Youth Advisory Board
Greenhouse Sports has helped me to gain more confidence in myself and demonstrate new leadership skills that I never had before. It has also helped me to discover new things that I now enjoy doing like basketball which is a really fun game where you can just take a break from everything and enjoy doing what you love.
Young people are at the heart of what we do, and now – even more – they have a voice to help further shape our work. We created the Greenhouse Sports Youth Advisory Board (YAB), which features representatives from our school programme participants who provide feedback and help make decisions about issues that affect them.
In our first year, coaches nominated participants to join the Youth Forum, and from there, Forum members voted a group of their peers into our Youth Council.
Youth Advisory Board members meet twice per year to provide feedback and take part in leadership activities. Our members on the Youth Council take part more regularly, and so far they have enjoyed media and storytelling training, have developed and executed participant-led research to aid our impact measures, and have added to the conversation around the structure of our holiday camps and programme.
Schools’ Celebration an event for Head Teachers and Heads of PE, held at St Cyprian’s Church. 12 of our YAB members undertook volunteering roles at this event. Sufyan and Scarlett lead roles in interviewing Coach Orlan (who will be part of Team England Basketball squad at the Commonwealth Games!).
OCNLR Level 1 Award in Developing Leadership Skills/Qualification No: 603/2689/X delivered by Rio Ferdinand Foundation hosted at Bacon’s College. This course is aimed at developing leadership skills of learners, enriching their employability skills and personal growth. This qualification provides learners with a greater knowledge of leadership skills and the confidence to apply and develop them in a variety of contexts such as work, education, leisure, and in the community. 10 YAB members attended the training. They meet our CEO in person and were also apart of consolation session ran by Oscar and Billie “Dream Fund Opportunity” People’s Postcode Lottery bid.
Our YAB took part in a focus group session with Bluewater. Energy X Nature Agenda for energyXnature ideation session. Bluewater is launching a photography competition for students aged 16-18. The theme of the photographs entered explore the theme of energy x nature. The purpose of the competition is to encourage young people to go outside, to find spaces where nature and energy meet - in or outside of a city. We believe that getting outside and appreciating our natural world can bring huge benefits to our mental health.
"We really enjoyed their company, and as much as it was a positive experience for them – we felt the same! The guys from MediaZoo have also been in touch this morning and said how much they enjoyed the session. We found them all extremely engaging and good fun and really appreciated their input. Lucinda Delaney" Executive Assistant and Marketing & Comms Coordinator Bluewater
Sufyan, Team Greenhouse Youth Advisory Board member was specially selected to take part in the HSBC World of Opportunity Programme at Twickenham Stadium. Sufyan was given two tickets to the HSBC London Sevens on Saturday 28th May. He took Idowu who is also a Youth Advisory Member to experience the amazing session. “I would just like to thank you and Greenhouse for the amazing opportunity you gave me yesterday. After the World of Opportunity workshop, I feel even more motivated to work within the sports industry and help others. Thank you again”. Sufyan
Thank you to Luc, Malachi, Harmony, Alysha, Nazha, Aksa, and Sufyan who volunteered their time to support the Marylebone Summer Festival on 19th June 2022. The event itself is a public event put on by the Howard de Walden Estate and is a family focused festival in the heart of Marylebone. Greenhouse Sports are the beneficiary charity and will be running a few engagement activities in Paddington Street Gardens, including Table Tennis and Basketball competitions. “Super quick note to say all of the YAB participants who volunteered yesterday at MSF were absolutely brilliant! They were a great reflection of the work Greenhouse Sports Coaches do with our young people and were genuinely inspiring to be around with a great enthusiasm, work ethic and infectious energy which helped us raise a huge amount of money and awareness for the charity through the event (exact £ TBC – we’ll keep you all posted)”. James Steven Greenhouse Sports
The Youth Advisory Board has also worked with some of the charity’s partners to gain additional skills and opportunities that will help them succeed later in life.
I applied to become a member of the Youth Advisory Board because I was interested in empowering the other young people in my programme by giving them a voice. During my time on the Youth Advisory Board, I want to create positive change that can be seen and felt in the daily lives of participants.
Pre-Greenhouse, I found little to no motivation to get out of bed and pay attention in class, this changed following the introduction of the charity to me. After attending a few after school clubs I found that my life changed for the better. Suddenly, I was excited to wake up for school to attend breakfast clubs, concentrated in classes, saw a jump in my grades and made new friends.
Greenhouse sports has given me an insight into several skills from team building to communication skills. I’ve improved my interaction skills. Playing for this Team Greenhouse has enabled the growth of my communication abilities. I used to be an introvert, but since I began playing tennis in Year 7, it has enabled me to relieve stress from my studies while having fun with others
Greenhouse sports has helped me become a better person in many ways. Firstly, greenhouse has helped me to develop my communication skills which has allowed me to become a more socialised person.as I can now communicate with my team mates effectively. Secondly, greenhouse sports have provided me with many different opportunities that have benefited me greatly.
Greenhouse Sports has helped me to gain more confidence in myself and demonstrate new leadership skills that I never had before . It has also helped me to discover new things that I now enjoy doing like basketball which is a really fun game where you can just take a break from everything and enjoy doing what you love.
Greenhouse Sports has helped me in many positive ways. For instance, attending morning sessions helps me manage my time and be awake for the rest of the day. Basketball at school also motivates me to get through the day and in the end, I will be rewarded with basketball. Greenhouse sports has also encouraged me to communicate with other coaches and players, building up my social skills and my links in the local community.
Greenhouse has helped me gain confidence and improve my technique in table tennis and football. Since joining the Youth Advisory Board, I am more confident in leading my peers. My favourite memory about Team Greenhouse was attending a holiday scheme at the Greenhouse centre and playing Table tennis.
Greenhouse has helped me become the best I can be at basketball as well as becoming a hardworking individual and leader. My favourite memory with a greenhouse is definitely when I had the chance to meet James Harden. I will never forget that.
In my personal experience, it has proved undeniable that sport changes lives. When I joined the Greenhouse programme at my school a few years ago, there was no way that I could’ve known how deeply it would shape me: not only as a player, but as a person.
Greenhouse sports have helped me find my new favourite hobby which is basketball - I was bouncing around from sport to sport but basketball is the first one that stuck. Plus it has helped me be more disciplined and punctual for training and in my everyday life.
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