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Story telling
What are the Youth Action Team up to?
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Alumni
Emily gives an update of what’s going on.
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A right royal visit
Matt meets Prince Charles
FO C US N OW Project Updates EXPLORE Leadership Roots & Shoots A Day in the Park
Prince’s Trust 40th
A Right Royal Visit Meeting a prince. Well that’s one way of getting out of the office.
ISSUE 5 Summer 2015
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Scan this QR code and head straight to our website.
Keep up to date with us by checking out www.focus-charity.co.uk or pop in for a cuppa and find out how you could get involved.
the benefits that volunteering brings. Run at our FOCUS office in Leicester City, it can be tailored FOCUS’ Youth Action Team are
to your groups needs.
looking for youth groups and organisations to take part in our
Our
workshops
are
FREE
popular workshop that explores
and start in the summer (July/
volunteering.
August) so book early to avoid disappointment.
Our bespoke workshop ‘Outside The Box’ does just that.
Booking your session is simple,
Run by our Youth Action Team, they work with other youth groups using
a
variety
of
activities
exploring what volunteering is, the opportunities, barriers and
Open since 1988
RED BORDERS
INSPIRING PEOPLE, CHANGING COMMUNITIES From the Director’s Chair Matt Lilley, FOCUS Director, talks to us from the comfort of his office chair.
5
An inspirational leader Kieran Batty, 1 3 years old, talks about his leadership experience and fundraising endeavours.
6
Yasin on commuting To commute or not to commute, that is the question?
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Leaders of the future Read about our adventures with our 7th cohort of EXPLORE leaders during Easter break.
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Congratulations There’s been lots to celebrate since the last e-magazine.
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FocusNow Magazine We value any comments and suggestions about FocusNow from our readers. If you have any comments, suggestions or you would like to add an article or advert in to our future editions, get in touch: FOCUS Charity, 73 Church Gate, Leicester, LE1 3AN Telephone: 0116 251 0369 Fax: 0116 262 0187 Email: joe.roughton@focus-charity.co.uk Web: www.focus-charity.co.uk Editors: Joe Roughton and Matt Lilley Design & Media: Joe Roughton - Senior Projects Manager Registered Charity No: 1068467
Capturing stories Youth Action Team has a new project... to record history. Over the last few weeks, our Youth Action Team, with the assistance of two De Montfort University Students, Aqil and Luke, have been out and about capturing the stories of our parks in Leicester. Funded through The Heritage Lottery and in partnership with Leicester City Council, ‘A Day in the Park’ project will focus on several parks in Leicester exploring the historical and modern uses of our parks. Using a range of activities, our young volunteers will collect stories from park users on Victoria Park, Spinney Hills Park, Braunston Park and Abbey Park that will be presented in an exhibition (TBC) at the end of the project. If you would like to play a part in our project there are many ways to do so. One of which would be to capture a selfie of yourself whilst in any of the parks in Leicester, upload it to either Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #storyofparks and you will form part of our interactive gallery.
FocusNow
From the Director’s Chair
Matt Lilley FOCUS Director
Since the announcement of its
friends. He rarely attended school
closure a lot has been said and
and suffered unimaginable cruelty
written about Kids Company and
and neglect.
their charismatic founder, Camila
away from home to become a ‘rent
Batmanghelidjh. In time, I hope, the
boy’ on the streets of London at the
truth about their financial demise will
age of 12 he had witnessed so much
come out. But that’s not what I want
violence, criminality, drug abuse and
to focus on here.
death that he could not imagine life
Several years ago I attended a Kids
Matt has been working for FOCUS since 1995. Initially joining as a volunteer, Matt spent 6 years as a project manager before becoming Director in 2002.
By the time he ran
matt.lilley@focus-charity.co.uk
without them. He lived beneath the
Camila’s philosophy of unconditional
radar, stealing, selling himself.
love might be applied at FOCUS.
Company conference entitled, ‘No Bulls**t!’
We have never sought to replicate
It was a fantastic event
When he was 15 a friend introduced
what Kids Company did, but, since
that showcased the fascinating and
him to Kids Company. They offered
that conference we have accepted
thought-provoking theory about the
him practical and emotional support,
that we have a duty to listen to
link between unconditional love and
food,
who
what young people need and to do
brain development in children. Put
genuinely cared for him.
In return
everything in our power to provide it.
very simply, if we do not experience
he stole from them, destroyed their
We try to always find a way for them
enough nurturing and unconditional
property, attacked their staff and
to get involved with our projects and
love in our formative years, we will
volunteers and generally rejected
in doing so, we seek to develop the
struggle to learn to truly empathise
their support. To his surprise, they
sorts of trusting relationships that
with others or to effectively manage
continued to offer to help him, they
mean that they can discuss almost
our own emotions.
This can lead
did not report his crimes against
anything with us.
to difficulties in maintaining healthy
them and they invited him back in.
relationships or achieving anything
This cycle continued for some time
Anyone who came to our 25th
like our potential academically or
until he decided to let them into his
anniversary celebrations last year
professionally.
life in order that they could help him
and heard Bex’s speech or who
shelter
and
5
people
start a new life. By the age of 18
read hers or Ray’s case studies on
The conference was delivered by a
he had started to study to become
our website will understand what we
number of leading academics, senior
a youth worker and was regularly
are trying to achieve and why it is
figures in the worlds of youth work
volunteering for Kids Company.
so important. Although, thankfully,
and youth justice and Ruby Wax! But,
stories like that of the young man I
for me, the most profound moment
His is an incredible story that I hope
described above are rare, we must
came from a young man who had
is still heading towards a happy
be ready to support young people
benefitted from the support of Camila
ending. It makes the closure of Kids
who need our help in whatever ways
and her colleagues. In front of 400
Company such devastating news.
we can. And, whilst we plan to avoid
– 500 delegates and through floods
the financial pitfalls that befell Kids
of his own and the audience’s tears,
Regardless of the reasons behind
Company, we will strive to have the
he described his life. He was born in
the demise of her charity, Camila and
same profoundly positive effect on
a brothel to a crack-addicted mother.
her staff are inspirational.
young people’s lives… and that’s no
By the age of 7 he was being ‘pimped
journey home from that conference I
out’ to her clients and his father’s
considered how their approach and
On my
bulls**t!
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RUNNING FOR LOROS A huge well done to Kieran (13yrs) community project.
for recently completing his EXPLORE Leader’s
Kieran wanted to raise money for charity as part of the second stage of the leadership programme, in particular he set out to plan and run (literally) his own fundraising event in aid of LOROS. Using the training and guidance from his Leadership training, Kieran recruited a team of his own volunteers, planned and promoted his project and visited LOROS to talk about what he was doing. He chose LOROS as it was close to his heart. His grandfather was cared for at LOROS and Kieran wanted to give something back. On Wednesday 29th July, Kieran and his volunteers decended on to Western Park, along with staff from FOCUS and Debbie Dickman (LOROS representative). After setting up their event tent and sign posting the route, Kieran and his recruits briefly warmed up before shooting off to the sound of the air horn. There was a great sense of relief, excitement and pride coming from everyone taking part, especially from Kieran, whose planning had paid off with a fantastic event. To date Kieran is still raising money from his event, which he has raised over £50.
Kieran
FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
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Youth Action Team: Young Abassadors of volunteering Like us on Facebook There’s so much going on in 2015 with the Youth Action Team. Here’s just a couple of reasons why
Focus Charity
you should come and check us out.
Meet every Wednesday 5-7pm at the FOCUS office.
Aims to increase youth volunteering opportunities in Leicester.
Follow us on Instagram
FocusCharity73
Young people improve their skills, confidence and well-being.
Aims to expand potential and broaden young people’s horizons.
Follow us on Twitter
@FocusCharity INSPIRING PEOPLE, CHANGING COMUNITIES
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To Commute or Not Commute
“Me personally, I struggled
to
join
certain sports or societies because I had a train curfew, and the different groups held these events or training at late evenings”. FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
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Yasin Shabbaz
Yasin first started volunteering with FOCUS back in 2013, when he joined our EXPLORE Leadership Programme. He has gone on to participate in lots of projects, taking on various roles and responsibilities along the way.
He is such a warm charater that everyone respects here at FOCUS and is very much a team player, mentor and all round good person. Thanks Yasin for being here and giving your time and energy to others.
Everyday is an opportunity to feel empowered to make a difference.
S
o you’re in your final year in college and its coming around April or May and you have to decided whether you’re going to live in student halls, get a house, or commute to university daily (if its close enough). So lets say it’s close enough to commute; what do you do? To commute or not commute! That is the question!
Yasin is a great volunteer at FOCUS and highly respected by both staff and young people.
So here are the benefits of commuting! Well for one, you save a tonne of money staying home, whereas everyone else has so many bills that they’re practically broke. In fact, you’re probably going to be the one that everyone’s asking for money! Which could be negative if you’re not overly generous. All you’ll need to worry about is food and travel which will probably amount to around 50% or less of how much all your friends in student halls will be paying! Not to forget, in the third term where your friends need to pay for the third term accommodation, you’ll have spare money since you won’t have to travel much. Another benefit is lecturers will be more helpful and thoughtful
considering you’ve travelled to get there everyday (bare in mind that this doesn’t apply for all lecturers). I don’t at all condone favouritism but, if it happens, take it! Now then! Here are the benefits of staying in halls! First of all, the social life is amazing since you’re living around so many other students. The biggest struggle about living at home is that it’s difficult to get involved in social life unless you stay at a friend’s house. Me personally, I struggled to join certain sports or societies because I had a train curfew, and the different groups held these events or training at late evenings. Second of all, if you live in a house where you’re restricted, you’re given a lot of freedom and responsibility, which allows you to become independent. For a lot of people, freedom sounds amazing! Especially if they’re parents are the types to drag them out of bed when they just want a lie in. So, we talked about the benefits of both and now let’s go through the disadvantages of both. If you have horrible time management, then
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commuting may not be for you, because travelling day to day becomes a real pain if you’ve been cursed with 9am starts. For the average commuter, the travel to university will be around 1 hour – 1hr30mins. So for the rest of your friends waking up at 8am and getting in by 9am; you’ll be the one waking up at 6:30 to get there for 9. Assuming that you take around an hour to get ready. And if you’re anything like me, waking up at 6 to get to university every day will
tire you out. On the opposing side, the disadvantages of living in halls is you’ll be low on money which you’ve heard a lot already in this article and may even have to get a part time job to pay for halls and food. You could get lumped in with unbearable flat mates if you’re unlucky! If you can’t cook, you’d better learn beforehand unless you want to be eating pot noodles everyday. And if you actually enjoy living at home; you’ll probably be missing your family a whole lot.
FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
Final verdict. If you want to save a lot of money, enjoying favouritism from lecturers, and stay on board with your friends and family back home, at the cost of being more excluded from the university social life and meeting new people, then you should commute because you can save thousands by doing so. However, if you want to be a lot more involved in the university social life, and enjoy sleeping in on them early mornings, being free and independent; living
in halls or a house in university would be the way forward! From a personal view, I’m glad I stayed home for the first year as it allowed me to save a tonne of money, which will allow me to become financially stable for my second year when I live in the other city.
Blast from the past It’s that time again where we delve in to the furthest reaches of our archives to find out what FOCUS (Bridge) was up to and we came up with this little gem. This was written in the late nineties in the run up to the summer.
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A Right Royal Day Out! It promised to be a change from the usual day in the office and a chance to stretch my legs, so when I was invited to meet HRH Prince Charles at St James’s Palace, I accepted.
unemployed to the unemployable (and I was on that spectrum somewhere), were asked to support a local charity by helping out on a residential project. We were interviewed and selected by a woman in dungarees (or ‘Sam Winter’, to be more precise and polite) and most of us were invited to attend something called a ‘Bridge Camp’. I had no idea what we’d be doing, as I hadn’t really been paying attention.
The Prince’s Trust will be celebrating their 40th anniversary next year and to launch their celebrations they invited a select group of past beneficiaries along to discuss their experiences. And that’s where I came in. I was one of 13 people invited whose lives had been changed as a result of taking part in At the end of a long minibus journey their activities. was one of the weirdest, yet most wonderful experiences of my life. Twenty years ago I was ‘between This was my introduction to FOCUS, jobs’ and had just moved to the organisation that I became Nottingham - a city I didn’t addicted to volunteering with as know. Desperate for something soon as my Prince’s Trust course meaningful to do to alleviate the finished and that I began working boredom of job hunting I signed up for the following year… and here I to the Prince’s Trust Volunteers (now am still, 20 years on. called the Team Programme) and it changed my life! This, in a round about way, was the story I told to the Prince… I think. I A few weeks into the programme have very little clear memory of our team, which ranged from the what we discussed and it was all FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
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over in a flash. Almost immediately after meeting him I was introduced to Ant and Dec, who were exactly as they come across on TV – chirpy, energetic, professional Geordies. The whole day I spent at St James’s Palace was slightly bizarre, from the odd looks I received from passersby as I waited outside to be allowed in, to the strict instruction I was given not to sit on the throne (not sure why
I was singled out for that directive), to the look of fear on Dec’s face as I misplaced a joke about not wanting to hug him (it was funny and made sense in my head, but came across as a sinister and slightly insulting). All in all, a grand day out and something that, as my kids were thoroughly unimpressed, I’ll have to wait to tell my grandkids.
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Gluttons for punishment Matt Lilley
I don’t know what we were thinking! Last year, Joe, my mate Tom and I all took on the Water Wipeout 10k Assault Course to raise money for FOCUS. It nearly killed us, so why we signed up again this year is a complete mystery. We were joined for our punishment this year by Matt Turrell, who at 23 was the youngest of our not-so-merry band by some distance. Also joining us was Rachel, a friend of Joe’s who ran slightly later in the day, but whose fundraising efforts were no less gratefully received.
www.focus-charity.co.uk
Like last year, our training regime promised much but delivered very little in terms of fitness. However, having given up smoking, Joe’s lungs stayed reassuringly quiet and thankfully didn’t threaten to escape his body in a rasping, wheezing explosion of phlegm as we feared they might.
FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
On the day of the event we arrived full of optimism and excitement, having largely forgotten the pain of our previous outing a year earlier. Again we were treated to the vocal encouragement of an excessively enthusiastic , Lycra-clad fitness instructor as we warmed up at the start. We stretched our ‘glutes’, rotated our shoulders, lunged and finally, as the high-energy tunes abruptly ended, we squatted deep and jumped high. I should not have squatted deep and jumped high. The sharp pain in my calf muscle told me that I should retire injured before the event had even started. But the whoops and cheers of the crowd and the fireworks that signalled us to run confused me and I found myself stumbling across the start line and on towards the first of many, many, many obstacles. I had doomed myself to completing the entire joyless exercise with
FocusNow
a limping gait and an unwavering feeling of regret. Numpty! Whether it was related to my injury or my advancing age, but the course proved more gruelling this year. There were more water features for a start, including a set of monkey bars in the middle of a lake that only Joe managed to negotiate without taking an unwelcome dip. And I’m sure they’d added an extra row of hay bales to the hurdles. But the absolute highlight was a section of the white-water rafting course that we eagerly leapt into and swam. Now that was fun. Less fun was Joe’s reaction a few days after the event to having swallowed a little too much of the National Watersports Centre. His flu-like symptoms and infected jaw were a clear reminder that Weil’s Disease is not to be messed with. A few months down the line and Joe’s jaw and my leg have pretty much healed, but our enthusiasm for running has waned some what. All in all I’m more than glad we took part and the money we raised will go some way towards helping keep FOCUS afloat for a little while longer. But if anyone hears me suggest I take part again next year, they have my permission to slap me about the face until I come to my senses.
Check out our short film of the event. Alternatively, copy and paste this link in to your search browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEuzshK9eGw
INSPIRING PEOPLE, CHANGING COMMUNITIES
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Please help us today by becoming a supporter of FOCUS As a charity we rely on the generosity of our supports, donors and funders to ensure that we are able to deliver our work and to support the young people who need it most. Although we’ve secured funding from a number of trust funds, foundations, companies and government sources, we urgently need your support. Over the next six months we need to increase the funding we receive, otherwise we will be forced to cut back, or even cease, the support we provide to young people. We are a small charity that has a big impact on people’s lives, but we have no reserve funding and we really need your help in order to continue. Please support our vital and highly valued work by making a donation today.
How you can make a difference A monthly gift of: • • • •
£6 could pay for a young person to take part in our Challenge programme £10 could pay for a young person to be trained as a peer mentor £15 could pay for a young person to go on a life changing Explore Leadership residential £25 could provide one to one support sessions for a homeless young person
An annual or quarterly gift of: • • • •
£50 could run a training session with our Youth Action Team £150 could support 40 young people to become active volunteers £300 could provide a fully trained mentor or advocate to work with a young person for 6 months £500 could provide a place for a young person on an 8 week personal development programme
In return for your support you will receive: • • • •
VIP Invitations to our celebration events Subscription to our e-magazine FocusNow An annual thank you card The opportunity to be apart of our 73 club
Application form Are you a current regular giver?
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Full Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Postcode: __________________________ Telephone: _________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________________ Would you like to become a member of the Focus Alumni Association? Would you like to receive priority invitations? Yes q No q
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Direct debit form
Please complete this form and return to: Focus Charity, 73 Church Gate, Leicester, LE1 3AN
Use current direct debit information: Yes q No q (for current regular givers only) Your Bank: Bank Address:
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Make every £1 go 25p further... Gift Aid Declaration: I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for the tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I giv on or after 6 April 2014. Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made: Today
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Future leaders Developing young people to be the best they can be is a challenging exercise in patience, guidance, opportunity and space to be themselves. FOCUS recruited the 7th cohort of young leaders in March to spend a week away, learning how to be a leader, work as a team and achieve
www.focus-charity.co.uk
personal goals.
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“Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference.” Nolan Bushnell
EXPLORE leadership is now in to its 4th successful year running. At present we have trained over 88 young people to become leaders and have recruited a further 580 young people to run over 52 community projects in the community.
Our new recruits, aged just 12 - 13 years old spent a week away, some of which had never been away from home before, with our team of FOCUS staff and volunteers. Not only was this an opportunity for young people to develop the skills to lead themselves and a team of their peers but for our team of volunteers to
In March 2015 we recruited 10 young
develop their experience of working
people from New College and Crown
with a younger group of EXPLORE
Hills Community College to join
leaders.
the 7th cohort of participants who
It was a glorious easter week at
went on a journey of self discovery,
Whitemoor Lakes, in Lichfield. The
adventure and friendship building.
sun was shining and the minibus
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was packed full of excited
Since
in
own community projects.
Care Free Youth Project,
young people.
Leicester, several of our
One of the leaders, Jane,
based in New Parks.
young leaders have worked
ran her own cake sale to
You can read about more
hard to plan and run their
raise funds for Barnardos
projects
As well as a programme packed
full
of
being
back
learning
throughout
the
e-magazine.
we also splashed about in the lake, got to know
We are so excited to see
each other during each
more of these community
meal and watched as the
projects over the next few
young people developed
months and for our young
the neccessary skills and
leaders
attributes to carry out a
volunteer in the future.
to
continue
to
project of their own If you are interested in And, as always, when it
the EXPLORE Leadership
was time to depart and
programme, give us a call,
head home, our heads
send us an email or check
hung in the realisation that
out our website.
this part of the adventure was over.
www.focus-charity.co.uk
7th Cohort of EXPLORE Leaders 2015
FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
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Youth Action Team hits Victoria Park. Saturday 15th August, The Youth Action Team geared up and headed for Victoria Park in Leicester to enlist the help of the public to clean up and create habitats for the parks resident bugs and insects. The cold and cloudy weather that had overshadowed the day had not put a damper on things, as around sixty members of the public showed up to give a helping hand in transforming the area.
A number of bird houses and bug hotels were constructed, as well as several teams of eager volunteers who headed off around the park with their litter pickers at the ready throughout the day. Matt Lilley, the director of Focus, said ‘the aim of the day was to encourage people to become actively involved in the care of the park, to feel a sense of responsibility, not just as its users but as its owners’.
Set up near the old pavilion was a consultation area where members of the public could come and give their input on how the park could be improved and what they would like to see. A few suggestions were to have a cleaner pond, a revitalised café and better lighting during the night. One member who came to get involved was a student at the University of Leicester claimed he not only uses the park on a regular basis to commute to University, but also to socialise and relax and projects such as A Day of Voluntary Action were important for people to help and get involved. Another member of the public who came along to help said he often used the park with his children and would love to see the park become more family friendly. Various members of the community organisation, Friends of Victoria Park who have been taking various steps to attract the public to use and care for Victoria Park, came along to show their support. Margaret Lewis, a key member of Friends of Victoria Park, discussed the future projects of the group. They have just received a successful bid from The Heritage Lottery Fund for £5000 to extend the boardwalk along the pond with hopes that it will encourage more people to come and use the park. She also stated that charities such as FOCUS are important in helping people get back in touch with their local community. Laurence Whitaker, a member of Friends of Victoria Park, stated A Great Day of Voluntary Action is a valuable process, co-operating with those of us who are trying to improve the park and make it more family friendly. A Day of Voluntary Action was funded by a Leicester City Council’s Ward Grant.
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Looking to raise money for FOCUS as a group? Contact us and we will support you from start to finish and beyond.
Come and check out our redecorated meeting room that our Youth Action Team worked hard to accomplish.
Volunteer Opportunities @ FOCUS Volunteering is an important expression of citizenship and an essential component of democracy. It is the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society and the community and can take many forms. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain.
www.focus-charity.co.uk
Volunteering is good for the soul.
FOCUS has been working hard to bring a range of volunteering opportunities to young people, so that they can develop their work-ready skills, realise their aspirations and improve their well-being whilst meeting new people and having some
amazing adventures. If you know any young people, or you are one, it’s so easy to get involved. You can call 0116 251 0369, email Joe Roughton at joe.roughton@ f o c u s - c h a r i t y. co.uk or come to our centre on Church Gate.
Call us today for more information and to get involved
0116 251 0369 FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
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Volunteering opportunities @ FOCUS
Roots & Shoots Intergenerational Gardening Project FOCUS will be working as part of the Leicester Ageing Together Programme that aims to reduce social isolation in our ageing communities, to ensure the elderly have a better quality of life through accessing community services and meeting new people. FOCUS will be running a 3-year project that brings both young and adult volunteers and isolated older people together through gardening activities. This project is looking for young people
and adults who would like to meet with other young people and older people, run some great gardening projects and build stronger relationships in our communities. As a team, we’ll be running workshops, sprucing up residential home gardens, creating sensory gardens and much much more. The elders in our community hold a wealth of gardening knowledge just waiting to be found out by our younger citizens.
A Day in the Park Telling stories of our parks from park users Focused on several parks in Leicester City, young people will be capturing stories and events from park users of the modern uses our parks have to offer and how they were used.
skills in photography, interviewing, researching, archiving and curating a exhibition as well as meeting new people, capturing their stories and recording it all through an exhibition that will be celebrated by all.
Young people will learn and use
Look Up Leicester Exploring Leicester’s built environment Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund,
and encourage other people to join
Look Up Leicester aims to increase
them in their appreciation of Leicester’s
young people’s pride in their city as they
skyline.
research and highlight their favourite buildings.
A dedicated website developed by young people will host all the information they
Young people will choose and photograph
gather and an exhibition will further
their favourite buildings, interview owners
promote the project.
and tenants to understand their histories,
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• • • • • •
Hi my names Emily and part of my job is to co-ordinate FOCUS’ Alumni association. I have been part of the staff team for the last 7 years and love being apart of the FOCUS family…. During the end of 2014 FOCUS set up its Alumni association with the aim to keep in better contact with its old participants, volunteers, staff and Trustees. Thank you to those of you that have already completed the online registration form. If you have not had chance to join yet, don’t despair as you still can and it couldn’t be more simple….
We welcome all our past volunteers, trustees, participants and staff to become part of our active and rapidly growing alumni community. If you have been a part of FOCUS (or Bridge as it was formerly known) during the past 25 years you are eligible to join the Alumni Association As an Alumnus you will receive: • Our news letter by
FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015
e-bulletin covering FOCUS’ latest news and future activities Invitations to alumni events Support with organizing your own reunions Email forwarding Invitations to celebration events Updates on FOCUS activities Access to the alumni social and professional online networks
All you need to do is click here and complete the online registration form. This year we are making a special effort to reach out and make contact with our ex volunteers. Some you may have had a phone call recently from one of our young volunteers Yasin or maybe met up for a coffee and a chat with one of our trustees or staff. Its great to hear your stories from the ‘good old days’ and to get your feedback on the charity. If we have not managed to contact you yet, don’t worry we are working our way through the list (As you can imagine the list is QUITE long), but rest assured if we do have your up-to-date contact number we will be contacting you
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soon. If you want to update your contact information the easiest way to do this is to complete an online registration form on our website (Link ) or send me an email. We have started planning our annual Fundraising event for November and we are thinking about holding a Gala Dinner. This could be in Leicester or London and we would like to know which location the Alumni would prefer? This will be fundraising event and tickets will be on sale later in the year. If you are interested in helping to plan the event or you have any ideas for the evening then please contact me and let me know. We would also like to run a family fun day in Leicester next summer this would be a day time event that alumni could bring there family’s to. Hopefully giving the alumni the chance to get involved with FOCUS and meet up with old friends. More information to follow on this. V o l u n t e e r i n g Opportunity….. On Saturday 15th August We will be running a day of action in Victoria park in Leicester. We need Volunteers to help build
bug and wildlife habitats and clearing up the park so if your around Leicester that weekend and fancy popping along to lend a hand, contact me for information. New Project…. We have had some exciting news from the Heritage Lottery Fund who has approved our bid to run a new project called ‘Look Up Leicester’. This project will focus on the heritage of some of Leicester’s most interesting buildings and encourage young people and residents of Leicester to take pride In their city. Young people will learn skills around photography, interviewing, publicity, and research. The project will start this autumn if you are interested in being involved please let me know. Could you raise money for FOCUS this summer….. Are you running a marathon or fun run, Doing a skydive, having a dress down day at work or running a bake sale or coffee morning? If so why not do something amazing and raise money for FOCUS at the same time? Money raised from sponsored events makes a real difference to the support and opportunities we are able to offer young people. If you are thinking of doing
something for focus please let us know so that we can give you some support. On the 26th August in Cambridge a few people will be doing a Skydive to raise money for FOCUS. If you would like to come along and show your support or even take part in doing a jump you self please let me know (see page … for advert) FOCUS is now using Virgin Money Giving as its platform for collecting donations and sponsorship this means that more of the money you raise or donate will go directly to the charity. Check us out at Virgin Money Giving
Sharing Your FOCUS Stories……. If you would like to share any stories from your time at FOCUS we would love to hear them! You can do this through our website www.focus-charity.co.uk/ index.php?id=alumni or by emailing me directly at Emily.taylor@focus-charity. co.uk. Also just remember if your ever in Leicester, your always welcome to pop in the office for a cuppa! Emily Taylor Office Co-Manager
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There has been lots to celebrate since our last e-magazine...
www.focus-charity.co.uk
Congratulations to Ray Westley and his girl friend Tanya on the birth of their healthy baby, Ryan Jayden Westley, born on the 24th January 2015, weighing 6.1lb! Ray came to us as a young person in 2009 and became one of our Youth Action Team members. To read more about how Ray has been involved with us please check out our website here.
Congratulations to Rebecca Foster who became Mrs Leavsley on the 17th April. The FOCUS team would like to wish you a lifetime of happiness together! Rebecca was a member of your Youth Action Team and a dedicated volunteer for FOCUS. To read more about how Rebecca has been involved with us please check out our website here.
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Congratulations to Matt Turrell, a former Youth Action Team Member and a current volunteer at FOCUS, has started work at his dream job in a home for looked at young people in June we wish you luck in your new role and thank you for your volunteering at FOCUS over the years to see more of Matts story please visit our website here.
Congratulations to Our Director, Matt Lilley who is now in his 20th year (of hard labour) at FOCUS. Matt joined FOCUS in 1995 as a volunteer in our Nottingham branch and has worked his way up the ranks. We would like to thank him for all is hard work and dedication over the years. Its his passion for working with young people and his devotion to the charity that has enabled us to get through some of the harder times and continue to encourage positive changes in young peoples lives.
Congratulations to Mark Scott who got married to the lovely Carly on the 18th July. The FOCUS team would like to wish you both a lifetime of happiness together! Mark was our Youth Volunteer Advisor when we delivered the Leicester vinvolved team.
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A huge thank you to our funders and supporters for enabling us to make a difference to the lives of young people and our communities. With your continued support, we are able to deliver a high quality service in Leicester/shire and benefit those who need our support. Maud Elkington Charitable Trust
Friends of Victoria Park
Florence Turner Trust
FocusNow Magazine • Summer Edition 2015