“Head’s Up” is a year long personal development and support programme, designed to promote continued progression and achievement in school. The programme engages pupils, parents and school staff in a bid to provide comprehensive support and development opportunities for participants of the programme.
School Programme
The “Head’s Up” team engages 80 S2 pupils (40 Vale of Leven Academy, 40 Our Lady and St Patricks High School) on a weekly basis. The participants are excused from afternoon classes once a week in groups of ten. During these sessions the young people are involved in a wide spectrum of workshops and themed activities. These sessions are structured to promote confidence, integration, and team working as well as informally educating the participants on issues facing young people within their local communities.
The “Head’s Up” team deliver the majority of these sessions but on specialist issues we enlisted the help of local service providers. These include: D.A.C.A (alcohol), Alternatives (drugs), Youth-2-Youth (sexual health), plus any other appropriate provider.
At the end of their year on this programme The “Head’s Up” team aim to progress these young people into the Tullochan Trust Club.
After-School
We also deliver a comprehensive after school package for the young people. These include sporting activities such as football, self-defence, and fitness (aerobics etc).
Careers
Once per week the participants have the opportunity to visit Clydebank College to try a variety of vocational subjects from the college curriculum. These taster sessions include: Carpentry & Joinery, Bricklaying, Plumbing, Painting and Decorating, Mechanical Engineering, Auto Engineering, Computing, Hair, Make-up and Beauty.
This is an extremely important part of our programme, using the skills and knowledge gained from attending the college we aim to break down the barriers that prevent some young people continuing their education. Moreover, this enables the young people at an early stage to begin thinking about which career path they would like to pursue on leaving school.
Club Nights
Once a week the participants attend a youth club night, this is an opportunity for the groups to mix in an informal, fun environment. The club night allows the young people to integrate and make new friends from the other areas and schools. During this time, the young people have access to a cyber-suite, pool tables, table tennis, music facilities, chill-out areas and arts and crafts.
Outdoor Education
One of our key development tools is the outdoor education element of our programme. Having used this element over the years it has proved time and again to increase the participants self esteem and confidence in their own abilities and also encourages co-operation and team working. The participants have the opportunity to engage in several activities during the course of the programme. These include: rock climbing and abseiling, gorge walking, cannoning, camping and camp craft, and much more.
For some of the youngsters this may be the first time they have been away without benefit of family. In doing their own chores, cooking, cleaning, making beds they quickly get a sense of independence and become more capable of looking after themselves.
This often proves to be extremely challenging, but the majority of the young people finish the programme with feelings of elation and achievement.
Holiday Activities
During the course of the year, we provide holiday programmes, this enables us to continue contact with the young people when they are not in school. Our main holiday programmes are delivered during October week, Easter, and the summer holidays. The activities provided are usually identified by the young people themselves, this gives them a sense of ownership and makes for an innovative and fun programme.
Contact Information
For more information on the “Head’s Up” programme, please contact the Project Coordinator on 01389 606656 or 0771 745 4197 or email james@tullochan.org.
