CURRENT CHILDREN'S HOPE PROJECTS

Childrens-Hope.TV is an educational concept devised by Children’s Hope Founder, Alison McNamara. “Following a successful live international workshop on bullying by a group of our 10-12 year olds last year,” says Alison, “I realised that Internet TV can be used by children and for children to assist them with education”.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews TD, has welcomed Childrens-Hope.TV and “commended the charity for embracing technology advancements and creating a new way for children from disadvantaged areas to benefit from local youth workshops”. 

Childrens-Hope.TV features varied and interesting programs about Irish, Bio Diversity, Science, History and Animals, devised, created and shot in Ireland, featuring Irish children, youth workers and field experts. Support material to accompany the programs is available from this website in the DOWNLOADS section.

Regardless of their experience, youth workers can use Childrens-Hope.TV to teach and provide after-school workshops in many diverse subject, helping those schoolchildren who might be at risk of leaving school early in life, to attend the crucial life-line that is the Youth & Community Group. Because it is a free website resource, anyone with internet access - including schools with limited resources - can benefit greatly from this resource.

With the generous support of HEAnet, Childrens-Hope.TV was made possible. The site is hosted using Internet 2, and it was Internet 2 that was used in the pilot programme behind the concept of Childrens-Hope.TV. At a programme demonstrating how Internet 2 can benefit children in disadvantaged areas - in conjunction with the United Nations Alumni WAFNUF, Children’s Hope children aged 10 to 12, from Ballybrack, Dun Laoghaire and Sallynoggin did a LIVE workshop on bullying which was watched in London, United States and South Africa.

As part of this pilot, footage of the children speaking Irish was shown. The project was a great success and the children involved were tremendous ambassadors for internet-assisted educational support. This was made possible, again, with massive support from HEAnet.

It is thanks to the kindness and support of so many people that Childrens-Hope.TV was made possible including Foras na Gaeilge, Department of Children, Sisters of Mercy, Young irish Film Makers, Branar Theatre,Dublin CityFM, OWLS, Aoife Mc Carthy, National Stud, Lishmar House, OPW, National Heritage Centre, Fitzpatricks Castle Hotel, McCreedy Family, Sallynoggin Community Group, HEAnet, Mr. Gay Mitchell MEP, Dominique Ellickson. Nigel McGuinness, Grainne Troy, Sally Baker, San Futro, IADT and Discover Primary Science.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews TD, welcomes the programme wholeheartedly, not just to the Republic, but in his constituency of Dun Laoghaire. “The Prince’s Trust programmes have very strong reputations for promoting inclusion, staying in school, job opportunities and overcoming barriers,” said the Minister, “I am particularly delighted to welcome Prince’s Trust to the Republic. I know this is only the start of a life-changing intervention for young people, this pilot programme will grow from here, to a wider catchment area, and will make a real difference to more and more young people.

So what are the xl clubs?

A team-based programme of personal development for students in their last two years of compulsory schooling.

How do they work?

Deliberately informal, around 1000 xl clubs across the UK help young people who are facing difficulties at school, including those at risk of exclusion. xl clubs operate in schools on a ‘closed’ two year programme with between 12 and 15 members. They meet for at least three hours a week and, guided by an xl club Adviser, club members are encouraged to work together to achieve goals relating to their education, training and future lives.

xl clubs work towards The Prince’s Trust xl Award accredited by ASDAN, which gives club members an award in the ‘Wider Key Skills’ of Problem Solving, Working with Others and Improving own Learning, as well as recognising achievement in five key areas including citizenship and entrepreneurship.

xl clubs are also founded outside the mainstream, for example in PRUs (Pupil Referral Units) and YOIs (Young Offender Institutions), but have only around 8 members and operate on a full time basis for fewer weeks.

Who is eligible?

• Schools
• Young people aged 14-16 who volunteer to join the club, or are facing a range of difficulties at school such as; truanting, risk of exclusion and educational underachievement.
• Outside Mainstream: young people aged 14-19 who volunteer to join the club or young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties

How does it help?

Participants can:

• Improve confidence and self-esteem
• Increase attendance and motivation and improve their chances of completing compulsory schooling
• Increase the number of qualifications attempted
• Enhance citizenship and community awareness
• Improve the quality of their evidence for the National Record of Achievement
• Improve social skills and behaviour in schools

If you are interested in helping out with the Prince's Trust project, please do get in touch with Alison McNamara, Children's Hope, 13 Clarinda Park North, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, or at 01-2020779 or on email at alison at childrens-hope.ie