POWERED BY: FIRST CLASS YOUTH

Welcome & Awards p1We Engage p2Street Smart / Life on the Spa p3RSC / Behind da Codez / Midland Heart p4

INSIDE w w w . f y c d . c o . u k

Back 2 Basics p5The EDGE p6The Network & Services p71st Class Information p8

STREET SMART INTOBUSINESS START

On 14th November 2007, First Class Youth (FCY) delivered an

exclusive event aimed at young people wanting to become entrepreneurs.

On 14th November 2007, First Class Youth delivered an exclusive event aimedat young people wanting to become entrepreneurs. This event was sponsoredby Advantage West Midlands during National Enterprise Week. We at FCY recognise that many young people have the skills but require

business acumen and motivation to achieve success, so we brought thatknowledge to them at an evening of pure inspiration and insight into the world of business.

Speakers on the night included Karl George MBE (KgISS), Wade Lyn (owner of Island Patties), Cheryl Garvey (B:RAP) and Clyde Pile (Localentrepreneur). These successful high profile local individuals brought greatinsight, experience and EMPOWERMENT, with each speaker sharing theirpersonal struggles and how they overcame them. FCY recognise the importanceand need for positive role models within our communities who are willing to ‘giveback’ making a huge difference to the lives of many young people.

‘LIFE ON THE SPA’

Many young people living within the local estates, were involved in or onthe periphery of anti social behaviour and staff at Orbit wanted to take adifferent approach to making a positive difference.

A team of four FCY outreach workers went out and hit the streets toengage with the young people over a four week period. The shortproject ‘Life on the Spa’ certainly challenged the mindsets of the youngpeople, and created awareness around the need to have a morepositive lifestyle between themselves and others.

How?The young people were consulted with in a variety of creative ways,including using drama and the creation of a documentary as a way ofengaging with them. The young people were involved in the filming ofthe documentary entitled ‘This is How We Feel’ (copies available uponrequest) enabling them to tell their story. This exciting project ended witha showcase evening, and the screening of the final documentary. Thevenue was full to capacity with families, local residents, Orbit staff andboard members etc. The evening was fun, interactive and educatingwith a real sense of community spirit!

Impressed??…..Orbit Housing were! They were so impressed with the progressmade that they commissioned FCY again, during the Easter holidays in March 2008, to re visit the young people and deliver some more indepth engagement and development work. The young people werethrilled to have us back with them!

Orbit Housing Association commissioned FCY to deliver some youth engagement andconsultation work in February 2008, in theLeamington Spa area.

02 1st Class Youth News | We Engage | 2007-2008 03w w w . f y c d . c o . u k

to our 2nd issue of First ClassNews. It has been an amazing sixmonths, since our previousnewsletter in 2007!

This short supplement will give you aninsight into what we have been involvedin over the past few months.

We start off with congratulations to Nathan Dennis - Co Director of First Class Youth, who was nominatedNational Finalist for Barclaycard TradingPlaces awards 2007. Nathan wasnominated for the most inspiringbusiness setup in adversity. He receivedhis award from host Fiona Bruce of the

BBC, at the prestigious Marriot HotelGrosvenor Square, London.

Congratulations also to MelissaShervington, Co Director of First Class Youth, who picked up the Life Time Achievement Award at Path West Midlands 20th Anniversary & Awards Ceremony which was held at the Botanical Gardens on 2ndNovember 2007. Melissa received her award from Tessa Sanderson CBE and was recognised for heroutstanding personal development and achievement since beginning herjourney as a Path Trainee with FocusHousing in 2001.

WELCOME...

In January 2008, FCY were commissioned by The Royal ShakespeareCompany to deliver some youth consultation and promotional work to the youth market.

We were tasked with promoting the well-known play ‘Noughts andCrosses’ as the RSC wanted to attract a more diverse audience as well as find out why many young people do not visit the theatre.So…the FCY Street Team hit the streets and captured the findings oncamera and created an innovative DVD, helping the RSC shape theirmarketing strategies.

The DVD documentary provided the RSC with detailed footage ofyoung people expressing their thoughts on the arts/theatre and onwhat type of plays they would like to see performed. Following thesurvey, we took over 50 young people by coach to Stratford-Upon-Avon to watch the play ‘Noughts and Crosses’ which was absolutelyfascinating. Most of the young people who came on the trip had neverbeen to a theatre before and they thoroughly enjoyed themselvesstating that they would definitely visit a theatre again!

Behind the Codez was a special event, held in September 2007. Although the eventwas aimed at young people, (like all traditional FCY seminar/debate shows) – thistime we made the decision to allow a few ‘professional adults’ into the arena! Wedecided this based on the theme of the event, i.e. exploring reasons why so manyyoung people associate themselves with area post codes, which is also connectedto gang culture and is a growing concern for many of us, both young and old.

Housing professionals in particular play a key role in these debates/consultation,as many of the young people who partake in the ‘code tagging’ lifestyle, residewithin estates which are owned and managed by Housing Associations. We felt itwas imperative for these professionals to understand why young people feel thisway, and can therefore seek to provide better solutions to prevent the situationfrom worsening.

The event, which was hosted by the G Man from Newstyle radio, was aresounding success and provided some stimulating and lively debate amongstthe audience and panel members, (all of whom are connected to youthwork/guns & gangs interventionists, community leaders etc).

BEHIND DA CODEZ

Over a period of four weeks, the FCY Street Team hit the streets of Newtown to speak tothe local residents, letting them know aboutthe new & forthcoming development which will comprise of a range of new properties to bebuilt on the former Crocodile Works estate on Summer Row, Newtown.

Midland Heart specifically wanted to know whatthe residents think and feel about the new plansfor the area and to gain an insight into whetherthey would consider purchasing any of the newlybuilt properties, with the chance to get onto theproperty ladder at great prices.

In partnership with Midland Heart, FCY designedand delivered a very successful community openday at The Drum in Aston, on 15th March 2008.

The event was well attended by a variety of residents.

Features on the day included a motivational talk on investment by Karl George MBE, a panel interview with local residents, informationstalls, children’s crèche, face painting,entertainment etc.

The Newtown Open Day gave local people the chance to find out more about the futuredevelopments for the area and register aninterest in Home Ownership.

A DVD was also compiled over the four weeksleading up to the event and a special screeningwas shown during the event. It was certainly afun and informative day, enjoyed by all!

FCY were commissioned byMidland Heart, which is the largestand leading Housing Association inthe Midlands, to carry out somecommunity consultation work inthe Newtown area.

04 1st Class Youth News | We Engage | 2007-2008 05

BACK 2BASICSFCY were also commissioned by Midland Heart to deliver a very

successful event titled ‘Back 2 Basics’, which took place on

Saturday 12th July 2008 at Camp Lane Development Centre in

Handsworth, Birmingham.

The primary purposeof the event was to create a raised level of

community cohesion within the local area and bridge intergenerational

gaps within the community, using family values and cooking as a tool

for engagement. FCY & Midland Heart recognised the need to bring

back some of the 'good old' family values which have been lost

throughout generations. This then led to the creation of the concept

and theme for Back 2 Basics.

The event was aimed at families and attracted a huge diverse audience

from all generations and cultures. The main feature on the day was a

cooking tournament, involving local residents, all final dishes were

presented and judged by special guest ‘Rustie Lee’ on the day.

Other features on the day included an exclusive drama sketch by

Birmingham’s very own ‘Sister Tree’, steel pan, dohl blasters, dance,

singing, children’s entertainment….the list goes on!

The event certainly achieved the original objectives and was thoroughly

enjoyed by all - happy faces and laughter were clearly evident

throughout the course of the day and the feedback gained from

residents who attended demonstrated the desire for more events of the

same ethos to be delivered within the community.

Formally known as First Class Youth Network, The Network is ourcore social programme, which is made up of young people, and helpsto keep FCY focussed in its vision and mission for change, byproviding a platform for those young people who have a desire tochange and positively transform their lives, and as a result helpingfollowing generations of young people to do the same.

The Network seeks to provide a safe and trusting environment, which is exciting and enjoyable for all those involved, by remaininginnovative and relevant to the needs of young people. This isachieved by motivating and empowering young people to identifytheir own individual purpose and the importance and need forinterdependence, whilst working towards a common goal and vision.

1st Group (Nov-Dec 2007)

Rhys McCollinSade Antonio-PattersonSarah SutcliffeAndre WorrellIsrael VernonChris Hastings

3rd Group (Mar-Apr 2008)

Kaysaan WarriconSabrina ClarkeMelisha FullerDaniel BrothersonJamious DennisJanay Gethfield

2nd Group (Jan-Feb 2007)

Michelle NewsonMatthew HutchinsonJenevieve SmithJoanna Grant (Founder member)Semilia DennisAndre HessonPhylica Brown

We would like to welcome our newest members of The Network who have recently completed the 1st Class Values Training programme and graduated!

WELLDONE

• Melissa Shervington (Company Director) officially became full time in FCY as of 31st March 2008

• Melisha Fuller (Client Care Officer) officially became full time in FCY as of 5th May 2008

• Ryan Beesley (Head of Street Team) joined FCY as a part time staff member, in April 2008

What is it that the Birmingham Edge Learner Forum is offering?

A safe, warm and relaxing environment that bridges the gap between both the worlds whichrarely meet. An insight for private sector companies to be exposed to some of the currentchallenges that young people from diverse backgrounds encounter whilst pursuing employment.

The private sector have the opportunity to explore alternative ways of creatively recruitinginnovative thinkers from diverse walks of life.

What do those from the private sector who attend gain from participating?

The opportunity to engage in meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility enabling those whodo desire to give something back to society to enrich the lives of those they engage.Thepossibility of scouting talent and also networking opportunities with young people and otherprofessionals within the forum for the benefit of the forum its future projects and participants.

What do the young people gain?

• The opportunity to be exposed to successful professionals within a forum and able to ask questions, share their thoughts and feelings.

• To be inspired and to inspire others.

• The practice of engaging with professionally minded individuals

• To exercise community cohesion and the respect for others from different faiths, cultures,beliefs social backgrounds etc.

• To explore a diverse range of careers and industries and learn how they work.

• To be heard!

Edge forum held twice at...ITV Central

In association with... Birmingham Professional Diversity

06 1st Class Youth News | We Engage | 2007-2008 07

FCY launched the Birmingham Edge Learner Forum on

October 5th 2007 at the famous ITV Central Studios!!

The Birmingham Edge Learner Forum acts as

a mediator between professionals from the

private sector and young people

THENETWORKwww.fcyn.co.ukwww.myspace.com/firstclassyouthnetwork

STAFFINGw w w . f y c d . c o . u k

Some feedback: from the Edge ForumBirmingham 5th Feb 2008@ ITV Central

Delivered by: First Class Youth

The private sector were asked aquestion these were the answers.

What was particularly good and/or worked well?1. “Informality of the round table activity.Enthusiasm of the ‘facilitators’”

Ian Binks, Regional Manager, BritishTelecommunications plc2. “The commitment from all participants”

Fred Shaw, Business Development Manager,Service Birmingham3. “Worked well – good facilitation of thecommunication process between business peopleand participants. Excellent strategy to ask for the‘I will …’ statements. Very helpful for the businesssector to hear of the experiences of delegates”

Dr Iona Jones, Principal Consultant, Imagine Associates4. “Event was well structured but informal whichallowed everybody to feel they could speakopenly and honestly about their experiences.

As an employer, it offered a rare moment tocollect direct feedback on how best to engagewith young people about future employmentopportunities. I felt enthused by the talent in theroom. I made me aware that as employers we can become complacent about recruitment andselection procedures and tend to stick to thesame methods – much could be gained bythinking more creatively about how to assess ayoung person’s suitability for a post.”

Adele Cope, Director of Human Resources,Royal Shakespeare Company

We seek to use innovation andcreativity in all areas of our work.

FCY has two major functioning arms:

• The ‘Network’• Direct

DirectIs the commercial arm for FCY, which operates as arecruitment agency and creates employment opportunitiesfor those young people who may not normally access thework that they may desire. Direct delivers a high qualityservices on behalf of public and private sector clients.

Our Vision“We aim to create a new brand and generation of youngpeople, to change the perceptions of how mainstreamservices are traditionally delivered by providing a powerful1st class service, built on using innovative young leadersas the core of the service delivery that will set thestandard for following generations to come, helping them to release their potential in record time.”

Mission StatementOur Mission is a lifestyle – “To become the UK’s leadingOutreach and Engagement Agency, that engages andbrings light to young people who ordinarily wouldn’taccess mainstream services. We will help organisationswho have a need and requirement to engage and accessyoung people, through using powerful, relevant &customised packages involving young people directly and seeking to provide a service that exceeds our client’s expectations.”

Core Services• Consultation – directly with young people

and organisations

• Outreach – recruitment, promotion, distribution

• Detached Youth Work

• Events – seminars, conferences, concerts

• Workshops

Programmes• Values training

• Education 4 Life

First Class Youth is a professional company which is built on a six core values:

these are the foundation of all areas of our service delivery.

First Class Youth • 88 Soho Road • Birmingham • B21 9BN • Tel: 0121 445 9218 • 07983 526 503/4www.fcyd.co.uk • melissashervington@fcyd.co.uk • nathandennis@fcyd.co.uk