Youth Connection

Youth Connection is platform for Young people to come together to develop, discuss and come up with ideas to better respond to their collective concerns and issues. It is open to all young people between the age of 16-25 years old, living, studying and or working in the West Midlands.

Youth Connection offers young people a platform:

• for self development via support and action/activism
• to encourage to think outside the box and develop alternative approach to addressing issues in our community
• to be proactive in identifying upcoming challenges and exploring ways to best respond to them
• to engage in meaningful dialogue with relevant authorities and bodies to take on board collective concerns and suggestions
• to network and meet new people with similar views and aspirations

By being involved you will have fun- go places, try out something new and meet people of power, locally nationally and internationally.  You will learn new skills and gain valuable knowledge and expertise and make a difference in your life and the lives of others around you.

CROATIA OUTWARD BOUND YOUTH EXCHANGE

Tue 22 Aug  – Wed 30 Aug 2023

Community Foundation took a group of young people from the UK to Croatia to take part in a week long outward bound education programme.

The programme was completely free and all costs for travel, accommodation and food will be covered. We will be staying near Gospić, the beautiful mountain region of Lika in Croatia.

Greece Youth Exchange Thursday 31st March – Saturday 9th April 2022

Community Foundation in partnership with other European countries took part in a 10-day Youth Exchange trip to Greece. We took 6 participants from the UK to join 48 other participants from 8 European countries to take part in the programme. This programme aimed to encourage young people to use digital tools and resources more effectively, through non formal education activities. It helped young people to gain hard & soft skills important for the new digital age.

We stayed at a hotel in the coastal area of Halkidiki, Greece, where everyone also got free time to tour the city and spend time on the beach.

Physical and online workshops were held to select participants more suitable for this youth exchange. The programme was completely free and all costs for travel, accommodation and food was covered.

Community Foundation Study Visit to Turkey

Delegation from Community Foundation took part in a week long study visit to Ankara, Turkey from 3 - 8 November 2018. The study visit hosted by Turkey was organised in partnership with Community Foundation from the UK, and organisations from Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. The delegation of 28 people from across the eight countries spent time learning about youth and community development, Education, governance and humanitarian relief work. Presentations and briefing were given to the delegation by senior staff from the World Bank, Turkey International Development Agency, Kecioren Municipality, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Red Crescent, and the Middle East Technical University.

The last day was spent sightseeing and visiting historical sites and sampling even more Turkish delicacies, more tea and plenty of sweet deserts during stop overs.

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSES  & YOUTH EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

Community Foundation in partnership with our Turkish counterpart organised an education visit as part of our international Youth Connections Programme (18-30 years old) involving 6 countries from 3 - 8 November to Ankara Turkey. All expenses paid.

Training Course 9-13 October 2017 | Slovak Republic

All 4 Inclusion (Phase.1)

This TC focused on encouraging and empowering youth workers, social workers to start inclusive projects with mixed ability groups through Erasmus+ projects. Our aim was to make the E+ more inclusive, accessible for young people with fewer opportunities.

Training Course 9-13 October 2017 | Norway

BiTriMulti (BTM) - Multilateral Training Course for newcomers in youth exchanges

The aim of the BiTriMulti course was to offer an international learning experience for practitioners active in the youth work field, enabling them to develop their competences in setting up quality Youth Exchange projects, especially newcomers to this field.

Training Course 15-22 October 2017 | Romania

The course was developed to provide youth workers with competences, tools and ideas to use in their work with young people, in order to empower them to find their true place in life and in the labor field. We worked on personal and professional level.

Seminar / Conference 16-18 October 2017 | Berlin, Germany

Speak UP, Step UP! European youth work empowering young people’s democratic values & active citizenship. Speak UP, Step UP! A European conference to consider the practice, impact and future role of Erasmus+ Youth in Action in promoting democratic values and attitudes and active citizenship among young people in Europe.

Training Course 17-21 October 2017 | Sweden

SOHO - European Training Course for EVS Support People

SOHO aimed at enhancing quality of EVS projects through development of essential competences of support persons. It also provided up-to-date information to its participants on the opportunities given by the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme.

Application deadline: 4 September 2017

Study Visit 22-27 October 2017 | Lisbon, Portuga

Democracy Reloaded Study Visit

The aims of the Study Visit are to share and reflect on existing practices of youth participation in decision making at local level in order to elaborate on issues of quality in such practices.

Seminar / Conference 27 November - 1 December 2017 | Malta

Youth Work Against Violent Radicalisation

The Conference wanted to raise awareness about the role of youth work against violent radicalization. The event was part of long term strategy that was realising for 2017 a mapping exercise of inspiring practises of NGOs working on the topic.

[SPAIN - Painting The Future - EVS for young people aged 18-30]

Duration: 12months 17 to 30 - October

Three placements in Lugo, Galicia, Spain Tasks included working on an eco-garden, creating and participating in an intercultural exchange activity at the farm school with local children, participating in a weekly intercultural exchange with local youth at City Hall, Workshops (music, creative. dance, art)

[TURKEY - Join Our Journey EVS for young people aged 18 to 30]

Duration:  6weeks 6th November to 15th December

Two placements in Turkey - 1 for 2 months and 1 for 10 months. Office work such as as website admin, social media, updating database and helping disabled people, organising creative workshops and planning fundraising activities.

[AUSTRIA - Common Grounds EVS for young people aged 18 to 30]
Duration:1 month in September

Two placements in Wildermeiming, Austria - volunteers created a natural playground for children in the forest, got involved in activities such as farming and spent their spare time cycling, hiking and swimming in the Tirol region.

[TURKEY - Meeting of Generations - EVS for young people aged 18 to 30]

Duration: 2 months

3 placements based in Ankara for 2 months each in 2017.

Volunteers work with a social worker facilitating services and organising activities for elderly and disabled people and children.

[PORTUGAL - Okupados a Construir (Busy Building) - EVS for young people aged 18 to 30]

Duration: 2 months

Two placements which involved supporting the renovation of the different departments of the Youth House. Activities included masonry, carpentry, painting, gardening and cleaning. Helped with workshops on painting for non-artistic people, rustic home decor, furniture makeovers, etc. Helped to create, develop and organize summer and holiday activities for children with fewer opportunities. The final group created and developed the eco garden at the Youth House. This was an interactive space for the children. They worked in the garden and help with workshops on gardening, recycling etc.

[SPAIN - English For Kids - EVS for young people aged 17 to 30] -

Duration:12 months

1 placement working in the Molí de Baix in Menorca, Spain. The volunteer taught English to children aged between 3 and 15 while assisting the teachers during the non-formal afternoon classes. Helped planning and preparing the activities which include handicrafts, activities and games, drawing and painting, dancing, singing, animation, excursions... and in July helped at the summer camp in Sant Lluís.

[FINLAND - Elf Around! - EVS for young people aged 18 to 30]

Duration: 1 month

Two placements in Kokkola - the volunteers helped to prepare Villa Elba’s Christmas project. The volunteers were introduced to the history and secrets of Finnish elves and helped to plan and create an elf path for children and families. In addition, volunteers organised elf school for the primary school students. It was a great place to see the Northern Lights!

[HUNGARY - Tittle Tattle - EVS for young people aged 18 to 30]

Duration: 1 month

2 placements working with the local community doing craft activities.

Varna, Bulgaria 10 - 14 May 2016

Community Foundation took part in a youth leadership training programme in Varna, Bulgaria

Sarajevo, Bosnia,  5th December -  8th December 2015

Community Foundation took 19 young people from across UK to learn about the Bosnian Genocide

Sarajevo, Bosnia,  5th April -  8th April 2015

Community Foundation took 23 young people from across UK to learn about the Bosnian Genocide