CARE EXPERIENCED COMMUNITY LEADERS

CARE EXPERIENCED COMMUNITY LEADERS

CeCL project focuses on innovation in learning and community engagement. Working closely with small groups of young people with lived experiences of being in or on the edge of care, we are exploring how the personal, people, place and planet are connected. Our aim is to support these young people as they transition to adulthood – creating new pathways to personal wellbeing, greater sense of belonging, increased community engagement and leadership. In the project we are experimenting with new approaches as well as well-established liberation pedagogy.

The aim is to engage young people in a process that builds connections, belonging, and their sense of agency while supporting their well being and which supports their transition into adulthood

Our overall intention to support the young people as they transition to adulthood by:
- focusing on their mental health with light touch interventions such as mindfulness practice, breathwork, conscious body work
- building support structures within the community and connecting them better to people, place and planet resulting in stronger connections and a wider support structure as they navigate the world as young adults
- developing and practicing participatory leadership skills (communication, collaboration, creativity, compassion and resilience)
…so that they can build their sense of belonging and become good community leaders ready to develop or contribute to community projects in the future.

A tangible outcome is a youth led social action project, where they identify something they would like to ‘do’ and are supported to get their voices heard and take action.
Phase 1 Delivery is for 2-3 hours weekly/bi-weekly for 8-10 weeks. Young people who want to follow on to phase 2 are then supported to become peer leaders and facilitators of the project.