Chat , Change , Inspire The Chatterbox Project For more information visit: : Chatterboxes : @Chat_boxes : The_chatterboxes : Chatter Box Empowering young disabled people to make a difference Issue 40 or visit our website: www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk Proudly produced by members of The Chatterboxes
We attended our very first European youth exchange in Italy where we met with young people from Italy, France, Spain, and Germany. We worked together to explore topics such as: the environment, inclusion, diversity and what it means to be a European citizen. We held workshops and activities and created films to raise awareness.
We stayed for seven nights in a town called Spessa, Pavia; it had beautiful surroundings full of sunshine! We shared mealtimes with everyone where we learned new languages and made new friendships.
Our Diary of our Youth Exchange
Day 1: European Citizenship:
We attended a workshop about Europe Citizenship and we took part in a fun activities about what being a European citizen means to us. In the evening, our Spanish friends hosted a Spanish themed evening where we learned flamenco dancing and tasted some tasty Spanish cuisine.
Day 2: The Environment:
We attended an amazing workshop that focused on the environment; we practised mindfulness and explored how our surroundings can benefit our well-being. We then took a beautiful walk along the river Po, to a neighbouring town called San Zenone and relaxed by the water with an ice-cream. In the evening, our friends from Germany hosted an evening full of fun quizzes and games!
Day 3: Disability Awareness and Diversity:
We delivered a three-hour workshop around disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion. We provided fun activities and shared our personal stories to help raise awareness of living with a disability. Our workshop included the importance of individuality and celebrating differences. In the evening, our French friends hosted a fun evening where we learned some French sayings and sang French songs.
Our Italian Trip
Day 4: Inclusion and Cohesion:
We explored our similarities and differences through different activities. In the afternoon, we split into groups to design four videos about the environment, inclusion, diversity, and European citizenship.
In the evening, it was our turn to host the evening entertainment. Rachel created an amazing quiz about the UK and delivered it to everyone; it was super fun! We also shared a Kahoot about Bournemouth and gave prizes out to the winners. Next up was karaoke, we sang songs by British artists; the Beatles, Little Mix, Oasis and of course…The Spice Girls! We then introduced everyone to everyone’s favourite party song, the Conga, everyone danced around the hall! Finally, we shared an afternoon tea with our friends; everyone loved the warm baked scones, crumpets, and lashings of tea…Delicious!
Day 5: Creating Videos
We continued to work on our films, we took lots of pictures and videos. In the evening we took a picture of everyone using a drone where we caught the last of the day’s sunshine and watched a beautiful sunset.
Day 6: Trip to Pavia
We got up at 6am to catch the bus to Pavia; a city close to Spessa. We started our morning in the city with coffee, croissants, and pizza for breakfast! We then went to a beautiful castle to meet students studying in Pavia. We shared different activities and practiced different languages together.
After meeting the students, we experienced a tour of the city, sampled some local treats, sat in the sunshine, and did some souvenir shopping! A busy but fun filled day!
This is the video we all created about our time on the Youth Exchange. It’s full of different stories of respect.
Click above to check out The Chatterboxes Conga
“It made me smile seeing everyone enjoy themselves and having a good time”
“My favourite moment was making new friends, interacting with one another, listening to other experiences, and sharing our UK traditions”
“When I felt stressed, my peers supported me”
“I have learnt that I am understanding and patient”
We took so many photos and videos of our trip so here are just a few.
“I am proud that I was able to emotionally regulate my feelings”
SWRAC Employment Event
We worked with a local college called SWRAC to come up with a joint event about why employers should employ young people with disabilities like autism plus many other disabilities and why we think it is so important to give young people with disabilities a chance.
The Chatterboxes and SWRAC came together once a week for 3 weeks and we only had 9 hours to make a presentation about why we think it is so important to support young people with disabilities in employment.
The presentation was produced as a TV show with a theme from the greatest showman our personal stories were linked to the greatest showman theme “This is Me”. The event was a great success with over 100 attending plus a super packed conference with loads of employees. We got a standing crowd and at the end we were all given a certificate to show off our achievements.
Here are some of the videos we created and showed at the event.
The event was held at Merley house in Wimborne where employers came together to get more information and training about the young people with disabilities. Employers included businesses like Premier Inn, Lush and The National Trust. The presentation was all created by young people with the help of Chatterbox staff. The presentation included personal stories, sing a long, a pledge from local business to SWRAC. The event had some special guests plus a award ceremony.
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Our evening youth sessions
We run 4 evening youth sessions a week and they are always jam packed with lots of different activities from cooking, singing and playing pool to having guest speakers, delivering workshops and organising community events.
“I love coming to Chatterboxes because everyone gets an opportunity to do fun things, make friends and to socialise with everyone. It’s a fun project because it is a fun thing to take part in. I LOVE Chatterboxes that’s for sure”
Click on the image on the right to see one of our youth sessions in action.
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We have been busy creating lots of different podcasts in our sessions each week about everyone’s different interests.
Topics have included chats about different music genres, feminism, sharing tales of living with a disability and the struggles of being in education.
We also always have a sing along at the end which we all love.
We love getting creative in the kitchen.
Over the last few months we have been creating lots of different dishes using food from our local community fridge like pizza, pancakes, sausage rolls, flapjacks and cakes.
“I like cooking. I have made cupcakes, pancakes, hotdogs and pizza. I loved eating everything I made”
“I love filling my pancakes with golden syrup, lotus biscoff and nutella”
“Cooking is my favourite thing to do. I like making the pizza’s because they are yummy”
Dorset
Sustainable Palm Oil Community project
Dorset Wildlife Trust
Youth Project for LGBT+ young people
Space
NHS England Sexual Health Dorset The Alcohol Education Trust Playing Kahoot Quizzes Badge Making Chit Chat Sessions
So many workshops................
As always we have been running lots and lots of workshops over the last few months to young people and professionals. Here are just a few.
Communicating with young people
We have run several workshops on this topic at The Council for Disabled Children’s National Conference as well as to GP’s and other health professionals across Dorset. We will be running it again soon with more GP’s in Dorset.
Consulting with young people and co production
A topic we are very passionate about. We have had the pleasure of delivering this workshops to staff at NHS England as well as to RNLI staff and volunteers across the UK. Feedback included:
“I loved how confident you all were delivering your personal experiences and your honesty”.
“Address the person and not the label - brilliant”
“What an inspiring and informative session”.
“Well done for being an important voice in the community”.
Here are a few of our some of our workshops within our youth sessions.
What’s on next?
We are super, super excited as we have lots of different projects we are doing over the next few months. Here are just a few of them.
NHS England Schools Project
We are working with NHS England to run a pilot scheme to upskill schools in finding solutions rather than excluding neurodiverse young people. 2 other organisations will be working with staff and parents/ carers so we are going into 11 BCP schools; both primary and secondary, to deliver workshops which will inspire young people to celebrate their differences and individuality.
LGBT+ workshops with Space Youth Project in local special schools
We are joining up with SPACE; a youth project for LGBT+ young people, to deliver workshops to local schools and colleges. Together we will be training professional’s about LGBT+ and living with a disability. Our aim is to inform practice so LGBT+ young people are effectively supported in their educational settings.
Courage
What is courage, the importance of courage, inspiring video about persistence, change and the power of making your bed in the morning.
Traditions
What is a tradition, traditions in different countries, ranking of personal favourite traditions and forgotten tradi tions.
Oh
Look...A squirrel Types of ADHD, misconceptions, positive and negative consequences, tips for concentration, personal experience, ADHD and anger.
DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) Definitions of DID, different personalities and sharing own experiences.
Chatterbox Camping Trip
At the end of May we are going camping for 2 nights at Butchers Coppice. We will be doing archery, zip wire, having BBQ’s and singing around the camp fire. If you would like to donate towards our trip please click the link below.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thechatterboxes
The Creative Challenge
Several Chatterboxes have been busy creating magical art puzzles for your enjoyment.
Whats that song?
1. Omoge, no be so Girl, you wan capture my soul 2. The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside Couldn’t keep it in” 3. Bruno walks in with a mischievous grinThunder!!
4. I am not a stranger to the dark Hide away, they say.
The below characters are hidden in the magazine. Can you find them?
Spot the Difference. There are 5 difference between the 2 images below. What could they be?
