Blue Watch Youth Centre - Bluewatch Youth Group

Registered Charity No: 1047550
Blue Watch Youth Centre
Annual Report
2009–2010

“To enable all children and young
people in Ryhope to aspire to, and
achieve their full potential, giving them
the foundation for a successful life as
active members of their community.”
Anthony Semley, Project Manager
Blue Watch Youth Centre aim to:
Offer opportunities for personal growth through which young people can
develop life skills, confi dence and self esteem.
Recognise, respect and encourage initiatives of young people.
Act as advocates on behalf of and alongside young people in
challenging the inequalities and prejudices arising from their experiences
and life circumstances.
Offer a variety of informal education activities, programmes and
experiences which are recreational, social and fun.
Acknowledge and value the diversity within youth culture and promote it
within the wider community.
Challenge young people’s actions, attitudes and words whilst
encouraging them to realise the consequences of, and take
responsibility for those actions.
Provide ways for young people to express their views and be heard.
Offer support to young people through the transitions they experience in
moving from childhood to adulthood.
Offer relevant information, advice and education for young people on
their rights and responsibilities and the issues which affect their lives and
so enable them to make informed decisions and choices.
Combat the social exclusion of all young people aged between 8 – 21
years regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality and ethnic origin,
political or religious opinion.
To support young people who are not in education, employment or
training (NEET) by developing opportunities that will address their lack of
confi dence, low self esteem and key skills.
To provide an accessible youth building which thrives in a caring and
supportive environment where all young people benefi t from a real sense
of belonging and appreciation of their worth.

How are young
people involved?
We want as many young people as possible to be involved
in helping to plan and run the youth project and to have a
say in what is provided. Young people are encouraged to be
involved in running their activity programmes, actively fund
raise to support the project and make decisions on how
their message should be heard and publicised.
Young Persons’ Perspective
Shaun Turnbull 17
Josh and me had been coming to Blue Watch for a
while as part of the NEET programme when one of the
youth workers Dave asked us if we wanted to join the
volunteering programme. It’s the best thing we could
have done as its given us lots of opportunities to work
out what we want to do in the future.
I’ve decided I want to be a youth worker and Blue
Watch is supporting me with my training and anything
else I need to do to achieve my aim.
Reports
Chair’s Report
After another successful year for Blue Watch
Youth Centre and the young people it serves it
gives me great pleasure to present this year’s
annual report. The centre has continued to
improve and expand the provisions it offers
ensuring greater choice and opportunities for
young people. There is a commitment by its
staff and volunteers to develop programmes
which enable young people to fulfi ll their
potential. This year has seen the delivery
of many accreditations including Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award, NNAS, AQA units, First Aid,
Prince’s Trust xl Award and BCU Paddlesport
Award. I would like to thank the Management
Committee for their continued support and
commitment as well as Tony Semley the
Project Manager for his advice and guidance.
Bob Little BA (Hons) Cert.Ed.
Chair
Shaun Turnbull, 17 and Josh Dunn, 18
Project Manager’s
Report
The past twelve months have been busy,
exciting but most of all rewarding. We
have continued to make progress and have
developed new initiatives that are creative
and innovative for our young people. We
have continued to develop new partnerships
that have contributed to the success of our
project. This year has seen the completion of
the loft conversion which is already proving
a valuable asset in providing much needed
extra space to the building. I would like to
thank the management committee, dedicated
staff, volunteers and our funders and sponsors
for their commitment and support. Most
importantly I would like to thank the young
people who without them this project would
not be the success it would be today.
Anthony Semley
Project Manager

Achievements
The quality of our commissioned service is measured
through local and national performance indicators
(REYS).
Our service exceeded targets for contact, participation,
recorded and accredited outcomes in 2009 to 2010 as it
has done in all previous years.
Indicator Target Actual
Contact 281 546
Participation 168 196
Recorded Outcome 101 180
Accredited Outcome 50 106
Contact - The youth worker knows the young
person and is consciously building a relationship.
Participation - Four or more contacts with a
young person or participation in a concentrated
experience.
Recorded outcomes - A meaningful
experience or achievement for a young person
which results from youth work. It is recognised,
recorded and communicated to the young person.
Accredited outcomes – The successful
completion of one or more modules of a locally or
nationally recognized award or has the potential to
be accredited as part of the youth work process for
example the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Accredited Courses
Assessment & Qualifi cations Alliance (AQA)
BCU Paddlesport Award
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
National Navigation Award Scheme
NUCO First Aid
Prince’s Trust xl Award

Provision Overview
Blue Watch Senior
Mixed
Blue Teens’ Special
Needs Group
St Patrick’s Youth
Club
Ryhope Junior Group
Farringdon School
Primary Group
Blue Watch Cycle Club
& Blue Teen Riders
Youth Committee
Gentoo Film Night &
Estate Management
Army Cadets
Healthy Living Group
Cheadle Centre
GO4IT
Aiming High
Detached Project
Young Parents
Young people from Ryhope form the senior mixed group that meet at Blue Watch Youth
Centre on a Thursday evening. Blue Watch Senior Mixed promotes the personal and
social development of young people from Ryhope.
Blue Teens Youth Club encourages young people with special needs to work towards
an independent lifestyle. The group has a wide range of centre based and out of center
activities.
St Patrick’s Youth Group is a voluntary group giving young people the opportunity to
participate in a structured programme of activities both in and out of centre.
As part of the Extended Schools Programme, Blue Watch Youth Centre delivers a Junior
Youth Club with schools in Ryhope and the surrounding area. The programme promotes
new and exciting opportunities for pupils enabling them participate in a range of activities.
As part of the Extended Schools Programme, Blue Watch Youth Centre runs a Junior
Youth Club working in partnership with Farringdon Primary School.
Blue Watch Cycle Club and Blue Teen Riders offers an assortment of challenging outdoor
activities and new experiences for young people from across the City. The provision
organises both one off and multi session programmes that can support nationally
accredited awards.
The committee meets monthly to discuss issues affecting young people in the community
and the youth centre. The committee is integral to communicating young people’s
opinions to the staff at Blue Watch allowing youngsters to have a say on what happens in
their youth centre and the local community.
Blue Watch Youth Centre in partnership with Gentoo has introduced a fi lm night and
estate management programme to give more opportunities for young people to gain and
develop personal and social skills and have appreciation for the surroundings that they
live in.
The ACF is a vibrant youth organisation in which cadets take part in military and
adventurous training.
The Healthy Living Club was set up to offer young people between the ages of 12 and
18 an alternative to socialising on the streets, drinking alcohol, misusing substances and
smoking.
Blue Watch Youth Centre, in partnership with The Cheadle Centre is running an alternative
curriculum programme suitable for self-excluded, at risk or under achieving young people.
The group is encouraged to become involved in structured and accredited activities.
In partnership with the Sunderland Youth Development Group, Blue Watch has developed
the Go4it Programme for young people who are either at risk of NEET (Not in Education
Employment or Training) or NEET.
In keeping with Every Child Matters agenda, the project engages disabled young people
in healthy physical activities. The programme addresses the social isolation that is
experienced by some young people particularly at times of the week when they are not at
school, employment or at educational centres.
Detached youth workers meet the needs of young people on their own territory. The
project is an integral part of the comprehensive youth work strategy that offers support,
advice and contact to young people who may not otherwise access youth services.
Young parents group was established as a pilot project to provide a drop in support group
for young parents and parents to be. The provision has proved very successful with Blue
Watch now actively looking to secure funding to continue the project.

Management Committee,
Staff Team & Volunteers
Bob Little
Chair
Dave Bagley
Vice Chair
Margaret Laing
Secretary & Volunteer
Sister Alphonsus
Treasurer
Cllr Ellen Ball
Member
Peter Gibson
Member & Volunteer
Bobby Surtees
Member & Volunteer
Billy Hall
Agency Representative
Derek Wright
Agency Representative
Paula Hunt
Agency Representative
Anthony Semley
Project Manager
Steven Rylance
Education Worker
Sharon Semley
Administration Worker
Peter Clark
Senior Youth Worker
Joyce McCallum
Senior Youth Worker
Dave Mellor
Senior Youth Worker
Sharon Godfrey
Senior Youth Worker
Denis Crompton
Senior Youth Worker
Jim Winn
Youth Worker
Valerie Bivens
Youth Worker
Joanne Ayre
Youth Worker
Ann Ayre
Youth Worker
Susan Ferguson
Youth Worker
Brian Davidson
Youth Worker
Joanne Laverick
Youth Worker
Stuart Knowles
Youth Worker
Craig Royal
Youth Work Assistant
Lynda Winn
Youth Work Assistant
Chris Carr
Youth Work Assistant
Abbie McQuade
Youth Work Assistant
Natalie Thornton
Youth Work Assistant
Patricia Blackett
Domestic Supervisor
Alan Maughan
Volunteer
Jim Cassidy
Volunteer
Denise Thurlow
Volunteer
Danielle Anderson
Volunteer
Louise Webster
Volunteer
Steven Scott
Volunteer
Dale Cuthbertson
Volunteer
Youth Committee Members
Anisha Evans Jack Thurlow Abbie McQuade
Shane Warwick Stephen Scott Darren Gibson
Samantha Banks Lucy Richardson Jessica Jenkins
Geraldine Hodgson
Volunteer
Joseph Lemon
Volunteer
Derek Ross
Volunteer
Suzanne Henderson
Volunteer
Barry Stowells
Volunteer
Lee Brown
Volunteer
Shaun Turnbull
Volunteer
Josh Dunn
Volunteer
Catherine Rushmer
Volunteer
Katie Liddle
Volunteer
Carl Manuel
Volunteer

Acknowledgements
Abbey Bank National Health Service
Aiming High For Disabled Children RAD
BBC Children in Need Ryhope Development Trust
Benedict Biscop C.E. Primary School Ryhope Junior School
Cheadle Centre Safe Sensible Social Grant
Children’s Foundation Sherburn House Charity
Coalfi elds Regeneration Trust Strategic Initiative Budget
Community & Cultural Services St Patrick’s Voluntary Aided Primary School
Community Foundation St Paul’s C of E Primary School
Community Police Sunderland North Community Business Centre
Connexions Sunderland Voluntary Sector Youth Forum
Extended Schools The Venerable Bede C of E Voluntary Aided
Secondary School
Farringdon Community Sports College Tyne and Wear Sport
Lets Go Sunderland Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund
Farringdon Primary School Youth Development Group
Gentoo Youth Offending Service
Lloyds TSB William Webster Trust
John D Fund Our Management Committee for their
commitment and support
Mark Leonard Fund Our young people without whom this project
would not be such a success
To all our partner and funding agencies without
whom we would not be where we are today
Burdon Lane · Ryhope
Sunderland · SR2 0HR
Tel: (0191) 521 4060
Fax: (0191) 521 4067
E-mail: bluewatchyouthcentre@yahoo.co.uk

Burdon Lane · Ryhope
Sunderland · SR2 0HR
Tel: (0191) 521 4060
Fax: (0191) 521 4067
E-mail: bluewatchyouthcentre@yahoo.co.uk
(0191) 565 5126