News Index
- Young people emerge victorious in community football match
- Community football match
- Funding updates
- EYS has renewed ’Investors in People’ for a second time
- Marymead Restart Project
- EYS Lowestoft make it to the football tournament final
- Mayor visits Bournemouth EYS gardening project @ Kings Park Nursery
- National Art and Design Competition
- Stevenage project passes Inspection
Young people emerge victorious in community football match
An epic football match took place on Friday between young people from a Stevenage school and police officers from the local Neighbourhood Team.
The 6-a-side match, which played at Stevenage Borough Football Academy in Broadhall Way on Friday, ended in victory for the Education Youth Services (EYS) team with seven goals to six.
The match was designed to improve engagement between young people and police.
It takes place at Stevenage Borough Football Academy in Broadhall Way, Stevenage, from 1pm to 3pm on Friday, May 7.
Paul Lawlor, Youth Crime Reduction Officer from Stevenage Police said: “We really enjoyed the game. It's not every day we get the chance to engage with the young people at EYS on this level. My thanks goes to Paul Lavery and the team at EYS for arranging the match and to Stevenage Borough Football Academy for their hospitality”.
“Of course, the biggest thanks goes to the young people at EYS whose demeanour on the pitch was impeccable and whose positive participation made the game a real success.”
The school team is are made up of young people, staff and volunteers from Willows Independent School - a pupil referral unit for young people from all over Hertfordshire. The school is based in Willows Link, Stevenage.
This is the third match played between the two groups. The project was the brainchild of School Manager Paul Lavery, also the match referee, and PCSO Ashley Young.
It has been very kindly supported by Stevenage Borough Football Club and their manager Dawn Lawrence who allow the Academy pitch to be used at a significantly reduced rate - and local gym Fitness First, who provide training support and refreshments to the Willows team.
Paul says: “We would very much like to thank the Football Club and Fitness First, particularly manager David Rogers, who have been incredibly supportive to this project.”
“I'd also like to thank our team manager Sue Blackman and Tony Overton - a qualified FA referee who volunteers to oversee the match.”
”We feel it's a great event and it really helps our young people see beyond a police uniform. When they're out there playing together, it's just a group of boys and men playing football.”
Community football match
The match was arranged with the police community team. EYS has always worked with young people who have behavioural issues and we look to involve all agencies in working with them. Our group has always had a very negative view of the Police in general and we look to put these events on to improve the police image in our learner’s eyes.
I would like to start by thanking all of the individuals that supported this excellent day.
Tony Overton who is a qualified FA referee, took the afternoon off work (unpaid) to come and officiate for us. Both sides commented on how well he controlled the game and how he let the game flow.
Dawn Lawrence, who is the manager of Stevenage Borough’s Football Academy, gave us 50% of the pitch hire. As well as supplying us with footballs and other equipment.
Fitness First Manager David Rodgers supplied 24 bottles of Lucozade, for both teams, which was very generous and we would like to thank him and his team for his continued support with our group.
Lee Johnstone, who works for Fitness First, is employed by EYS as a PT instructor for our health and fitness sessions. He took the afternoon off work (unpaid) to come and play with our group that he has worked with for a year now.
EYS school football team: Managed by Susan Blackman & James Robinson
| Paul Lavery | Daryl Sim | Tejay O Brien |
| Clinton Moulton | Charlie Kinder | Jamie Costandi |
| Lee Johnstone | Callum Rogers | Mitchell Dorken |
| Lewis Thomas | Sam Saunders | Nathan Webster |
Police community team: Managed by Paul Lawlor
| PC Paul Lawlor | Pc Ian Farmer | PCSO Ryan Champion |
| PS Richard Wilmott | Pc Andy Spencer | PC Dan Reid |
| PCSO Ashley Young | Pc Greg Foley | PCSO Mark Turner |
| PCSO Mark Howard | PC Tim Davies | PCSO Chris Watson |
The game consisted of 2 halves of 30 minutes. All participants had a health & safety briefing from the referee on rules and player safety. The game was a closely fought contest which the police team did edge ever so slightly with a 7-4 win. The first game that was played in September was won by EYS at 7-3. So on aggregate EYS is still winning 11-10. We would like to thank Paul and his team for an excellent day. I would like to thank all the learners that took part and say that the staff were very proud of how you all conducted yourselves today and the police team commented on how mature you all were. The man of the match award will go to the whole team as everyone played so well.
We would like to say a special thank you to Will Perry EYS Transporter, Richard Atkinson & Chris Taylor (EYS company directors) as they were the only 2 that braved the cold to support our team. The staff and learners appreciated your attendance.
The next game is scheduled for April!
From left to right starting with the rear:
Pc Ian Farmer, Callum Rodgers, Mitchell Dorken (E2E), Nathan Webster (E2E), Pc Andy Spencer, Clinton Moulton, Tony Overton (referee) PCSO Ryan Champion, Lee Johnstone (Fitness First), PC Dan Reid, PCSO Ashley Young, PCSO Mark Howard, PS Richard Wilmott. Front: Daryl Sim, Cahrlie Kinder, Tejay O’Brian (E2E), Jamie Costandi (E2E), Lewis Thomas, PC Greg Foley, Paul Lavery, PCSO Chris Watson, PC Paul Lawlor, PCSO Mark Turner, PC Tim Davies.
Funding updates
Chris Taylor, EYS Development Director, is working on the following funding streams which EYS is currently tendering for:
- Leeds County Council for 14-19 Foundation Learning
- Leeds City Council for BESD Provision
- Nottinghamshire 14-16 Alternative Provision for Newark, Mansfield and Nottingham
- Future New Deal nationwide with all the JCP providers who have been invited to Tender by DWP
- New LSC ESF programmes for Dec 09 nationwide
- Warrington LEA / 14-19 Partnership
If you become aware of any new funding opportunities or have ideas for programme / project development, please contact Chris Taylor on 01438 745566.
New Contracts / Programme Success - Sector Routeways - Retail & Security:
EYS and HIT Training Ltd have been successful in recent tenders to deliver Sector Routeways in the following LSC Areas:
- Eastern Region
- London South
- South West (Somerset & Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole)
Sector Routeways are a new LSC / PWP Programme which forms a part of the “Young Persons Guarantee” which ensures training places for long term unemployed people aged 18-24. EYS has teamed up with HIT Training to deliver these Learning Routeways into employment. Our programmes with HIT Training will be vocationally focussed, delivering 8 x week programmes to provide learners with the skills they require to progress into sustainable employment.
For further information, please contact Sam Lucas on 01438 745566.
EYS has renewed ’Investors in People’ for a second time.
EYS has renewed 'Investors in People' for a 2nd time.
IIP noted the following key strengths:
- Coherent Culture
- Robust Processes
- Motivated and compassionate staff
- Inclusive ways of working
- Good competences
- Culture of continuous improvement
Richard Atkinson, CEO, said that renewing our IIP status is yet another quality mark of EYS' overall strength as a "People First" company and he congratulated all the staff involved in maintaining this mark of quality which filters down and is embedded in all the training programmes & services EYS delivers nationwide
Marymead Restart Project
Marymead restart project is now a registered independent school. On 10th June 2009 they were inspected by Maggie Woods, who is a Senior Contracts Advisor to HCC. She was asked to inspect the education, review pupils' records, observe lessons and also give feedback to areas that needed to improve. Marymead received 6 areas for improvement and 10 strengths. Maggie Woods also commented on how far the project has improved since the last inspection!
Marymead have an excellent relationship with a local retirement home, they attend on a weekly basis by visiting their coffee mornings so the learners can play dominoes and chat with the residents. The retirement home asked us to paint their fence and EYS were happy to oblige.
From time to time the local Stevenage PCSO and police teams visit the Marymead building for a chat; they have developed a strong relationship with most of the EYS young people and staff. The centre played a 7-a-side football match against the police and hammered them 7-3, all the young people who attended the EYS provision were involved.
Marymead have developed a new points system which has improved the learner's behaviour, attendance and exclusions are already down.
Congratulations to:
- Ricky Littlechild yr 11 level 1 literacy/numeracy
- Ashley Houston yr 10 level 1 literacy/numeracy
- Lewis Thomas yr 10 level 1 literacy/numeracy
EYS Lowestoft make it to the football tournament final
On the 17th of July, EYS Lowestoft took part in an inaugural football tournament designed to bring together training providers, residents and staff from various hostels and the local police. The EYS team was the only one competing from any local youth training providers and so were competing against mostly adult teams. The team battled hard through all their games and eventually won a place in the final. Unfortunately they were beaten and so came second in a tournament of 6 teams. They were awarded runner-up medals from star player Matty Potter of Lowestoft Town F.C.
Lowestoft Centre Manager, James Weston said, ‘The team did really well; I was very pleased with their attitude and the tough but skilful football they played. They should be very proud of themselves for reaching the final and coming very close to being winners. Very well done to them!’
Mayor visits Bournemouth EYS gardening project @ Kings Park Nursery
On Monday 22nd June, the mayor of Bournemouth - Mrs Beryl Baxter visited the Education and Youth Services gardening project, to meet and greet the EYS team and plant a tree on the land that the EYS learners turned into a self sufficient allotment.
This initiative is funded for one year by the LSC and will run from 2009 -2010. It is a three way partnership between Education and Youth Services, Jill Gaskins from the Pre - employment project and Della Jones from The Learning and Skills Council.
The vision is to develop this gardening project nationally within the next 5 years. The project is open to all young people that are unable to access other government training programmes.
EYS were chosen to pilot this idea as they are a national training provider with over a decade's experience in working with young people with various needs and abilities. Chris Evans- the nursery manager, kindly donated the land to EYS
The EYS Dorset Centre Manager - Julia Luniss and her tutors Triston Dion and Bianca Jones set the objectives out for the learners from the start. Through horticulture the staff aims were to increase self esteem, confidence, to develop communication skills and encourage individuals to understand their potential in everyday life within the opportunities of employment.
The learners cultivated the land into their own allotment, growing various fruit and veg. On display was broccoli, cauliflowers, lettuce, peas and strawberries, to name a few. The mayor, her husband, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset and Mrs. Pitt Rivers viewed the project with great enthusiasm and conversed with the learners, tutors and management. Later on they went on to plant a tree on the EYS allotment along with the learners this was followed by cream teas and strawberries picked fresh from the project.
The Chief Executive of EYS - Richard Atkinson, whom also attended the project, greeted the mayor and learners and celebrated this fantastic achievement.
He would especially like to thank
- The EYS Bournemouth learners
- Julia Luniss
- Tristan Dion
- Bianca Jones
- Della Jones
- Chris Jones
National Art and Design Competition
Well done to all centre's who entered the national art competition. There were some fantastic entries from all over the country and you can see how much time, effort and commitment had been put into these pieces of art.
The artwork was on show at the EYS National Conference at the Northampton University and was viewed by the national centre managers and senior staff from Head Office.
Chris Hatten - Director of Operations whom I may add has a keen eye for art, had to make the grueling decision of who will be the winner! This was no easy task as all the centres in his eyes are winners however, ultimately there has to be one winner and after hours of deliberation, Chris concluded that it should go to.
Drum roll !
- 1st Kyle Smith - Wisbech
Big congratulations go out to the runner up and 3 rd place
- 2nd - Tammy Wingrove -East London
- 3rd - Anna Lake - Wisbech
Stevenage project passes Inspection
EYS Marymead SEN 14-16 success at internal inspection by Hertfordshire County Council
During the week of the 7th June EYS Marymead in Stevenage was inspected by Hertfordshire LEA for its SEN BESD provision and obtained a solid "Satisfactory" grade from their internal inspection (as per Ofsted inspection regime).
This is a great improvement from their last inspection and the inspector was amazed at the progress made at this BESD centre.
Well done to Paul, Helen, Kelly Brooke and all the staff at Marymead.
For further information please contact Kelly Brook ~ National 14-16 Manager on 01438 745566 k.brooke@eys.org.uk.
If you have any news for EYS please contact Chris Taylor on 01438 745 566 or email c.taylor@eys.org.uk
