It’s a programme to make sure that singing is at the heart of every primary school child’s life. We believe that singing has power to change lives and help to build stronger communities.

Website: Sing Up

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Positive: Teenager who had ASBO revoked is to be Ambassador

At the beginning of the year, Jake Warburton-Jones was hit with an Asbo – but after turning his life around, he has been announced as an Ambassador for the Special Olympics.

The 17 year old became only the second person in Leicester to have the order wiped out, following months of hard work trying to improve relationships between teenagers and pensioners on the Thurnby Lodge estate.

After reading Jake’s story in the Leicester Mercury, Special Olympics Director, Steve Humphries decided he would be a perfect role model to help promote the games, which are being held in Leicester in 2009.

The teenager joins some of Leicester’s most famous sports stars, including Gary Lineker, Martin Johnson, Mark Selby and Milan Mandaric, to act as a spokesman for the event.

Jake said he was ‘really pleased’ his efforts since receiving the Asbo had paid off.

He said ‘I got a letter asking if I wanted to do it, so I said yes. I’m really pleased, although I’m not sure exactly what I’ll be doing yet. It’s good that all the stuff I’ve done has been recognised so I’m pleased. My mum’s really pleased as well’.

Jake was given an Asbo in January, after intimidating residents and shop workers in Thurncourt Road.

Since then, he has been determined to change his life for the better, and recently organised a trip to Skegness for more than 50 pensioners and youngsters living in Thurnby Lodge.

Again, when his story was told in the Mercury, anti-social workers discovered the positive impact the teenager was making on the community, and his order was removed.

Mr Humphries said Jake is a positive role model for other teenagers.

He said: with the Games we really want to reach out to all communities, people from all walks of life, and we need people to spread the word about what is happening. Jake is a perfect example of a young person who is really making a difference, and that is being recognised. I saw his story and I was blown away – I thought it was fantastic’.

Article from Leicester Mercury 19th July 2009 - Written by Gemma Peplow

Editor: Citizens Eye is supporting a new project called Inside ‘n’ Out Magazine.

It focuses on those who choose not to re-enter the Criminal Justice System and how they achieve the challenge of re-entry to a community ‘outside’ that is sometimes harder than the period ‘inside’.

It will seek to be an independent platform for those on both sides to share their factual experiences and hopefully provide better communication through understanding.

The project will provide ex-offenders with a volunteering opportunity to share their experiences and hopefully inform young people in the early stages of their ‘career choice’, what awaits them unless they ‘choose’ a different path.

www.inomag.org

Time to spare?

Interested in Media?

FREE TRAINING

A new and exciting opportunity for a team of young people to work together to:

• Design a Vinvolved volunteering website
• Report on Vinvolved projects & events
• Provide news coverage via a citizen blog
• Upload pictures and information
• Promote forthcoming Vinvolved events
• Invite & interview young people to have their say!
• Publish a community magazine

Gain Practical Experience!
Learn new skills!
Be part of a team!
Make new friends!
Have fun!

Contact:

Tricia Reynolds – tricia@voluntaryactionleicester.org.uk - 0116 2575046
Joanne McCarthy – Joanne@voluntaryactionleicester.org.uk - 0116 257 4984

Registered charity No. 509300 and Company Limited by Guarantee No 1357513
Registered in England and Wales VAT No. 485600928

From 10am to 3pm, there are many different activities including:

• climbing wall
• urban rebounding
• reaction wall
• water slide
• den making
• book bus
• boat building
• fishing in the fountain

plus much more on the day

Young people will be engaged as journalists for the day to report back on the event itself.

Come along and join in the fun.

The Playday has been organised by Leicester City Council and is open to the public.

For further details please contact Ray Tunks on 0116 252 6022.

Contact email address: ray.tunks@leicester.gov.uk

www.activities4u.org

Why not let Citizens Eye know what activity you did and become a Citizens Reporter with your own Novalet blog.

Sharing your experiences could help others!

YouthHealthTalk (YHT) is a national charity that produces the unique, award winning website www.youthhealthtalk.org about young people’s experiences of health and lifestyle. On the site you can watch, listen and read people talking about their real-life experiences.

We’re looking for young people who can help us to produce a new site, designed for young people about depression and low mood. If you would like to take part and are over 16, our researcher, Ulla, would visit you and ask you to talk about your experiences or make a video diary. You can choose whether we use a video, audio or text version of your interview. You can even have an actor speak your words!

For more information, call, text or email Ulla. If you then decide you don’t want to take part - no problem.

Please contact Ulla Raisanen
Email: Ulla.Raisanen@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
Call: 01865 289324
Text: 07805 828792

Your experiences could help other young people. Listening to others with similar experiences can provide support and help people realise that they are not alone.

YouthHealthTalk & DIPEx Research Group, Dept of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF.

For two full and exciting weeks, these young people will compete in seven sports (football, cricket, basketball, athletics, badminton, table tennis and archery) but also join together in educational activities, taking part in daily workshops on a wide variety of important issues such as health, drugs, crime and safety, the significance of role models and citizenship. In addition, there will be a strong focus on community cohesion and on intercultural engagement and activities.

Eurosom takes place in a different location every year and is a fitting testament both to the enterprising and organisational qualities of Somali people across the European continent, and to the dedication and enthusiasm of host communities to take advantage of the joys and opportunities that working with young people in an area such as sport can bring. 7 European countries are taking part in the event including the UK, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Public and private organisations are provided with the opportunity to promote their businesses. This is particularly significant as a large proportion of the youths taking part in the event are from ethnic minority background. It is an event that we should all celebrate, irrespective of faith, nationality or culture. We therefore hope that your organization will be promoted at this event which has so far attracted media attention.

If your organisation is interested in signing up for a promotional package please contact YARYARE NUR – Event Promotion Manager Yaryare2@hotmail.co.uk

Ahmed Bile
Managing Director
St Matthews Community Solution Centre
10-14 Britannia Street
LE1 3LE

Tel:01162625300
Mob:07904401112

Children Summer Mandarin Class

The centre is going to run a Mandarin Class for children from age 8 to 11 and tutoring is by a professional tutor from Mainland China.  Apart from learning Mandarin, children also have chance to learn calligraphy, Chinese Art and craft.

Date:From 28th July 2008 to 20th August 2008 - every Monday and Wednesday
Time:10.30am-1.00pm
Venue:Leicester Chinese Community Centre
Fee:£50 per head for whole course (payment must be made before the course start)

Places are limited.  Don’t miss this chance for your children to learn this interesting language and have fun in the summer holiday’s.

For further information, please contact the centre’s staff.
Tutor and all staff in the Centre have CRB check.

Phone: 0116 2517583
E-mail: leicesterchinesecommunitycentre@hotmail.com

170A Belgrave
Leicester LE1 3XL

Leicester Chinese Community Centre

Summer Young Girls Scheme at Shama Women’s Centre

Shama Summer Activities 2008

39-45 Sparkenhoe Street, Leicester,LE2 0TD – 0116 – 251 4747

This list is provided as a guide only and is subject to change. For further details please contact playschemes direct.

Leicester Children’s Information Service, Freephone: 0800 952 5678, E-mail: early.years@leicester.gov.uk