SIMY
Encyclopedia
SIMY is a Youth work project working in the Townhead
area of Glasgow. It is a community made up of young people from Townhead
, Royston
, Drygate, Sighthill, Cowcaddens
and further a field. Townhead
's location close to the city centre make it a natural gathering place for young people, most of whom attend Glasgow St Roch secondary school or Cleveden Secondary School.
through Martyrs Church in Townhead
and Operation Mobilisation
's LifeHope. It is concerned with helping young people reach their potential through developing a community of practise. It grew out of two different youth and children's project that worked out of the local church in Townhead and St Rollox church in Sighthill, Glasgow
.
The project in Townhead was started in 1999 by Neil Pratt, the then director of the youth work department of the International Christian College, when ICC moved to a new building in Townhead. The staff noticed there was very little for young people to do and found a lot of young people congregated at the area behind their building. Neil, with a small team of volunteers, responded to this need by developed a placement opportunity for two students from the ICC BA in youth work with applied Theology (accredited by Aberdeen University) course to develop their practise by working with him and other youth work professionals. The club was set up in partnership with the local young people, developing with their ideas and in response to their needs.
The project in Sighthill through St Rollox church began by local young people with the help of a former teacher of Sighthill Primary school and meet in St Rollox church from 1991-2006 under the name SRG. St Rollox left the partnership in 2006 as it priorities change under their new minister. The team of volunteers from this project merged with the team in Townhead and focused on the work in Townhead and St Roch school continuing to see many of the same young people.
After the change to focusing on Townhead, SiMY rebuilt, first through a Detached Youth work project, but quickly added back in youth clubs when the police and residence noticed an increase in antisocial behavour due to the lack of things for young people to do and places for them to meet. The project has grown by working with the International Christian College youth work degree course, the local community police, the Prince's Youth Trust (PYT), ] Glasgow Community Safety Services, St Roch Secondary school and Glasgow
Life. In 2009 they had grown to successfully providing work place development posts for four youth work students from ICC and placements for two students from Anniesland College. Placements included experience in schools work, detached youth work, open youth clubs, residential work as well as specific projects that nourished particular interests of the young people. All students placed in this project have gone on to successful youth work careers.
OM closed LifeHope in 2009. The project since then has primarily been self financing by the contributions of its volunteers, small funders such as the "Fairer Scotland Fund" and by the local young people and their families.
In 2011 the SiMY volunteer held a review to respond to the 2010 Community Audit of the area that highlighted the needs of the area. The church of Scotland voted to remove it's support for a parish church in Townhead in August 2011. SiMY has formed as a separate organisation. With the support of a consultant from the "Community enterprise trust", they are building the capacity of the new organisation and working towards Charity status. SiMY continues to use the former Martyrs building in Townhead. All the assets from the church have move to Glasgow Cathedral
and the Cathedral are looking to demolish the church, sell the land and build an new hall in Cathedral Square. With no other viable accommodation in Townhead area, the volunteers, young people and parents have formed a campaign to try to save the project by keeping the old Martyrs building open until the new Townhead Village Hall is opened Winter 2012. They are supported in this by Destiny church, GCSS and the church of scotland who hope to find a working way forward.
and West Glasgow Employability). In St Roch school the team work with the pastoral staff to help young people during lunch breaks and at special events.
Specific groups:
Tuesday night dance group and
DJ workshops
Summer 2011: Bike Club
School leavers group.
SiMY is involved in the Townhead
Estate management group, the community partnership, the area youth work partnership and the village hall project. Through this young people get involved in the different developmental initiatives in the area.
Every year the volunteers and young people take time away in short activity breaks and activity weeks. The focus of these residential is living together in community. In 2009 /2010 this activity took place at GlenKin near Dunoon. The SiMY team returned, in 2011, to running its residential programs in Aviemore at the Cairngorm Christian Centre in Kincraig. It is seeking funding to run more residential activities including taster weekends and ski weekends.
The community is dedicated to the training of youth work professionals and continual personal development of its volunteers. When funding allows the community includes part time youth worker students from ICC and Anniesland college and youth work research student.
The team apply a reflective cycle approach to youth work provision and response to the community of young people.
Young people volunteer in the community working on ideas they have for improving their community. In each management committee that has developed, 2 young people are invited on to the committee.
2007–2008 – Research work includes "Breaking the cycle" action research in to Townhead
's young people response to alcohol and the driving force behind the continuing use and misuse of alcohol in Townhead. A report that highlights key ways forward for shaping a youth work response that can break the cycle.
"Young people's response to the village hall project",
"2008 Community Audit".
"Developmental comparison study between Townhead Martyrs church and Robroyston church of Scotland youth work provision"
2008 and beyond – SiMY has secured a small grant to investigate how other small churches can use partnerships to meet the youth work needs of a community. The work with Robroyston Parish Church has led to their own "Hub" beginning and one of the student volunteers, Sam Goncalves being employed as their youth worker.
2010 – Developing young people's abilities through youth work in the outdoors. The team worked with the church of scotland in a pilot study of the part outdoor education can play in developing young people and youth work. Through this study they launch the Glen Kin Experience. A bothy style holiday and training experience for young people. The study was for the Church of Scotland's Priority Area's fund and is now fully launched. It provides holidays for a select number of churches in the most deprived areas of Scotland. The project employed its first full-time worker Alex Bauer, 2011 and is adding more sessional staff in the summer of 2011.
2010 Deep Impact http://www.deep-impact.org.uk/di/recorded_seminars/speakers/john_kewley/
SiMY are current seeking to establish as a separate charity, possible a community enterprise and are seeking funding to continue their research, youth work and network partnerships to allow the young people live life in all its fullness as an integral part of their community. They are also seeking funding to employ full-time youth work staff to continue their weekly youth work provisions.
Townhead
-Location:Townhead has no fixed boundaries. In ancient times it was the undeveloped area north of the cathedral and town. If we use this description then it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston and south by Merchant City...
area of Glasgow. It is a community made up of young people from Townhead
Townhead
-Location:Townhead has no fixed boundaries. In ancient times it was the undeveloped area north of the cathedral and town. If we use this description then it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston and south by Merchant City...
, Royston
Royston
Royston is the name of several places:* Royston, South Yorkshire, England* Royston, British Columbia, Canada* Royston, Hertfordshire England** Royston Town F.C., an English football club* Royston, Glasgow, a district of Glasgow, Scotland...
, Drygate, Sighthill, Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is virtually in the city centre and is bordered by the areas of Garnethill to the south and Townhead to the east....
and further a field. Townhead
Townhead
-Location:Townhead has no fixed boundaries. In ancient times it was the undeveloped area north of the cathedral and town. If we use this description then it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston and south by Merchant City...
's location close to the city centre make it a natural gathering place for young people, most of whom attend Glasgow St Roch secondary school or Cleveden Secondary School.
History
It was set up in 2004 as a partnership between the International Christian College, The Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
through Martyrs Church in Townhead
Townhead
-Location:Townhead has no fixed boundaries. In ancient times it was the undeveloped area north of the cathedral and town. If we use this description then it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston and south by Merchant City...
and Operation Mobilisation
Operation Mobilisation
Operation Mobilisation is an Evangelical Christian organization founded by George Verwer to mobilise young people to live and share the Gospel of Jesus...
's LifeHope. It is concerned with helping young people reach their potential through developing a community of practise. It grew out of two different youth and children's project that worked out of the local church in Townhead and St Rollox church in Sighthill, Glasgow
Sighthill, Glasgow
Sighthill is a Housing estate in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde.Sighthill is part of the wider Springburn district in the North of the city...
.
The project in Townhead was started in 1999 by Neil Pratt, the then director of the youth work department of the International Christian College, when ICC moved to a new building in Townhead. The staff noticed there was very little for young people to do and found a lot of young people congregated at the area behind their building. Neil, with a small team of volunteers, responded to this need by developed a placement opportunity for two students from the ICC BA in youth work with applied Theology (accredited by Aberdeen University) course to develop their practise by working with him and other youth work professionals. The club was set up in partnership with the local young people, developing with their ideas and in response to their needs.
The project in Sighthill through St Rollox church began by local young people with the help of a former teacher of Sighthill Primary school and meet in St Rollox church from 1991-2006 under the name SRG. St Rollox left the partnership in 2006 as it priorities change under their new minister. The team of volunteers from this project merged with the team in Townhead and focused on the work in Townhead and St Roch school continuing to see many of the same young people.
After the change to focusing on Townhead, SiMY rebuilt, first through a Detached Youth work project, but quickly added back in youth clubs when the police and residence noticed an increase in antisocial behavour due to the lack of things for young people to do and places for them to meet. The project has grown by working with the International Christian College youth work degree course, the local community police, the Prince's Youth Trust (PYT), ] Glasgow Community Safety Services, St Roch Secondary school and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
Life. In 2009 they had grown to successfully providing work place development posts for four youth work students from ICC and placements for two students from Anniesland College. Placements included experience in schools work, detached youth work, open youth clubs, residential work as well as specific projects that nourished particular interests of the young people. All students placed in this project have gone on to successful youth work careers.
OM closed LifeHope in 2009. The project since then has primarily been self financing by the contributions of its volunteers, small funders such as the "Fairer Scotland Fund" and by the local young people and their families.
In 2011 the SiMY volunteer held a review to respond to the 2010 Community Audit of the area that highlighted the needs of the area. The church of Scotland voted to remove it's support for a parish church in Townhead in August 2011. SiMY has formed as a separate organisation. With the support of a consultant from the "Community enterprise trust", they are building the capacity of the new organisation and working towards Charity status. SiMY continues to use the former Martyrs building in Townhead. All the assets from the church have move to Glasgow Cathedral
Glasgow Cathedral
The church commonly known as Glasgow Cathedral is the Church of Scotland High Kirk of Glasgow otherwise known as St. Mungo's Cathedral.The other cathedrals in Glasgow are:* The Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew...
and the Cathedral are looking to demolish the church, sell the land and build an new hall in Cathedral Square. With no other viable accommodation in Townhead area, the volunteers, young people and parents have formed a campaign to try to save the project by keeping the old Martyrs building open until the new Townhead Village Hall is opened Winter 2012. They are supported in this by Destiny church, GCSS and the church of scotland who hope to find a working way forward.
Current Activities
Young people gather weekly at "The Hub" which is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. The clubs are staffed by volunteers, GCSS staff, Glasgow life staff and volunteers from Destiny Church and Martyrs Church. Each organisation brings different actives and opportunities for young people including music class, sports coaching, meeting spaces and life skills. There are addition specific support like the Exam support program, CV & application support, employability services (in conjunction with PYT, FairbridgeFairbridge (charity)
Fairbridge is a UK based charity that supports young people aged 13–25, that has existed since 1987. Each year it supports around 3,700 disengaged young people who are either not in education, employment or training – or at risk of becoming so – at one of its fifteen centres around the country...
and West Glasgow Employability). In St Roch school the team work with the pastoral staff to help young people during lunch breaks and at special events.
Specific groups:
Tuesday night dance group and
DJ workshops
Summer 2011: Bike Club
School leavers group.
SiMY is involved in the Townhead
Townhead
-Location:Townhead has no fixed boundaries. In ancient times it was the undeveloped area north of the cathedral and town. If we use this description then it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston and south by Merchant City...
Estate management group, the community partnership, the area youth work partnership and the village hall project. Through this young people get involved in the different developmental initiatives in the area.
Every year the volunteers and young people take time away in short activity breaks and activity weeks. The focus of these residential is living together in community. In 2009 /2010 this activity took place at GlenKin near Dunoon. The SiMY team returned, in 2011, to running its residential programs in Aviemore at the Cairngorm Christian Centre in Kincraig. It is seeking funding to run more residential activities including taster weekends and ski weekends.
About the community
The SiMY community is mainly staffed by local volunteers. Most are young people who have grown up through the project or people who work in the Townhead area. This team of volunteers provide a stable base for statutory sector groups or activity based program providers to work with young people when they have the funding by joining in with the team. The team are made up from a diverse group of people. Although the heart of the project community are Christians, there is no need to be a Christian to be part of the community.The community is dedicated to the training of youth work professionals and continual personal development of its volunteers. When funding allows the community includes part time youth worker students from ICC and Anniesland college and youth work research student.
The team apply a reflective cycle approach to youth work provision and response to the community of young people.
Young people volunteer in the community working on ideas they have for improving their community. In each management committee that has developed, 2 young people are invited on to the committee.
Research and Development activity
2007–2008 – Research work includes "Breaking the cycle" action research in to Townhead
Townhead
-Location:Townhead has no fixed boundaries. In ancient times it was the undeveloped area north of the cathedral and town. If we use this description then it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston and south by Merchant City...
's young people response to alcohol and the driving force behind the continuing use and misuse of alcohol in Townhead. A report that highlights key ways forward for shaping a youth work response that can break the cycle.
"Young people's response to the village hall project",
"2008 Community Audit".
"Developmental comparison study between Townhead Martyrs church and Robroyston church of Scotland youth work provision"
2008 and beyond – SiMY has secured a small grant to investigate how other small churches can use partnerships to meet the youth work needs of a community. The work with Robroyston Parish Church has led to their own "Hub" beginning and one of the student volunteers, Sam Goncalves being employed as their youth worker.
2010 – Developing young people's abilities through youth work in the outdoors. The team worked with the church of scotland in a pilot study of the part outdoor education can play in developing young people and youth work. Through this study they launch the Glen Kin Experience. A bothy style holiday and training experience for young people. The study was for the Church of Scotland's Priority Area's fund and is now fully launched. It provides holidays for a select number of churches in the most deprived areas of Scotland. The project employed its first full-time worker Alex Bauer, 2011 and is adding more sessional staff in the summer of 2011.
2010 Deep Impact http://www.deep-impact.org.uk/di/recorded_seminars/speakers/john_kewley/
SiMY are current seeking to establish as a separate charity, possible a community enterprise and are seeking funding to continue their research, youth work and network partnerships to allow the young people live life in all its fullness as an integral part of their community. They are also seeking funding to employ full-time youth work staff to continue their weekly youth work provisions.
Project spin offs
Current Funders and supporters:
- Youthwork training
- Community Enterprise Trust
- Fairer Scotland Fund via Glasgow Life
- Ernst and Young Corporate Responsibility
- Robina Goodlad Memorial Trust
- Young Scot sports coaching funding
- Destiny Church Glasgow
- Cairngorm Christian Centre