Health and wellbeing in informal education

During the last five years Bellshill and Mossend YMCA have emerged as a key partner in Bellshill and the surrounding district in relation to work with young people, children and families. In this time the YMCA has played a key role in the implementation of the Getting it Right for Every Child framework as part of the Locality Planning group.

In 2006 the YMCA implemented a health and wellbeing project working with young people 8-18 to enhance participants' understanding of health issues. This project has grown significantly over the last three years engaging with over 300 young people a year.

In recognition of the success of this type of community led approach, the YMCA were commissioned in 2008 to expand the health and wellbeing project to incorporate a Young Persons Sexual Health service, which continues to go from strength to strength.

The session will look at ways to engage young people in activities and the opportunities for learning. A range of topics will include:

• how a partnership approach to project delivery has led to closer links between statutory and voluntary organisations and the development of better opportunities for young people.

• the session will look at different ways of engaging sometimes hard to reach young people in activities and the engagement strategies used. There will also be the opportunity to look at sample session plans and ways to integrate learning into sessions

• the role of Curriculum for Excellence in recording progress in informal education

• the influence of the Getting it Right for Every Child framework.

Colin MacFarlane, Association Manager, Bellshill and Mossend YMCA

Colin has worked in a range of Youth Work services for the last 14 years from being a face-to-face practitioner to now developing programmes and initiatives. He started his career as a team leader delivering the Princes Trust Personal Development programme in a variety of locations across the central belt of Scotland. This work continued until 2003 at which point he became the Youth Work Manager at Bellshill and Mossend YMCA. During his time at the YMCA he completed a BA in Community Education and after four years became the Association Manager.

In his role as Association Manager he has moved away from face-to-face work and become increasingly involved in the development of youth work services and opportunities, not only for his organisation but with a wide range of partners. At the YMCA they have developed seven youth work services and engage with over 700 young people per year. These services range from generic drop in and street work provision to specialist health and mentoring/befriending initiatives.

In 2009 they began the Curriculum for Excellence health and wellbeing pilot and have been at the forefront of developing partner initiatives with Education, Police, NHS and Fire and Rescue services. These initiatives include the Bellshill area Bluelight Disco and the Kier Hardie Project. Colin is the Chair of the Getting It Right for Every Child Voluntary Sector Reference Group for Lanarkshire and the Treasurer of Bellshill and District Community Forum. Prior to becoming a youth worker he was a professional football player.