Summer Reading Challenge

Cumbria Libraries are looking for volunteers aged 14+ to be "Quest Seekers" to encourage children to join and complete Quest Seekers, help promote the challenge, assist library staff in manning the reading challenge desks, talk to children about what they have read and help them to find what they want.

For more information please contact

• Barrow, Erin on 01229 407369 or erin.stockhill@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• Carlisle, Caroline on 01228 227324 or caroline.lunny@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• Eden, Deb on 01768 812104 or deb.holden@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• Kendal and South Lakes, Frances on 01539 713528 or frances.taylor@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• West Cumbria, Kathryn on 01946 506408 or kathryn.flagner@cumbriacc.gov.uk

Please view this poster for more information, http://www.wotson4u.com/Images/Volunteer%20Poster%20-%202010_tcm232-183203.pdf

Health Event- Free Residential

If you are aged between 16 and 25 and you personally have experienced or know of someone who has had a negative or indeed positive experience of services provided by your local health service, particularly in areas of advice on:

-Sexual health and relationships e.g. contraceptive / advice services
-Substance misuse e.g. local drug advisory groups
-Mental health and well being e.g. counselling / young peoples support services

Connexions would really like to hear from you.

The residential will take place in Chester on Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th March 2010, travel expenses will be covered and childcare is available at the venue or childcare costs covered should you so need.

The aim is that the project will result in young people receiving a quality service from health organisations which better meets their needs.

Contact youthwork@ukyouth.org or 01425 675 104 for more information.

Have fun in the outdoors making connections with nature and gain a nationally recognised Award

The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme all about getting involved in wild places. It encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy and care for the natural environment.

Four Challenges are at the heart of each John Muir Award

- Discover a wild place

- Explore it

- Do something to Conserve it

- Share your experiences.

Lots of different areas can be used for your activity, from remote mountains to town parks.

Have fun, challenge yourself and give something back to the environment!

For more info visit www.johnmuiraward.org or contact the John Muir Award in Cumbria team on 01768 895656

Made in England: A group of teenagers have been exploring their theatrical talents to produce an original play for Children in Need.

This video shows the journey of a group of young people from Mirehouse in Whitehaven who worked with the BBC and wrote and performed their own play for BBC Children in Need.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/extras/made_in_england/whitehaven_play/index.shtml

VMag Magazine

The Vinvolved Youth Action Team have been giving up their time over recent months to produce a colour magazine for 16-25s in Cumbria. The team of young volunteers (Shelli, Stacey, Sam, Josh, Daniella, Beth and Clarissa) created VMag from scratch including all the photography, journalism and design. Their work includes articles about volunteering in Cumbria as well as music and gig reviews, and a directory of local services. The Youth Action Team have also designed a competition to win £100 of BSM driving school vouchers to accompany the magazine. The competition is open to all 16-25s living in Cumbria.

VMag magazine is available FREE and anyone who would like a copy can email their address details to vinvolved-cumbria@btcv.org.uk, phone 01228 810462 or text 07801 686004.

BTCV Vinvolved Cumbria held their Volunteer Celebration Event on Saturday 12th December when 20 young people from across the county attended a meal in Keswick and a production of Grimm Tales at the Theatre by the Lake to recognise the valuable contribution they have made in their communities. The event, organised by BTCV Vinvolved Cumbria, included presentations of nationally recognised v50 certificates for 50 hours of volunteering and vimpact certificates for a further 100 hours. The volunteers had participated in a wide variety of volunteer opportunities including football coaching, drama clubs, toddler groups, art galleries and libraries.

Click here for a photograph of the award winners.

Cumbria’s 11 MILLION Takeover Day Events

Building Schools For The Future In Cumbria

We want to make sure all our young people can access as many opportunities as possible so they can reach their full potential. BSF could help us do that.

It will give us the chance to transform education to make Cumbrian schools fit for the 21st century.

What This Could Mean

• Transforming the way our young people learn
• Providing better information communications technology (ICT) and enhancing learning facilities
• Some schools could be a different size or move to another site
• There might be opportunities for the better use of what's available through shared sporting facilities, libraries and so on as well as making sure the local community can use the school space for other activities
• It might be appropriate to change the way schools are governed and managed
• Linking secondary schools more closely with primary schools

We want to hear your views, click here for the consultation survey http://bit.ly/4jLxQ4

ITV Fixers is a major media campaign supporting young people (aged 16 - 25) to take action on any issue they feel strongly about - raising awareness and changing things for the better. It is a charity funded project backed by ITV aimed at giving young people a voice.

ITV Fixers will work with young people who want to speak out, to create their 'fix', their campaign, whether it be making leaflets to raise awareness of an issue, an education pack, a short film, an event, a piece of art work, virtually ANYTHING as long as it benefits others in some way.

All ITV Fixers projects are highlighted online, and some might potentially be featured on television within your regional news programmes.

You can discuss ideas and get back to us and ITV can help shape their projects. There is no formal application process or pitch to complete, it's just a case of getting in touch and talking it through. It is a great opportunity for young people to take action on an issue and feel empowered.

Visit the website at www.itvfixers.com or email Samantha@itvfixers.com for more details.

Possibly the best group in the world about walking for teenagers... ever!

Meet every saturday morning at 10am at The Sands Centre in Carlisle for some basic walks around the city of Carlisle before walking further distances and eventually taking on the challenge of walking across the North of England following the Hadrian's wall route.

For more information Phone: 01228 817591 or 01228 596272, Text: 07834098549 or 07855480375, E-mail: niallm@carlisle.gov.uk or loreena.cairns@connexionscumbria.co.uk

WANTED! Young people to develop a newspaper

Interested in reporting the news? Want to publish reviews of the latest films? Want to be part of the newest news team?

If you're interested in publishing a teenage newspaper or magazine ring:

Niall, on (01228) 817591 or he will get back to you if you text the word News to 07834098549

Building Brighter Futures

The Government has just made some pretty big decisions about how to make sure every young person enjoys their childhood and teenage years.

The plan sets out changes that will take place over the next 10 years that will help all young people, whatever their circumstances, to get on in life.

A magazine will tell you how this is going to affect you.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrensplan/downloads/Childrens_Plan_Young_People.pdf

Get your hands on up to £2,500 to set up your own volunteering project

vcashpoint is giving away £1 million to 16-25 year olds in England with good ideas. If you've got an idea for a volunteering project to improve your community, you could get your hands on a grant to make your idea a reality.

Visit their site for all the details. http://www.vinspired.com/opportunities/vcashpoint

Want to make a mark on how your health services should be?

Click for more news