Favorite Tweets by @AlexaMoore14

Plotr on-line!

https://www.plotr.co.uk/_assets/files/view/678d3758-a3e9-40d6-8acc-dfb19fb71afc/

IARS Logo entry

Parliament talks about the issues of careers guidance

Apprenticeships

http://www.aimapprenticeships.co.uk/advice-centre/youth-employment-showcase-2014

Graduation

http://www.worcester.ac.uk/community/alexa-jane-moore.html

YEUK Magazine

Dear Parent/Parents, 5 reasons why getting a job no

Dear Parent/Parents,
 

Some of you may think that young people are ‘lazy,’ or are not ‘trying hard enough’ to get a job. Here are five reasons why comparing job hunting to your day just doesn’t work:

1.       The pre-requisites for even an entry level job are so high- no longer can you stroll out of high school and walk into an entry level job. You will need a degree for that.

2.       Underemployment- graduates are taking lower-skilled jobs, so other young people can’t get them.

3.       Employers want young people to have qualifications and vast experience- catch 22! In your day, young people were given a chance to work their way up an organisation, gaining qualifications and experience along the way.

4.       There are fewer jobs- FACT.

5.       The recruitment process is severe- it is no longer just about handing in a CV and getting an interview, think: CV, company specific questions, psychometric tests, telephone interview, assessment centre (usually with a group task and presentation element), and finally an interview! (Phew, I am tired just writing it!)

So, take these points on-board the next time you tell a young person to, ‘just get a job.’

Kind regards,

Young People of the UK.

About me!

I have a keen interest in Further Education, Higher Education and young people. Being a young person myself, I understand the dilemma of trying to decide what to do with your future. I attended WSFC and I found the careers department very helpful in giving guidance and organising work experience, so that I could try and decide what I wanted to do. While at university, I gained a keen interest in careers through voluntary and paid positions at The University of Worcester. I was employed by the careers department to create the jobs bulletin. This involved speaking to local businesses to find out about vacancies, creating the document, distributing it, advertising it on social media, and analysing uptake. I have found that students are very keen to take advice from a person who has first-hand knowledge and experience.




I undertook the Worcester Award to boost my employability, at the University of Worcester. I thoroughly enjoyed the award and I wrote a piece about the award as The Worcester Award Ambassador. I have attended events, at the university, to engage with students and promote the benefits of the award. I wrote a careers blog, for the careers department, about how to write a good CV, how to development relevant skills and how to apply for jobs (http://lifeofanundergrad.blogspot.co.uk/). This has now moved to my own personal blog.  My employability articles have also been posted by The Guardian and Targetjobs. (http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/nov/29/students-employability-league-tables).



I have also been developing 'career videos' and info-graphics, which will assist first year students in understanding all of the employability options available to them at The University of Worcester. (http://www.powtoon.com/p/e607kIPvxtF/).

I currently work for Archway Academy, as an Education Mentor. The school is for young people who have been excluded from PRU and have SEN. I teach on a 1:1 basis, functional skills and SETPD. From starting with my pupil, she has gone from having no qualifications to gaining qualifications in English and Math.

I am a member of the CDI, studying towards a PG Cert in Coaching and Mentoring and NVQ L4 IAG.
In my spare time, I am a Youth Ambassador for YEUK. YEUK is an organisation that help young people action change. I have received funding from O2 Think Big, to organise an employability event. This event had ten different organisations, in attendance, and multiple elements, including: a panel, team work exercise, and employer presentations. I received positive feedback from the young people and organisations. From this, I have been nominated for a BVSC award and the Queen’s Young Leader Award. I am now putting in a bid for the second tier of funding.

I am passionate about employability and helping young people find the right careers guidance. In the future, I would like to be a careers advisor, in higher education, and have my own employability workshop business.

YEUK Midlands Event

I decided to hold a follow-up event, to the Youth Friendly MP Campaign, in Worcester on the 10^th October, at the University of Worcester. The aim of the event was to bring together organisations, and young people together, to discuss 'issues' in Worcestershire. The event was varied and contained lots of different elements. I did this, so that the young people had lots of different options. There was something for everyone!

 

The event started with a presentation, by myself, about YEUK. This was followed by a presentation from HSBC UK about their graduate programmes. This was targeted at the graduates, in the room. A panel element followed, so that young people could ask a variety of panellists questions. The panel included: Robin Walker MP, Alex Quang from O2 Think Big, Craig Bateman from Worcestershire Youth Council, Matt....from Worcestershire Hub, Tom...from the YMCA, Andreea...a linguistic consultant, and Alex from HSBC UK. I tried to make the panel as varied as possible, so the young people could ask a variety of questions on issues such as: volunteering, project funding, politics, minimum wage etc. The young people were a little reluctant to ask questions, but I had a few prepared! A team building exercise followed. The aim of this activity was to promote teamwork and to develop presentation skills. The young people had five minutes to make an animal out of materials and to come up with a one minute pitch. They then pitched to the panel, to decide on prize winners. The evening ended with free-networking, free food and drink and music.

 

With the help of Sylvia, I applied to O2 Think Big funding of £300. If you think creatively, then this is more than enough money. I got the venue for free (as it is my university). I spent £80 on prizes and materials for the team building exercise. I also spent £65 on food and £65 on advertising materials. I am not very good at creating advertising materials, so this is why I paid for materials, but I would like to develop this skill for future events. I would also advise on ordering less food than people that sign up for the event. 65 people signed up, 45 attended, and I ordered food for 35 people.

 

I thought the event went really well. I was nervous about attendance, but it was good! I got positive feedback, from the panellists, and some pointers that I could work on. Some of these included: explaining the relevance of each event element better and possibly making the networking more structured.

 

In the future, I would like to be able to apply for the next tier of O2 Think Big funding. With this, I would like to set up CV workshops.

 

My advice would be to just go for it! Try to partner with student societies and ask if you can have things for free in return for doing something. Make your event varied and free food will always get young people there!!

 

This month's A.C.E Magazine

YEUK - My O2 Think Big Event- Week Countdown

With just over a week to go, the event is coming together nicely. All stall holders and panel members have been confirmed. It is just about the marketing now, to get as many young people as possible to the event.

Here is one form of marketing, that I have used.

http://www.yeuk.org.uk/yeuk-ambassadors-lead-tackling-youth-unemployment/

Of course social media has been fundamental. I have also used the student newspaper, created relationships with other societies and contacted the local press.

Promoting Young People's Well-being in Youth Work Practice Programme

Today, I attended a great discussion lead by UK Youth and Right Here, about young people's mental health.'Right Here is a five-year programme, run by the Paul Hamyln Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation.' The aim of the project is to develop new, effective approaches to supporting mental health and well-being of young people, aged 16-25.

What I really liked about the event was that it was extremely interactive. Also, there was a lot of discussion, revolving around young people mental health, between people from education, youth work and the council. There were a lot of different opinions, from a variety of people. 

I was also very shocked by some of the statistics produced. Mental health issues are prevalent in young people and there is definitely a gap in services for young people, aged 16-18 years old. 

It was nice to see that the Right Here Project has consulted young people to develop activities, to discuss mental health issues. I really liked the 'Dare to Share' game; however, I thought it was a little pricey at £150! I also liked that innovation labs were used to develop digital resources, for young people. One that I particularly liked was Doc Ready. There is a lot of stigma for young people, around mental health, and attending the doctors is quite nerve racking. This website/app allows a young person to talk through what they would say to their doctor and gives them ideas about what they could say. This helps the young person be more confident, in asking for help.

The project ends this year, but I hope that its findings can be rolled out across the UK!

If you want to find out more find them on Twitter @RightHereProj 

50 Faces of Youth Work

Blog: Fiona Blacke on 50 Faces of Youth Work

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9 Sep 2014

 

I have been included in the 50 faces of Youth Work and here is a very interesting blog by the creator!

 

I think most people agree that now is a difficult time to be a youth worker. Cuts to youth services are widespread and many in our profession are facing an uncertain future. Whilst the skills of youth workers are recognised by some, the role does not enjoy a high profile and is largely overlooked by politicians.
Against this evolving backdrop the National Youth Agency turns 50. As part of our half century celebrations we wanted to demonstrate the impact of youth work in a celebratory way that illustrates what’s brilliant about youth work. So we asked 50 people ‘what does youth work mean to you?’
Through their own words, youth workers and young people told us why it was important and what it could achieve. A lot of the contributions articulated the difference they could make in a way that was truly inspiring. These were some of the themes which emerged and which struck me with particular resonance.
‘We talk about teachers – we should talk about value of great youth work’
This was a line from Nick Hurd’s entry. It’s great that a mainstream politician believes this – it’s a shame that it requires a stint as minister for youth policy to gain this insight. I hope we can get Brooks Newmark being as supportive. Another contributor referred to youth work as ‘the underdog of education -misunderstood and misrepresented’ which I thought particularly perceptive.
‘Helping young people realise their potential is limitless’
Lots of youth workers mentioned this – and that the ability to offer this support is beneficial to us all, not just the young person. Many mentioned too that it was personally hugely rewarding and a blessing to be part of their journey.
‘Every day is different, every day is an adventure!’
I love the energy and dynamism of young people. Lots of our contributors are enthused by the passion and vigour of young people too.
‘Real local role models’
Several contributors wrote movingly about youth work providing positive role models for young people to look to. Youth workers’ ability to be flexible and tailor activity to an individual’s needs means their relationships can touch young people in a way others can’t.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our 50 Faces. Despite the challenging environment, our contributors all display a deep commitment to the profession and youth work as a distinctive pedagogy. I challenge anyone to read these 50 entries and not feel heartened, moved and even invigorated by their insight and unswerving belief in the transformative power of youth work.
Read our 50 Faces of Youth Work here.

O2 Think Big - My Project

O2 Think Big - My Project



£300 funding granted for the Midlands Event at the University of Worcester!

Young people in Europe

http://www.ippr.org/publications/remember-the-young-ones-improving-career-opportunities-for-britains-young-people

YEUK Magazine

This month's magazine full of helpful hints and tips!

YEUK goes to Romania!

Erasmus is a scheme promoted by the European Union to increase cohesion between countries. A fellow YEUK Ambassador told me about a Facebook group called Youth in Action, where people promote their Erasmus projects. I accepted a project to teach English in Romania. 

At first, I was a little apprehensive about going to Romania due to how it is perceived in the British media. I was delightfully surprised! It is a beautiful country. 

Teaching English was actually a lot more challenging than I thought it would be, but it was a good way to improve my skills. Making lesson plans, managing a class and teaching to different abilities. Did you know there are eight different tenses, in English? I certainly didn't!

The trip was also an opportunity to visit a new country at a very low cost. As part of the scheme, I only had to pay 50% towards my travel costs. I got the opportunity to visit Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) and the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe. 

I would recommend a scheme like this to anyone! http://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus.htm

iDEA Award

A group of us has entered a competition to design an app. Jess, the team leader, thought that an app where young people could search for opportunities, in one place, would be a good idea. I thought this was a great idea so I joined the team!

For the second round, we had to submit a video of our app. Here is my section: 


https://www.dropbox.com/s/4mbstskmn8zo147/DSCF0365.AVI

UK Youth Event

I have just got back for UK Youth's annual conference at Avon Tyrell. It was an opportunity for me to meet my fellow Youth Employment UK Ambassadors and other inspiring young people, from across the UK. 

During the weekend, I did some adventure activities (whooh zip wire) and I also took part in numerous workshops. My favourite was about democracy. It was a good opportunity to gain an understanding of why young people don't vote and why we should vote. The main reasons revolved around lack of information,to make an informed voting decision, and apathy towards politicians. 

I also learnt about the StepUptoServe Campaign, which is a new campaign to get 50% of young people doing something to help their community. As a group of young people, we already thought we were doing this but this needs to be recognised more in the media. This campaign hopes to ingrain volunteering into our culture through instilling volunteering in primary schools. 

To find out more about UK Youth: http://www.ukyouth.org/