme the participants set out their individual goals on a personal, social and educational level. This process encourages each of them to focus on specific things they want to change, work towards or achieve within that year. During the programme regular opportunities are provided to chat on a one-to-one basis about their progress.
4 - Awareness
Regular guest speakers on topics of interest and relevance to the young people on the year 1 programme, supports participants to expand their understanding of specific communities, organisations and issues that they would otherwise be unaware of.
5 - Hemsworth Project
This aspect of the programme begins with Dementia friendly training and builds into a 4 week project working alongside and gaining an understanding of the lives of people with Dementia and those who live within the Hemsworth community. The young people build relationships with the residents, enjoying games and working together around the place.
6 - Christmas
Each year the participants are expected to give back to their own communities, in particular finding ways to support families who may be experiencing difficulties. This has at times been through the provision of food, clothes, toiletries and home visits.
7 - Belfast 2 Blanco (B2B) Prep
Linked with the year 1 process is the beginnings of the selection process for those who have the opportunity to become involved with the B2B programme (outlined overleaf).
Year 1 young people are supported to explore their expectations & prepare for the formal interview process for this programme. Each year the group are required to self select 4 members of their group, their peer votes who are automatically offered a place on the B2B team.
“R-CITY YEAR ONE HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF, SHOWN ME THAT I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT I DIDN’T KNOW I HAD, AND IS JUST SO MUCH FUN. LOVE MEETING THE GROUP EVERY WEEK AND DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ”
— Aimee, 17