Until now, the likes of The Bridge Youth Centre, Monkstown Village Initiatives, Rathcoole Football Club (in conjunction with Listening Ear), Rathcoole Youth Centre and Monkstown Boxing Club have been working independently with their own young people but it was always intended that individual groups would be brought together to share their experiences, learn from each other and plan how THRiVE might best listen to the voice of children and young people moving forward.

So, early on Saturday 20^th April 24 young people and their youth leaders gathered at the Dunanney Centre before heading north to the Manor House Residential Centre in Moneymore.

Having quickly found their rooms and settled in, the group were transported to The Jungle NI where, after a delicious lunch they set about completing the 3-hour Team Building ‘Crystal Challenge.’

Returning to the Manor House after another meal at The Lazy Lama the focus shifted to group work sessions across the rest of Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Facilitated by Jim Peacock, Senior Voice and Influence Worker for Barnardo’s NI, and Claire Humphrey, Project Co-ordinator, THRIVE Newtownabbey, the young people on sharing their experiences of the process so far, before looking forward: coming up with ideas for developing the capacity of individual groups to work together and how this might impact within THRiVE and across Newtownabbey.

Thanks to Eurospar Rathcoole for donating the items for our lunch on the Sunday, and Belfast Mini-Coaches for getting us safely to and from the residential.

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The report highlights the positive impact THRiVE has had in the lives of children and young people and their families, over the latest reporting period and is split into the four main core priority areas: Aspiration, Attainment, Well-being, and Collaboration.

You can download a copy of the Impact report below:

THRiVE Impact Report 2022-23

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Alternatively, you can scan the QR code below: 

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#WECAN… Get Ready To Learn

From the beginning of the month, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, top tips from “WE CAN… Get ready to learn” a booklet developed in partnership with Abbey Sure Start  originally produced to help parents manage their children’s transition into pre-school post Covid lockdowns,  were re-shared on our Facebook page along with the link to the Transition Booklet (Digital version)

Pathways For Learning 

At the other end of the educational timeline, a series of videos featuring people with connections to the local area were created and shared on our social media platforms throughout the week between A Level and GCSE results days.

Brenda Doherty, Operations Manager at Abbey Sure Start, shared from her experience of the power of determination and never giving up when it comes to wanting to achieve something.

Amongst other things, Penny Lines, Manager of the Hopes Shop at Newtownabbey Methodist Mission shared how volunteering can be a useful thing to consider as a way to build you experience for the world of work.

Former MotoGP rider, Jeremy McWilliams focused on the importance of doing well at school even as you chase your dreams. He also stressed the importance of having heroes to look up to and mentors to learn from, as well as encouraging parents to be supportive of the aspirations of their children.

Finally, Dave Linton, founder and CEO of Madlug shared with great openness about his childhood, particularly the struggles he had with exams and the life changing realisation which dramatically increased his capacity to do well… and to thrive.

Each video will be used by THRiVE staff throughout the year as examples to encourage children and young people that #WECAN… learn.

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During the summer term, THRiVE Newtownabbey was delighted to be able to partner with the six local Primary Schools which are part of the THRiVE network of schools to deliver a bespoke workshop with Primary 7 pupils focusing on one of THRiVE key topics…

With primary 7 pupils having, not long ago, learned where they will be going to school after the summer holidays, and no doubt some thoughts already beginning to drift towards the summer holidays, this was the perfect time in the academic year to explore, through a mix of interactive discussions, what aspiration means; discussing the children’s opinions about how they can thrive as they go after their dreams, particularly as they journey the transition from primary school to post-primary school in the coming months.

During each hour-long session, the children had opportunity to share what their aspirations currently are. Interestingly, in every school, the children not only shared a range of ‘dream job’ roles but also suggested ideas about why they wanted to go after these roles and the type of community they would like to live in that will help them THRiVE.

The session also focused on the importance of role models: Why they are important and who they are, finishing up with each class generating ideas about how they might go after their aspirations to try to achieve them.  For this, children were asked to think about things such as what they thought their strengths and skills are, and left with the challenge of asking those people who know them best what they think their best qualities are, all with the purpose of helping them either uncover, or further, an aspiration.

 Over the course of each workshop three key themes emerged:

1. What does it mean to THRiVE?
2. What do you want to be in life?
3. What will help me THRiVE?

Today we are delighted to be able to share what the children said about the first theme, ‘What does it mean to THRiVE?”

Look out on our social media channels in the coming weeks as the information gathered in all the sessions will be shared during the summer and in the build up to the start new school year.  The information gathered from all the sessions will also be extremely helpful in shaping future sessions which are being planned for the new school year.

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The two-hour workshop was the latest collaborative event through which THRiVE Newtownabbey seeks to find relevant ways to help local children and young people THRiVE!

The workshop was open to parents of children who will be making to move from pre-school settings into local Primary Schools after the summer holidays and was an opportunity for parents to hear from Shirley Millar, Family Support Services Manager at Parenting NI & engage in conversations with other parents, with everyone supporting each other as they explored the uncertainties, expectations and challenges of parents and children during the transition from pre-school to primary school.

In addition, parents also had the opportunity to hear from Sarah Radcliffe, Help Kids Talk co-ordinator about that particular programme. Every parent present went home with resources from both organisations as well as a Transition focused booklet produced by THRiVE Newtownabbey in conjunction with Abbey SureStart.

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Spread across 14 weeks since early January 2023, Family Connections – Newtownabbey Programme and Parent Workers, Claire and Emma have been taking a group of local parents through THE INCREDIBLE YEARS programme.

The programme mixes information with time to relax in the company of other parents, sharing experiences and encouraging each other with learning together about everything from:

• Tips on promoting positive behaviour.
• How to manage your child’s big emotions.
• Motivating children through rewards and praise.
• Setting consistent rules and routines in the home.
• The importance of play in aiding development, communication and building relationships.
• Creative and imaginative play.
• Building up on our knowledge and how we can teach/educate our kids through play as well as building up their independence and improving communication and relationships.

Claire and Emma said

“ We have absolutely loved working with this amazing group of parents. It has been a privilege to watch them grow in confidence week by week. Their determination and commitment to The Incredible Years Programme was inspiring. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of this fantastic group of parents. “

11 Parents completed the course. They had lots to say about their experience of  The Incredible Years programme –

“This is just what is needed!”

“Very well-informed leaders.”

“Great Advice on communication and attention.”

“Learning to not ask so many questions and actively narrate what is going on is going to be extremely helpful for us.”

“The sessions are so helpful. They changed my approach to making my children listen to me and helped us make time to play together.”

“I learned how to ask better questions to my child and when not to ask any!”

“Getting the opportunity to role play situations was good. It meant we could practice what we learned in the sessions.”

“It’s great to get ideas from and share with other parents who are going through the same experiences. We really can help each other understand how to use what we learn when we are at home.”

“The best thing about the things we learnt on The Incredible Years programme is that everything we learnt actually works at home!”

“I got everything I expected and so much more from the programme, it was excellent!”

“I had a situation at a social event where my son had a tantrum and I was able to use the techniques I learnt on the course into practise and they really worked.”

“EVERYONE SHOULD BE TAUGHT ALL OF THIS BEFORE THEY BECOME PARENTS. I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE THIS COURSE BEFORE I BECAME A PARENT!”

What’s next for Family Connections – Newtownabbey?

In addition to continuing to support parents on a weekly basis, Claire and Emma are already turning their attention to running another Parentivity course during the summer term and also planning a series of family activities to take place during the summer…

Check out the Family Connections – Newtownabbey Facebook page for details.

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A particular highlight of the morning was the opportunity for parents and young people to speak about their experiences of both the BOOST programme in local Primary Schools and the In Your Corner project at Monkstown Boxing Club, in particular, how both have improved learning and achievement and boosted the confidence and wellbeing of the children and young people taking part.

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From all the posters completed a poster designed by Amy, a P5 pupil at King’s Park Primary School, was chosen as the ‘winning’ entry and on Friday 24th April, at a special school assembly, Amy’s  was presented with a WE CAN goodie bag and celebrated by her fellow pupils as her poster went on display for the first time.

Speaking about Amy and her poster, Mrs McCarey, Vice Principal of King’s Park Primary School said,

“At Kings Park Primary School we relish the opportunity to work along other organisations to help our children THRiVE. When it came to Safer Internet Day we were delighted to be able to encourage our pupils to take part in the poster competition as we know that the internet plays an important role in children’s life and education. When used properly it can be a very good tool helping children stay safe, healthy, and happy, but like so many things when not used properly it can have a more sinister side.

It was great to see so many children from the school take part in the poster competition with their finished posters showing how well they understood the message. What really made Amy’s poster stand out was how it captures so may key points in a child-friendly way but is also engaging for adults as well!

We look forward to continuing to play our part in the THRiVE collective helping children in this school and across the area do well.”

Copies of Amy’s poster have been distributed to schools and other settings across the community.

Keep a look out for it in a building near you!

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