Positive Steps

Since our last update, we have been creating some new sessions for the young people we support. All with the objective of

• Encouraging young people to think positively about life with and beyond their illness.
• Setting realistic goals to increase motivation.
• Developing skills such as team work, problem solving, public speaking and active listening.
• Gaining an insight in to a diverse range of businesses and experiencing the working world.
• Rebuilding confidence and motivation to return to education or employment and plan for a future beyond cancer.

We have been working with a Wellness Coach and Trainer who has been helping the young people to improve their communication skills and set some life goals. Through these sessions the Teens learned the art of active listening, identified barriers to effective communication, and learned the difference between coaching and mentoring. They picked up some great questioning skills too, which they put in to practice in the second session.

The second session encouraged the young people to set themselves two goals. With a partner they asked each other lots of open questions to work out how they might achieve their goal, making sure that they used the SMART criteria to understand how to clarify their ideas, focus their efforts and utilise their time to achieve their goals.

Outside of the workshops, we have been working with a new corporate partner who is offering structured work experience placements to the Teens who are looking to start, or return to, work and are considering a future in a trade, logistics & planning or a Customer Service role. We have a number of young people who had started their working life, but due to their illness are unable to continue, who are now looking forward to these opportunities.

A Business Coach has also been working with a number of the young people who are ready to return to the workplace, offering advice on CV writing, submitting a strong letter of application and coaching them ahead of interviews.

In the last few months, we introduced a new workshop, called The Escape Rooms, a physical “adventure game” where the Teens had to work together to solve a series of puzzles and riddles using clues, hints and strategy to complete a set of objectives.  This provided the young people with an opportunity to learn and utilise key transferrable skills, such as problem solving, time management, conflict resolution and team work, as they worked together to solve the clues, and escape the room in the given timeframe.  You'll see that we were only able to take photos outside of the room, just in case we give any clues as to what you need to do to escape!

It’s been a very busy few months, but we certainly feel like we have helped many of the young people to take some very positive steps, and we thank you for your donation which is enabling us to continue to support more of the seven young people, aged 13-24 who, every day in the UK, hear the words "you have cancer".

With kindest regards

Since our last update, we have been continuing to help many young people, aged 13-24, who have battled or are battling cancer to make “positive steps” to regain their confidence, and take steps towards a future beyond their illness.

Our cookery day, which is designed to promote independence, encourage healthy living and learn new skills, took place. Six of the young people we supported attended and worked together to make, and then enjoy a delicious meal.  One of the Teens said of this experience “I have a new love for cooking….I have found something that I really enjoy and was actually good at… I have now started to pursue this as a career and I’m taking classes at college”.

During our bi-annual Discover You event, the whole day focussed on moving the young people forward, in a positive way.  There were motivational speakers, focused workshops and health and fitness sessions.  Shaolin Wellbeing gave a fantastic demonstration and their modern Shaolin, MJ, gave a motivational speech about dreams and goal setting.  Vicky Bailey, a qualified psychotherapist, coach and trainer, hosted a workshop where they explored and began to improve their resilience and ability to be the “best version of yourself”.  And,  Santander hosted their “MoneyWise” session which helps the young people develop the financial knowledge and skills they need to become confident money managers.

Our workshops, not always related to the Positive Steps program, regularly take place at the Ricoh offices in the City of London.  During the planned breaks, many of the staff from Ricoh take time to come and meet the young people, and talk to them about their own careers, possible future careers for the Teens and the pathways that they could consider helping them to get back in to education or work.  While these conversations are not part of any structured workshops, the support that the staff offer is very well received, and certainly gives the young people things to think about.

And, this year, 22 of the young people supported by Teens Unite were invited to volunteer at the fundraising Gala Dinner.  They had an opportunity to experience networking with high net worth individuals, talking about their own experiences and the work of the charity, as well as how the charity has helped them to regain their confidence.  The young people “worked the room” and encouraged participation in the silent auction, completion of pledge forms and participation on other fundraising activity.  This was a real opportunity to volunteer their time, and learn some valuable skills in an informal setting.

One of the Teens, said of this volunteering opportunity

'From volunteering with Teens Unite, I have been invited into the family and gain a sense of achievement.'

And other said

'Volunteering for Teens unite gave me the opportunity to build my confidence as well as gain and learn new experiences. Being on the other side as a volunteer as opposed to a teen, is really an eye opener to how much you do make a difference to other young people lives who are going through a similar situation as you did.’

We thank you for your support of our work, allowing us to unite more of the seven young people, aged 13-24, who, every day in the UK, hear the words "you have cancer".

Links:

• Past Events