Youth Club

Buckland Newton Youth Club is a new

initiative run voluntarily by villagers for the

young people of the village. It aims to

provide a safe and stimulating environment

for 11-16 year olds to meet, relax and have

the opportunity to join in a variety of

structured activities including music

sessions, film nights, bake-offs and sport

events. The club will also endeavour to

foster strong links with all age groups

within the village through organising

special events for the community.

Buckland Newton Youth Club meets on a Tuesday evening between 18.30 and 20.00 in Buckland Newton Village Hall, during term time. It is open to all young people aged between 10 (Year 6) and 18 from Buckland Newton and the surrounding parishes, and is run by local volunteers . Some additional help to run the Buckland Newton Youth Club is needed.  Could you help?   Please get in touch with Kate Parish on 07860 582362 / 01300 345497 or parishkate0@googlemail.com   Each week young people are given the opportunity to try their hand at cooking something new in the kitchen, whilst other activities are provided in the main hall and/or on the village green (when the weather permits), such as: • Football • Rounders • General Club Nights • Arts & Crafts • Wii Games • Pamper Nights • Drama & Art Workshops The Youth Club charges £2.50 a head to attend per night, which covers the Club’s general day-to-day running costs. However, to ensure the Club’s finances stay in a healthy position and to be able to provide a wider range of activities to the young people at little or no cost, Buckland Newton Youth Club needs to raise approx. £1,000 a year.

Youth Club Committee Members needed!

I have now been running the Youth Club for the past year and enjoy meeting and working with the young people, but I cannot do it alone. The Youth Club currently needs Committee Members - especially a Treasurer and a Secretary. These are not arduous positions, the Committee only needs to meet three times a year. I'd also like to find some older young people (aged 16+), perhaps some that had previously attended the Youth Club, to volunteer as young leaders on a Tuesday evening. Dorset County Council provides accredited young leader training, which would be a great asset to any young person's CV when applying for jobs, apprenticeships and University - and once obtained will almost always guarantee volunteering and part-time paid opportunities in the future. So don't let the world stop turning in Buckland Newton - or the Youth Club stop running. 12 hours a year is probably all that is required of Committee members and young leaders would be asked to give up two and a half hours a week on a Tuesday evening (term time only) between 1800 - 2030, plus training over a few Saturdays in Dorchester. You never know if we get enough young volunteers we could even start at rota?! If you are unsure or want further information then do please contact me, it doesn't hurt to ask questions and if after you've asked you don't think its for you, then at least you've made an informed choice. I look forward to hearing from people, young and old soon! Kate Parish, Youth Worker & Volunteer Email: parishkate0@googlemail.com Tel: 07860 582362 / 01300 345497

Ambition Quality Award

BNYC is the first Youth Club in Dorset  to be awarded the Ambition Quality First Steps kite mark.  ‘Ambition Quality is the quality standard for the youth sector and the only one providing supported achievement for youth provision of any size.  Youth organisations who want to develop and improve, consider quality standards as a vital part of their work.  Choosing the right approach is key to the organisation’s future.  It is about knowing you are doing a good job, improving performance and ensuring you can demonstrate quality in a competitive sector.’ As far as BNYC is concerned, we submitted our portfolio of evidence and underwent practical assessments through visits to the Club: our submission was then adjudged to have achieved the First Steps Quality Mark, the first in Dorset.  The Assessor report stated “you provide an interesting and varied programme for young people.  You have also consulted with young people to see what sort of activities they would like - and the programme reflects this.  The organisation encourages young people to participate in club activities and witness testimonies clearly outline how they are welcomed, enjoy what they do and feel safe.”  It then goes on to say “The club considers risks and ensures appropriate measures are in place to protect staff, volunteers and young people.  The code of conduct is really good and encourages young people to take responsibility for their actions.  Risk assessments are well considered and provide a record of appropriate actions”. Their final comment states “Staff, volunteers and Dorset Youth Association are extremely positive about the work of the group and this is echoed by the young people - well done!” Well done to all concerned at the Club and long may we continue to work towards meeting the needs of young people in Buckland Newton.

Buckland Newton’s Talented Youth!

The final of the Dorset Youth Association Talent Contest took place in the grand setting of Herrison Hall, Charlton Down. The contest was open to all youth clubs across Dorset, and I can report that after the County wide auditions, Buckland Newton Youth Club had five acts through to the final. The final had the contestants divided into three age categories, and we had acts in all three categories. Marcus Higgs went first in the 8-12 category singing ‘Something I need’ and was a very creditable runner-up to a boy from Milborne St. Andrew. The next category was the mixed age acts with participants aged from 8 to 19 and I’m delighted to report that Emily Mitchell, Charlotte Higgs, Katy Holland and Isabella Santos (with a cameo role from Faye Nickesson) won this category dancing to ‘Uptown Funk’. We also had both runners-up in this group with William Oswald and Jack Royal singing ‘Lay me down’ and Kayleigh Royal and Isabella Santos singing ‘Four Chords’. In the senior grouping for contestants aged 13-19 years, we won this category with Vanessa Pace, Ellie Cheeseman, Freya Oswald, Millie Parsons, Rowan Legg and Kayleigh Royal singing and dancing to ‘Pitch Perfect’. So, what next?  Well, we have been very lucky to receive a further £4,000 grant from the Dorset County Community Fund to spend on equipment and hall hire.  We have lots of ideas about how to spend the money and will keep you informed with regular updates.  We would also love to have some more volunteers.  If you have a skill to offer, or if you would just like to help out on club nights, we would love to hear from you. The Club is open to Year 6 children and above.  Tuesdays will be our regular club night, 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm during term-time.  The project is possible entirely due to the generosity and overwhelming support of the villagers.  A huge thank you to those who have donated funds and equipment including (to date) the Village Fete Committee, the United Charities of Buckland Newton, the Church of the Holy Rood, Captain and Mrs Gueterbock and Andrew Stone Architect Ltd.  For further information please contact Kate Parish on 01300 345497 or e-mail parishkate0@googlemail.com