YSDA Project – Newport (Wales) Conor Lees and Sarah Howells
The Group
The Venue
Sports & Physical Activity
My YSDA Role • Work alongside my mentor to organise a 10 week activity programme. • Ensure the participants were having fun and gain vital feedback from each session. • Help with providing information about physical activity sessions outside of the programme. • Ensure a qualified coach was present for each session, with the correct equipment. • Help with providing data for the research being conducted.
As a YSDA Mentor • My role was the learner’s English Language Teacher and Personal Tutor. • The learner’s English Language skills were from beginners level English to Entry 2 ESOL. • I taught them 2 days a week and liaised with all their social workers, foster carers and support workers. • The class was a rolling programme and as such new learners joined throughout the academic year, as they arrived to the UK, constantly changing the group dynamics. • The sports programme ran on Wednesday 12.00 – 1.00pm after morning classes. I accompanied the learners to play sports every week.
Background of Learners • The class consisted of 20 learners - 4 females and 16 males. They were predominantly unaccompanied asylum seeking minors and refugees from several countries: • Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Romania, Albania, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Vietnam. • The majority were under the care of Social Services. Some lived in foster care with Welsh families, others in asylum houses and one or two with their own family. • The learners were often isolated by their lack of English skills and feeling lonely without their families. Some of them had very difficult journeys to the UK and many of them had stories of hardship that some of us couldn’t even imagine. • Often these learner came with emotional issues and would find it hard to engage.
Impact of the Project • Created a feeling of teamwork and bonded the group • Practicing of English skills through the medium of sport • Having fun with class mates and making new friends • Increased learner’s confidence and motivation • Increased learner’s awareness of sport available in the community (sporting activities) • Introduced learners to new sporting activities • Inducted learners into the local gym • Helped to keep learners active
Feedback
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Where do we go from here? • I have been looking for additional funding to continue this programme, by request of the learners. • The College are looking at investing in sports kit for outdoor play, risk assessments pending. • Consider low cost activities to encourage camaraderie and fitness. • Consider indoor games and activities that may be feasible.
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