sian's SCVS blog

The Weblog Presentation

2006-02-08T16:35:00.000Z

Thank heaven’s it’s over at last I cant believe its over. Before the presentation we had a quick run through of the presentation, which I think didn’t go to well and I think the entire trainee’s would agree with me. We were all panicking and it was as if we had all forgotten that we had done the research and all we had to do is deliver it to a audience which we new anyway.
I’m not sure if knowing the audience was a bonus? Or a downfall? But to me it was a plus to me I felt more confident and comfortable delivering to people I know first before presenting it to total strangers.
2’oclock arrived time of judgement ha ha ha everybody started to arrive, I think the tea and cakes helped with people being on time. After tea and cake everybody took their seats, its seemed like there were a lot more people there but I think it was because the size of the room. I felt really nervous, my mind was blank and my hands were clammy. When I looked up at the audience they did make me feel a little more at ease, with there friendly face’s and I thought to my self this is not going to be as bad as I thought.
Jon made a nice warm welcome and went through the house keeping rules. After that the presentation started. I personally think we kicked off well, the audience looked engaged and interested in what we had to say and they were still smiling. I was still feeling nervous and trying to go through my part in my head but it just felt all jumbled up. My part came and it was over before I knew it, I didn’t feel my performance was as good as it could have been. But that’s what this is all about, trial and error and putting what went wrong right next time and I’m determined to do that for the next presentation. I think everybody did really and all the issue’s we had before the presentation didn’t show through. I think everybody was relieved that it was over and happy that we had done it. We had a few questions asked and I think we coped well with them answering the best we could and everyone was happy with our response (some of us even give examples). When talking to the other trainee’s after think we were all in shock we had done it, and done it when it mattered. This is the first time I’ve done a group presentation so it was all new to me, I learnt a lot from doing this presentation.

Things I’ve learnt from the presentation

Things do take time.
Communicating& working more efficiently in a group.
You have to allow for problems& complications, but try to prepare the best you can for them.
Working in a big group is hard even if you have only a small part.

Hope you all enjoy reading my blog and feel free to comment, and I would like to hear how the presentation went for everyone else?

The dreaded presentation

2006-02-07T10:45:00.000Z

well everybody its finaly here,(the presentation) the day of judgement ha ha how is everybody feeling about the presentation? im actually ok with it i feel confident at what im doing hope everybody feels the same? I have to be realy honest about the weblog project i wasnt to keen at first, BUT when i have had time to sit down when there has been a computer free ive found some very intresting blogs. I have also enjoyed sharing my experience's with eveyone, i hate puting things down on paper i enjoying talking more as everyone knows but with our busy lifes we havent got time to do that all the tim, so im realy happy that ive still been able to let eveybody know what ive been up to and knowing what everybody else has been doing to. I hope that the weblog will continue and i hope that everybody still leaves comments it has given me a real confidence boost when ive had comments left, so fingers crossed from me hope everyone else feels the same? let me no

conference in London

2005-12-02T09:39:00.000Z

I woke up on Monday 28th Nov feeling realy under the weather :-) and didnt want to get out of bed. But i new that i was ment to be going to London for a conference for working with Young People. To tell you all the trueth i didnt want to stay home and miss the chance of experiencing the conference, and hearing how people and projects in London are working. So with a cough and a cold i forced myself into SCVS. Ive never been on a tube before so i was quite excited to get to London. Alot of coughs and sneeses later we arrive in Paddington and we had to get the tube to Kings Cross, it was hetic there and it wasnt even rush hour. When we arrived at Kings Cross i got quite worryed all i could think of was the London bombings when i actually realised this was were some of it went on( New i was being silly though). The hotle wasnt far from the tube, so we got directions and headed on to the hotel. It was a nice hotel we had are own rooms each, sarah was very considerate to get me and eleanor smoking rooms. I had a nice enjoyable evening went for steak and a few drinks and then turned in for the evening. Bright and early still not feeling to good, full of a cough and a cold still :-( we set off for the conference that was in Islington which was only a sort tube ride away. When we arrived we were giving name badges and a welcome pack which had things like a list of names for the workshops and what exactly is going on through out the day. We all finished are caffine and went into a large room where the conference was being held. At first we were all told what the conference was all about and who funded it. There was two speaker that talked about there project which was funded by the Neboughood social fund. They also showed a 10minute video that young people had put together. Some of the young people wrote poems, some sang songs to express whats going on in there lives,communitys and how they were feeling. I throught it was a very touching video and realy got the message across, that projects like these can make alot of difference to young peoples lives and there communitys. After that the work shops began i had chossen a STAY SAFE work shop it sounded intresting plus i thought it would be good with line of work i am doing. It only lasted one hour with to projects giving small presentations. I found them realy useful and intresting, we dissuced alternitive ways you can get young people involved in the community and for the community to realise that the young people arent that bad. We were also told how some young people were making false calls to the publis services e.g fire badgade. These projects are in place to make theses young people realise by what they are doing is wasteing time and resources and by them doing what they were doing some lifes could be at risk. The projects worked closely with the public services. They would take them on a training yard with all the right protective gear on and let them put small fires out. By the pictures i saw the young people enjoyed and the message was put across. There was also a motor bike project which learnt the young people how to ride the bikes safely, plus teaching the maintance of the bikes to. The work shop i attened in the afternoon was call Economic Welbeing wasnt sure before hand what this actualy intaled. But after speaking to Gethin over lunch he said he found it intresting and sure i would to. I walked into the work shop and all i could hear was music being played, i just sat down, to me it sounded like black rap music?. It stoped and the projects give there preasentations, i cant remember what they were called? after 5mins of sitting there i was realy impressed with what the young people were doing. Some of them are very creative and have done many different things like making and designing clothes for a cat walk they did. Now in there project theve managed to rent some were to open a shop and sell the clothes they make to keep the project stainable. This will also help the young people gain many new skills for example customer care skills,basic skills,work in a team in a real life environment and much more. I did see some pictures of the clothes they had made and im sure the will make cash. I realy enjoyed the experience of being able to go to a conference in London and see how there working. Overall i had a good insite to how there working its no different to the way we are. The only thing ive got to say is theve got alot more cash to do it with. I would highly recomend anybody to go to this kind of conference. P.S SORRY ITS SO LONG AGAIN :-) HA HA

Princee Trust Awards

2005-11-18T13:58:00.000Z

Good Morning bloggers well I’ve got this massive smile on my face and if you saw me you would properly laugh lol well if you have not heard yet? I went to Cardiff wens evening for a Princess Trust award presentation. I was nominated for The Young Person Achiever of the Year. It was a really posh night all the women were in ball room dresses lol the men in tucks. The event was held in the City Hall and (I’ve got to say what a beautiful building) I felt quite under dressed but after a few free glasses of wine I soon relaxed .I didn’t know there was going to be celebs there either only noticed when I was having a cigarette outside and Noel (From Hearsay) and a guy from Corry was stood next to me. I actually had a conversation with them both. They were really nice. Noel turned round and said to me he’s really proud of young people like me having gone through some difficult situations and now actually doing what im doing for Employment and what im doing with the Alternative Curriculum Boys in Neath). I couldn’t belive actually how many people were there. There was a 3-course meal prepared and everyone tucked. After that the awards started with The Young Person Of The Year Award first. I was just sat there having no idea who was going to win the award? My name was called (OH MY GOD) I couldn’t believe it, I stood up burst into tears and made my way to the front of the stage were I was presented with the award by a celeb from Corry. Everybody was cheering and clapping I've never had that feeling inside me it was amazing a mix of tears,happiness and self acheivement. While I was on stage crying my eyes out because I couldn’t believe that I was voted and won the Young Achiever Of The Year. There was a short video clip of me explaining my experiences on the Princess Trust course, which I only finished in January this year, also where I am today and what im doing now. In the evening 45,000 was raised by people putting cash into pots plus there was a little auction all this is put back into Princess Trust. Overall it was amazing evening and I was happy to be a part of it. Im still BUZZING with happiness now I’ve come into work today and god news travels fast in this place everybody’s congratulating me and I cant stop smiling (my cheeks are hurting) Its so nice that everybody does recognises when you are doing something good and it just gives me the drive to keep on going and doing good. Well I feel so special Carol has asked me to meet the Trustee’s of SCVS and talk to them about my award. Also Sarah Bower and Julia has asked my to do a short speech at New Stadium for the Citizenship Partnership Party. So I get to go there again but im looking forward to talking to the children about my experience to date and hopefully set an example to some of them? Well that’s my aim. Think I’ve mentioned every think? Well I think I’ve mentioned every think? Im sure I will tell you lot all about when I see you. Hope all is well everybody x

sian's SCVS blog

2005-11-14T10:42:00.000Z

morning evreyone one well yet again my bus has broken down it cant take the strain off the cold weather,i can totaly understand i was freezing walking to get the bus this morning :-(. So im in the office in Neath waitng to get picked up.i wonder what my day entails today?i hope that i have a good day well hope my boys got out of bed on the right side?well i went to the New Water Front Museum on Fri for a sailing presentation. I received a certificate for passing an Introduction to Sailing course,and a Compendent Crew Certificate from Andrew Davies which is a A.M in Swansea. I t was realy nice to see some of the people i lived with before and it was a chance for me to tell them all what ive been up? and how much that im enjoying the traineeship :-) i also had the chance to look at the sailing pictures to. I will bring mine into SCVS if anyone is intresed? well better go my bus is here have fun everybody x

sian's SCVS blog

2005-11-09T13:36:00.000Z

Hey everyone well ive finaly had sometime to read people's blogs,Well our bus broken down so havnt had the presants of my well behaved boys in my company ha ha,Well i dont realy know what to say about my placement(not to good at writeing things down) could talk to you forever about it ha ha But that aint the attention of this Blogging thing is it ha ha my days change day by day we do have a set timetable which involves things like Basic Skills,Environmental Projects,ASDAN which is a new thing theve introduced to the course which is basically like Duke Of Endinbrough and are aim is to give these boys some sort of qualifications the could mabe use in the future?.Theres day to day activitys which i realy enjoy,Because one of them is sailing and as you lot know(I love sailing).It was quite funny the first time i took them(as some of the have huge ego's),there were five boys But only four of the actually went sailing. One of them was scared he might fall in But after seeing how safe it was and how much fun the othere boys were having he couldnt wait to do it the week after.But we havent been since as the weather hasnt been to good for them,But im icthing i dont care what weather But got to think of there safety first.Overall im realy enjoying my placement i feel i geting alot out of it and i would defenatly consider working with children like this full time Not just on placement.If anyone has any questions or if i can help? just blog me or email and get back wen i can as you all no its a busy life weve all got ha ha bye for now x

sian's SCVS blog

2005-11-09T10:07:00.000Z

hey guys hope all is good in the trainee world lol,well ive been ill for the past few days :-( been busy with my boys to.Took them Go Karting last week twice you should see my bruses,But i come 2nd and got a little medel.The boys werent impressed lol,Surpose the price you have to pay for having fun.dont no wot my day holds but im sure it will have it ups and downs.Thank you for all your comments and when i get time ill reply take care all x

my experience to date at SCVS

2005-10-26T14:50:00.000+01:00

I started work here just over four months ago (6th June 2005) I kind of remember my first day, I was scared and nervous But looking forward to it as well. I didn’t no what I was letting myself in for BUT I didn’t care as I had not been in employment for a long time due to the situation I was in. It was a very busy and hetic day meeting lots of different people and getting to know were I was going to be working. On that day we were asked to help out at the Grand Theatre, which was holding an Awards event for volunteers. Which I really enjoyed helping and seeing volunteers being rewarded for the time and work they put into volunteering. So from day one I felt happy and was looking forward to the Traineeship.
The projects ive visited as well have been interesting to visit because now I know were these organations are what exactly they do which will be useful for the future.
The training ive received has been excellent and very useful even though, in some training sessions I felt I haven’t got a clue what everyone was talking about couldn’t imagine how I could take all the information in and remember it all?
But now im on my placement which im enjoying every moment of, even the days were my boys are playing up and misbehaving. Ive found the knowledge ive gained and the training ive received is being put into practise. Which gives me a real sense of achievement :-) You guys wouldn’t believe how much ive changed since starting the traineeship; ive got a totally different out look on life and being given this opptunitie to do this sort of work is amazing. I’ve found in my experience it really doesn’t matter who you are? Or were your from? You can do any think if you put your mind to you. Trust me there is people out there willing help you, just have to get out there and grab it with two hands. Well that’s what ive done, Guess what im trying to say, is there are people around us willing to help and support us in work.

Message To Everyone- Keep Smiling And Enjoy work and blogging :-)

2005-10-26T10:55:00.000+01:00

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY :-)