Empowering Minds, Inspiring Change, Changing Attitudes
You th Board Yel l s!
Issue 1: November 2012
Youth Board Yells is the quarterly newsletter of the Youthspace youth board. This is our first issue and we hope it
gives you a flavour of all the projects we’re involved in and
the kind of work we do. If you have any questions for us or
would like to chat to one of the team please don’t hesitate
to contact us using the details at the bottom of this newsletter.
The Youthspace Youth Board
Youth Board explode onto the airwaves at K-Boom radio!
The Youth Board recently received funding from The Prince’s Trust
Community Cash Award to create a podcast to share their views on
youth mental health. We spent a day at Kerrang! Radio where we learnt
all about how radio shows are produced and how to put together a great
podcast. The show contains three reports including how music affects
our mental health. We also brought a bit of comedy to the podcast by
choosing songs such as Basket Case by Green Day. Ben and Lottie did a
great job of presenting the podcast and Rich, Aaron, Rob, Mark and
Vicky put together some fantastic reports.
Youth board member Ben said “It was an amazing day, it was so much
Ben on the mic!
fun!”
Keep an eye on the youth board Facebook page for details of our podcast launch event to be held at Kerrang!
In the next few weeks.
Youthspace nominated as HSJ Award Finalist
Youthspace has been selected as a finalist at the Health Service Journal Awards 2012.
This is the Oscars of the health service world and to be nominated is really exciting. After
nomination, the next step was doing a presentation and Vicky was flying the flag for the
youth board at the presentation down in London. The presentation consisted of a film put
together by our media guru Shei and youth board members Ben and Vicky. The
presentation went brilliantly and they loved our presentation style.
The winners were announced on 20th November at the awards presentation event in
London where members of the Youthspace team put their best outfits on for the ceremony. Unfortunately we
didn’t get the top spot but we were all incredibly proud to represent Youthspace and all the work we’ve done
over the past few years. Well done everyone and there’s always next year!
Youth Board Yells
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New Ward, New Ways
The youth board’s Becky and Vicky are part of the team
who are working on the new Japonica inpatient ward
for 16-17 year old females. The plan for the ward was
recently given the go ahead and will aim to open in
January 2013. Becky is working on designing the
recruitment day for the ward staff, which will include a
good grilling from the youth board, and a digital tour of
the ward to give people a better understanding of what
to expect.
For regular updates on this project please visit the
Youthspace youth board Facebook page.
Youth Board use their Talents at
Talent Match Conference
Youthspace
youth
board
members
Aaron, Richard and
Lee filmed a recent
Talent Match youth
conference at the
Youth Board member Rob
Birmingham Voluntary
(centre) at the Talent Match
Service
Council
Conference
(BVSC). Talent Match
is about getting young people’s views about what
young people want from a new education training and
employment support service. Young people who are
unemployed and have been for over 12 months
attended the event. The day had a variety of
workshops from a music workshop to a big brother
diary room and a world cafe. The workshops were
designed to explore the barriers young people face to
get back in to work. The youth board filmed the entire
day and are producing a short film with the footage.
The film will then be used as part of a West Midlands
bid to the Big Lottery funded Talent Match
Programme. The bid will bring together the ideas from
the conference and form a proposal for how BVSC will
bring local partners together to deliver an innovative
and effective education, training and employment
service to the young people in the region. The youth
board were paid £500 for this piece of work which will
be used for future training and development courses
chosen by youth board members. Great work youth
board =)
Written by Vicky Fowler
Youth Board Yells
Youth Board Column!
Each edition a guest youth board
columnist will be invited to share
their views on a subject they feel most
passionate about. This month Becky
Clayton shares her reaction to a
recent news item.
THE MEDIA!
Today I have seen
something that was
so shocking my jaw
was dropping. That
I had to shake my
head to make sure
I was awake. I really couldn’t believe my own
ears. A news presenter was referring to
people with mental health issues as “mentally
retarded” and asking if we would like “mental
asylums on our front door steps”.
These kinds of comments are the reason so
many young people are still scared to come
forward and talk about their issues. And to
think it was only a couple of days ago I was
singing the TV station’s praises for the young
minds presentation where a very brave young
lady came forward and was willing to talk on
national TV about her issues with self harm.
Truly moving! Lots of respect for her!
I understand that some people are a little
ignorant to things like mental health and in a
way that’s understandable as this could be
brand new to them. However, people like that
presenter shouldn’t be allowed to say things
like that, it’s offensive and helps ignorance
blossom.
I do feel a little sore towards this presenter
but I’m sure it was just complete stupidity and
ignorance. I believe he should give a public
apology so people who just aren’t aware of
just how offensive it is know that it’s not
alright to call people with mental health issues
such discriminating and un-thoughtful words.
This guy needs to remember this isn’t the
1960’s anymore, people won’t stand for it
and I’m certainly one of those people! I would
like to say to this presenter that we have
worked hard to not be labelled with such
harsh terms and he doesn’t have the right to
reinstate them in people’s heads.
Written by Becky Clayton
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Crazy! Mad! Weird! Psycho!
How do you feel when you hear these words?
The Youthspace youth board and BRAP, a local human rights charity, teamed
up to put in a joint Time to Change bid which we successfully won in June. The
Misunderstanding project started in August and stage 1 was all about how we
use language around mental health. We discussed how the meaning of words
can change depending on how we use them and actually, what’s more
important than the words themselves is what the person saying them means.
During stage 2 we looked at how we could help people
understand more about how the language they use can Aa r o n , A m n a , A l i s h a a n d D e g a (L offend people and increase stigma around mental health. R ) f r o m t h e m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g
p r o j e c t t e a m h a r d a t wo r k !
We had so many ideas from comic / leaflets /film/ photos.
As a team we decided a film will have the most impact.
The film will follow a person giving a talk in a classroom and then giving the same talk on the street and the
difference in reaction of the audience and the public in the street and the different meaning to the words being
used by the audience to describe the person. The film is to try and help people
understand more about the impact their words can have on people. The film will
be shown to different youth groups, schools and colleges as part of a workshop
that aims to reduce youth mental health stigma.
Richard snaps up work experience
opportunity
Youth board member Richard has been volunteering and getting
work experience with the psychosis campaign as a photographic
journalist. Richard is attending events across the south of
Birmingham where the campaign is
raising awareness of the early warning
signs of psychosis and encouraging
those with concerns to seek help early.
Richard has also been getting tips and
advice from the team and media
advisor Shei to help him perfect his
technique as he hopes to become a
professional photographer in the future.
When asked about his experience of volunteering with
Youthspace Richard said “Doing photography for Youthspace
and their Psychosis campaign has given
me the opportunity to utilise my skills
within media, whether it be doing
photography during events and projects
or film making. What I have gained
most from volunteering is gaining a
better understanding of mental health
and trying to help young people be
more aware of what the symptoms are
and where they can find more
information and advice.”
We’ll be showcasing youth board
Our new photojournalist
photography
talents including Richard’s
in action
on our youth board Facebook page and
website shortly.
Youth Board Yells
Do you want your
service to have a
youth friendly test
and be youth board
approved? We
offer a consultation
service where we
will work with you
to ensure young
people are able to
get the most out of
your service.
To find out more,
contact us using the
details on the back
page.
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Youth Board Welcomes…
Over the past few months we have had four new youth board members join us so here’s a
little intro:
Lottie is 16 and is at College studying Maths, English, Psychology and Biology.
Hobbies: Playing the piano, listening to music and volunteering with the Youthspace
youth board
Why did you want to join the Youthspace youth board?
I wanted to join Youthspace because it offers such amazing opportunities for young
people. It helps build your confidence and supports you with what you want to do.
Lottie
What do you hope to get out of your time with the youth board?
I want to have a range of different experiences. I’d like to volunteer for all the different
opportunities Youthspace offers and I’d like to know for certain what career I’d like to
follow.
Alisha is 19 and is at College studying Psychology, Sociology and Biology.
Hobbies: Watching films and TV, dance, socialising with friends, playing video
games and listening to music.
Why did you want to join the Youthspace youth board?
I’m passionate about mental health and want to do as much as I can to help the
cause. I also want to be a mental health nurse in the future.
Alisha
What do you hope to get out of your time with the youth board?
I want to meet new people, get a better understanding of mental health and get
volunteering experience.
Vicki is 25 and is involved in a variety of different volunteering roles including an
advisor to the Prime Minister for children with special needs and mental health
issues.
Hobbies: Arts, working on canvas, theatre, poetry and animation.
Why did you want to join the Youthspace youth board?
Youthspace has so much to offer and gives me the opportunity to help other
people.
Vicki
What do you hope to get out of your time with the youth board?
I hope to be able to help other people, gain experience and get better.
Rob is 23 and is on the Fairbridge programme.
Hobbies: Manga drawing, playing with Poppy and Ozzy who are my two pets a
dog and a cat, filming, camera work
Why did you want to join the Youthspace youth board?
To get experience in filming and camera work, and spread positive messages
about mental health.
What do you hope to get out of your time with the youth board?
I hope to become more confident in using cameras, making films and meeting
new people.
Youth Board Yells
Rob
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Creative Space
The youth board is full of creative talent so what better way to tell you about it than to show you. Here are
some examples of creative work produced by youth board members recently. If you are aged between 16 and
25 years old and want to showcase your talents then send us your work to
youthboard.youthspace@gmail.com
Photography
The youth board ran a photography workshop where members developed their skills in taking and editing
digital photographs. They then used what they had learned to tell their story through still images. Here are a
few examples from the workshop.
Vicky, 20
Vicky said this represented how she used to feel
when being passed from service to service.
Jerry, 24
Lee, 25
Youth Board Yells
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Poetry
My Bully
You bully without remorse.
You bully without thought.
There is no reason for the pain and hurt you cause.
You’re not on the playground . No, you’re from within.
From the tiny piece of brain that does not think.
How can I be to blame when you’re the one who
plays all the games?
I tell you I don’t care for your tune.
I cry. I moan.
One day you will see you’re not going to get the best
of me.
But still you continue oh you do carry on.
24 hours day. 28 days a month.
I try to be strong and tell you no!
I shout, I scream! please just go!
But every time I do you laugh in your wicked way,
saying you’re only here because I let you stay.
You play on my doubts on my fears,
making me feel I have nothing left to lose.
I look at sharp objects and I think I am to blame.
I shake my head.
I don’t want to play your silly games.
I want to be happy.
Then I found a place safe as could be,
in the arms of an angel who guided me.
She loved, she cared whenever I was scared.
Then I opened my eyes it was all dream.
It was you, you messed with me.
Mental health is your name.
Trying to hurt me is your aim.
But I’ll carry on.
You will see.
You haven’t seen the last of me!
By Becky Clayton
Like us on Facebook
Youth board members are great poets and have
used their talents to share their experiences and
stories. Here are just a few fantastic examples.
Diagnosis
Is it a competition, a game or just a show?
Why else do you label me everywhere I go?
Everything I say or do adds another to the list,
Without all these conditions, would I not exist?
Then why is it you label me so with all these
medical terms?
Can’t I be a normal teen who doesn’t have so
many concerns?
If I took a look in a medical book, I’d be on every
page.
You may as well just lock me up like a bird stuck
in his cage.
I didn’t ask for your labels, nor your time to spare,
I didn’t ask for you to see, I don’t need you to
care.
Because this just isn’t caring, you’re making an
item of me,
Like the sales in the shops... 10 percent less, free!
Autism, anxiety, ADHD, depression, dyslexia,
needs glasses to see.
Conduct disorder, bipolar, OCD, GLD, paranoia,
diabetes,
Epilepsy, asthma, hay fever, ferret allergy, not
allowed cheese,
Always in need of leg surgery, hearing problems,
social and emotional difficulty.
How many more are you going to burden on me?
By Vicki Taylor
facebook.com/
YouthspaceYouthBoard
Youth Board Yells
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Art Work
Youth board members are also keen artists. Here are some examples of their work.
Vicki, 25
Vicki likes the textures
you can create when
painting on canvas
and the professional
outcome that is
produced.
Rob, 23
Rob likes the
expressions Manga
characters have
because they’re never
too serious. Drawing
Manga characters also
helps Rob to relax and
chill out.
Follow us on Twitter
@YouthspaceYouthBoard
Youth Board Yells
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Youth Board Products
The youth board have many products to offer including our very first e-learning tool. To access our free tool
follow the link in the advert below.
CONTACT US
Youthspace Media Hub
79 Warwick Street
Digbeth, Birmingham
B12 0NH
07985884843
www.youthspace.me
youthboard.youthspace@gmail.com
Youth Board Yells
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