Jack-Rivers's Blog

The New Year!

jackrivers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:27:11 +0000

Welcome to 2010!

Ok so we’re now in 2010! Haven’t posted in a while as to be honest there hasn’t been a lot of public work going on!

A great Christmas and a great new year’s eve! But just because it was christmas didn’t mean there wasn’t work going on! Even on Christmas day we were busy organising the 2010 “The Domino Effect” Gig for Hedingham School which is due to take place the first week of February! There’s been massive support for this event which is in aid of the Essex Air Ambulance!

Had 3 days off due to snow last week which was nice! However it also mean’t the 4 meetings planned on those days were cancelled as well so that has made the next few weeks even busier. Next week there’s another BDYC, YAT and Braintree Police Collaboration meeting as well as a Vinvolved meeting and a YEA CRASH meeting on saturday (sure to have a poor turnout but hopfully some good will come of it!).

The last weekend of January is also guaranteed to be AMAZING of course as it’s the UK Youth Voice residential weekend! Looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Now for the big news!

For the past week I’ve been working closely with Red Consultancy in London who have been commissioned by the Department for Children Schools and Families to help launch their “Why let drink decide” Campaign (launched today!) and after a let down from GMTV, I’ve got an ITV News camera crew visiting me at Hedingham School tomorrow to interview regarding the new campaign! This is due to be aired 6pm tomorrow night!

There’s also a photographer from Bliss magazine coming to take some shots for one of their publications next week!

So there we go, a very busy couple of weeks coming up!

YEA CRASH – 06/12/2009

jackrivers — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:35:26 +0000

Poor turnout with only 3 young people mean’t we actually did alot! We’ve organised for 100 parker pens to be ordered to be given to delegates on the day of the symposium as well as organising the printing of the leaflets and posters for schools. Note: The fire brigades A5 is different to Essex County Council’s.

UnLtd Training Day – 05/12/2009

jackrivers — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:31:25 +0000

After a 2 hour delay from witham to london (vandles breaking the signals!) I finally reached the UnLtd offices.

25 people were there and we designed the new surveys and interview guides ready for january. Fun.

V-YAT – Maldon Shopping night – 10/12/2009

jackrivers — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:23:58 +0000

It was extremely cold. But we raised a little bit for great almonds st and the RSPCA through the “splat the turkey” activity. Lots of people but very few wanting to pay out!

Hoping to make more next week!

BDYC – 01/12/2009

jackrivers — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:21:00 +0000

Braintree district youth council met on tuesday for the first meeting we’ve hadin approx 7 weeks. Items on the agenda included the group being entirely disgraced at the recent Young Essex Assembly sitting and discussing how we can improve this.

New targets are to work with the Vinvolved Youth Action team and Essex Police to develop the Braintree Crime Initiatives day in july2010. A planning meeting will take place on Thursday 17th Dec with location and time tbc.

The mid-essex christmas party is taking place december 19th and we’re all going to go-bananas and having a chinese.

BDYC will look for funding to send delegates to the UK Youth Voice annual conference in July 2010 from the Youth Opportunities Fund.

jackrivers — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:52:07 +0000

is wondering whether it’s too early to look forward to the next UKYV weekend?

UKYV – Edinburgh Meeting

jackrivers — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:46:01 +0000

So, After a delayed flight (2 hours – including a good bit of detective work), I finally arrived home from a rather tiring weekend with the UKYV Team.

After arriving late on Friday night, we spent an hour filling in rather laborious forms before having a reasonably early night.

Saturday had an early start with discussions on the Movers and Shapers project with updates from the various aspects as well as updates from various members about other youth involvement work that had recently taken place.

“Positive about Youth” is the new campaign from UKYV which will work to improve the perceptions of young people. The new UKYV hoodies were issued with the new campaign information on the back. The afternoon continued with the planning of the 2010 UKYV Conference at Avon Tyrell! Then there was a presentation by the Campaign Company regarding the “Hearing Unheard Voices” campaign pack as the HUV group were sharing the weekend with us and keep us all entertained.

That evening, there was an exciting Ghost Walk through Edinburgh where screaming girls from Liverpool clutched to me for a couple of hours at men dressed as witches and vampires.

Sunday soon came and there was exciting news regarding the HUV campaign with Graham Peet regarding the March 2010 Conference in Birmingham. More info to follow!

The afternoon for most, was spent shopping along the fantastic Princes St which had Finally been reopened after months of work!

And then once again the time came to bid our farewells, wish each other a merry christmas and a happy new year, and to then leave Edinburgh. Or at least that’s what happened for most! As expected, myself and Florence were stuck in the airport for a few hours watching consequent flights to Stanstead leave without either of us on it as ours was stuck in Amsterdam. The good news is however, that we all arrived home safely in the end!

A great weekend was had by all and the next meeting is the last weekend of January at the Lee Valley.

Thanks to everyone who attended!

(Photos To Follow)

Hedingham Male Highest Achiever Award

jackrivers — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:46:22 +0000

I’ve been awarded the Hedingham School Highest Male Achiever Award 09! As well as the physics achievement award! I’m being presented them on December 14th.

Also, I’m going to be shadowing an Oxford University Student for a day in february!

Jedward

jackrivers — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:05:10 +0000

I’m rather pleased that the twins on the XFactor are FINALLY gone!

YEA Sitting

jackrivers — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:57:00 +0000

There was a Young Essex Assembly sitting today at Chelmsford County Hall. Turnout was, again, dismal and the activities were of a similar standard.

Topics:

Locality reports: Braintree District Youth Council is Failing.

Everywhere else is doing very well.

Sub-Groups:

CRASH – symposium organisation going well. Chief of Fire and Rescue to attend.

UKYP – Commons event went well.

Beat Bullying – Conference went well on Thursday.

Crime- Continuing with policing pledge

Lemon-aid – Continuing with house party packs

UNCRC:

There was an update re. the 20th anniversary of children’s rights and CRAE.

11 Million : Take-Over Day

I gave an update re. the recent take over day.