Trauma Informed Practice Training and New Youth Opportunities

As Lockdown 2.0 slowly draws to a close, the Christmas season finally opens. We are so glad that whilst Islington remains in tier 2 we can finally allow more sessions and young people through our doors. For the next few weeks we will be providing youth club (on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri), girls’ football, music studio sessions and outdoor trips. Although we only have two weeks left to go until we break up for Christmas, we intend to make it the best we can for the young people in this crazy year!

West Library in Islington has announced they will be developing a Youth Employment Hub to support young people in the area to find work and flourish in new job opportunities. The fledgling Employment Hub is still in development, and two creative CYP members; Josh Ndjeka and Mae Brownille have been recruited as youth consultants to assist on the project, working 12 hours a week for 2 months. They will also be working from CYP receiving additional support, and attaining the views of young people at CYP. As well as that, there will be an opportunity in the New Year for Brownille to be taken on full time by the architects as part of the new Kick Start scheme. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity for both Brownille and Ndjeka, but will be a chance for youth voice to make a real tangible impact on Islington.

Mental health and wellbeing is something that we will be focusing on greatly in the coming year at CYP. Luckily for us, CAMHS have been bringing in trauma clinicians to the Caledonian area and our youth workers have been busy completing Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) training. Senior Youth Worker; Isoa Tupua, and Project Director; Stephen Griffith will soon be completing the Advanced training. Already, youth workers Jen Uche and Chelsea Sabine have completed the Introductory training. Senior Youth Worker, Isoa Tupua said “our service is based on empathy and care, and it is for this reason that we ensure that our staff get the best training to better understand young people. The Introduction to Trauma, hosted by Islington CAHMS, has equipped our staffs with the tools and knowledge to carefully engage young people in the most sensitive way possible that still leaves room for independent growth.