Woodrush Star June 2013 | Page 12

YOUTH & COMMUNITY Woodrush Youth And Community Welcome! Over the last few months it has been very busy at Woodrush Youth & Community Centre. We’ve had football tournaments, a day trip to an Age UK day centre, we’ve started our very own fundraising campaign, our annual talent showcase Youth’s Got Talent and much more. In addition, to this we have also started allowing Year 6 pupils to attend our Junior Night in order to help with transition whilst developing our new welcome pack ready for September. We hope you enjoy reading about all of our fantastic events that have happened over the past few months. Defibrillator/ Fun Run (Article by Oliver year 12) Every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions. These heart conditions lead to sudden cardiac arrest. This is where a person’s heart beat becomes irregular and where CPR and Defibrillation (as you’ve probably seen in Casualty) is urgently required. Defibrillation (an electric shock) must be delivered within 10 minutes of a person entering cardiac arrest so time is vital. With the support of Worcestershire Ambulance Service, The British Heart Foundation & Martek Medical, A member of our management team decided to try and raise some money 12 to buy an Automated External Defibrillator to protect both Woodrush students and users of our Sports facilities. With the support of Worcestershire Ambulance Service, we are also looking to make this life saving device available to save lives in our surrounding community. In order to raise this money we will be conducting a number of activities on the 12th July during a non-school uniform day with the funds raised going to this worthy cause. Moreover, our Youth Committee decided that we should participate in the Wythall & Hollywood Fun Run and gain sponsorship for doing so. On the 14th July we will be taking part in the race and we are hoping to raise enough money along with the activities we have organised in school to buy this life saving piece of equipment and get it in place for September 2013. Woodrush Youth and Community visits AGE UK (Article by Chloe W, Heidi M, Ollie M) On the 19th June 2013 young people from Woodrush Youth and Community Centre and Woodrush Community Farm went on a visit to Dennis Potter Courts Age UK. We (Chloe, Heidi, Ollie, Lauren, Grace, Lois and Lauren) presented our project to a group of 20 members of the day centre before the animals were let loose for a close encounter with the elderly members of our Community. In the mix were kittens, guinea pigs, rabbits, a bearded dragon and a snake. The Youth management consultation with the NHS Recently a selection of Committee and Management members from Woodrush Youth and Community Centre had a meeting with Ahmed Hussain who is Worcestershire’s NHS Community Development Officer. He invited us to have the first input towards a young people’s consultancy board. The meeting was productive and we were invited to be part of the boards first set up meeting. On arrival we were able to talk to a range of influential members of the NHS Trust Board including Chris Burdon, Chairman of Worcestershire Health and Care Trust. After a short presentation on the trust itself and the work they have done so far we then discussed the structure, function and priorities that our youth board will focus on. Our group presented a range of detailed ideas and impressed the staff who highly commended our work. The trust are now collating all our ideas and working towards setting up another meeting. It was a good experience for all involved and we are looking forward to giving young people a voice from Woodrush Youth and Community Centre. Chloe W , Heidi M & Ryan J