University of the First Age

The UFA also has a national network for young people ‘YoUFA’ which aims to give all young people a voice and increase young people’s leadership. The vision set out in the discussion papers highlights that a society that is ‘Positive for Youth’ is one that has young people with strong ambitions, good opportunities and supportive relationships there is a clear emphasis on the role young people play in society and the support they receive in allowing them to make informed choices and decisions about their future.

In support to the ‘Positive for Youth’ policy:

1. The UFA provides transforming learning experiences for young people beyond the normal school/college day and we work to inspire and equip young people to become confident leaders, successful learners and leaders within their communities. Our offer is national and UFA has worked within Youth Groups/Theatres, community organisations but primarily in schools focusing on young people who are most in need or at a risk of disengaging in education.

1. The ‘Positive for Youth’ vision states the importance of ‘providing high standards of education’ (Department for Education) UFA provides Transforming Learning training for adults who work with young people to meet this aim and have evidence of increasing young people’s engagement in learning and achievements. Our own research shows that 92% of UFA Fellows (UFA trained adults) think that engaging in UFA activities has a significant impact on young people’s motivation to learn and 85% started it has a significant impact on achievement.

1. The UFA works through developing, enriching and extending learning activities for young people and training for young leaders and adults who support these opportunities. Right from the start of the organisation 14 years ago young people have been key as Peer Tutors from this the UFA began to focus on developing young people’s leadership of learning.

1. UFA believes that young should be involved in their own and other people’s learning. That means young people being supported to create activities for other young people and then taking a leadership role in the design and delivery. We have trained young people all over the country as Lead Learners who plan, deliver and evaluate out of hour’s activities for other young people.

1. Within the UFA and YoUFA network there are a range of opportunities for young people to develop supportive working relationships, recognise their strengths and celebrate their achievements. Since 1996 we have trained over 6000 young people to be Peer Tutors to support the learning of their peers both in and out of school. We have also trained young people to be Lead Learners and developed a Young Evaluators and Researchers training. In recent years we have also trained Volunteer Tutors and Apprentice Tutors to work on UFA Summer Challenges

1. We also have a young people’s network ‘YoUFA’ which is led by a group of young people the ‘YoUFA Board’ who also engage with the main board of Trustees to ensure the voice of young people is heard. Young people from the YoUFA network have come together for two years to plan, run and deliver our National Learning Festival ‘YoUFiestA’ for young people all over the UK to celebrate the achievements of young people and deliver activities for other young people to partake in. YoUFA is also local, young people make new friends, build their confidence and self - esteem, get support, encouragement and step up to lead others making sure every young person’s voice is heard.

1. A Young person’s publishing team the ‘YoUFA Publishing Team’ who wrote and designed a publication for other young people as a guide for other young people who wanted to set up and run their own clubs.

1. We also know:  (i) When young people lead others, their own learning improves. (ii) Young people participating in learning led by their peers are inspired to become the leaders of tomorrow. (iii) Young people who belong to something national raise their aspiration and connect with others within and beyond their local community

1. All the roles young people partake in are voluntary and young people give their own time and commitment. They may sometimes be offered thank you gifts in recognition for their time and commitment but no payment and we also provide accreditation.

1. Our work with young people over the years has shown that young people are keen to give back to their schools and communities and will often come back wanting further opportunities where they are able to volunteer. They will often engage in new roles and continue to commit themselves to UFA year after year.

1. The UFA offers progression routes for young people who engage with us. Currently any young person can engage with us through our National YoUFA network, they may have encountered UFA through training at their school or organisation we then encourage young people to progress as YoUFA co-ordinators fundraising themselves this ensures it is self funding and self sustaining through continued commitment to ensure young people’s voices are heard and increasing young people’s leadership opportunities within their environment. The next step is for young people to progress to a Regional Ambassador to represent Regional Youth Voice and promote the positive role models of young people within their region, further progression to sit on the National YoUFA Board to increase young people’s leadership, voice and influence in the development of YoUFA and UFA nationally and thus contributing to the ‘Positive for Youth’ vision and Youth Policy. A launch in November at the House of Commons will take place with the Support of Minister Tim Loughton to celebrate the outstanding achievement young people have made and to launch our progression routes for young people.

1. Our experience working with young people has shown us that many young people are enthusiastic and want to often give back, they are happy to take on responsibilities and support UFA and YoUFA and to be the key catalyst’s to make a difference to young people’s lives, turn a negative experience into a positive, ensure the voice of young people are heard and continue to challenge the negative stereotype of young people the media often portray. We have a number of case studies in evidence to support this.

1. The UFA believes young people should be involved in the development of our work. We train adults to be open to seeing the leadership potential in young people and ensure opportunities are readily available in young people’s local communities for them to exercise their leadership qualities and build on working stronger relationships with the people around them.

1. The UFA has also developed a training programme for adults and specifically parents ‘Supporting my teen to Learn’ this 12 hour programme to introduce parents and carers of 12 – 19 yrs olds to a range of strategies and approaches that will support their Teens to become more effective, successful learners and to overcome barriers to learning.

1. Many aspects of our work fit into the work of the ‘National Citizen Service’ UFA will be working as one the partners who will be delivering NCS to 450 young people  in 2012 incorporating the ‘Positive for Youth’ Vision in our work.

1. The impact of the cuts has affected the UFA along with other organisations however this has not deterred us away from continuing to develop young people’s leadership and ensuring the voice of young people is heard. The young people are the leaders in deciding what they want to run in their school/communities and how they want to develop this further in their local area. The young people decide what they feel is missing and do this in consultation with other young people utilising the YoUFA website, resources and social networking to reach as many young people as they can. Through our previous Lead Learner project we found that young people are passionate about bringing change and all they need is the belief and guidance of the adults around them in order to do this. We also know that young people are positive role models for each other.

1. Our programmes creates an opportunity to scale up a intervention that works, engage a high volume of young people in volunteering with a unique offer that has learning at its heart. It will create its own legacy in both the young leaders and participants getting more young people engaged in learning and will become self - financing and self - sustaining for the future.

1. The ‘Positive for Youth’ Vision talks about ‘Allowing young people to express their views and influence public decision - making’ (Department for Education) UFA feels this is essential and use Social networking (Facebook) as a tool to engage and consult with young people to ensure they have a say and their voice is heard.

1. Some quotes from young people within our YoUFA Network

“When a group of young people come together with a passion to do something anything is possible” (YoUFA Rep)

“UFA is like a light because it helps others – it is showing the world a different type of learning, a different way of teaching and a different way to inspire. “ (Lead Learner)

“As you grow together you feel part of the team, working off each others’ strengths. You become included as you include others and yourself. Communication is really important and having a joint aim and the same passion for the job done – friendship blooms from teamwork. I think we have the teamwork and friendship to pull through anything!” (Lead Learner)

“I am a more rounded person and able to approach and deal with situations head on and understand people a lot more. I really appreciate how people are different learners and that we should all have patience when others don’t get something first time, even with ourselves.” (UFA Young Person)

“Being a Lead Learner was my first ever experience of being in the driving seat of a project where I was encouraged to be a leader. Through the various residentials I learnt all about the importance of team work, how to be a respectable team member. The skills of leadership and being able to work effectively as a part of a team have proved invaluable throughout my many endeavors”(UFA Young Person)

“UFA staff treat people with respect, they give you higher level of respect - they expect that you can rise to the challenge, they treat you with understanding and really listen you what you have to say and act on it. There’s involvement - you always feel involved.” (UFA Young Person)

UFA - Transforming Learning

YoUFA - National network of young people

September 2011

Insia Ishaji - UFA Youth Ambassador: Insia@ufa.org.uk

Linda Gregory - UFA Chief Executive: lgregory@ufa.org.uk