Top Edinburgh Children and Families Projects Awarded

A ghost story with serious messages about bullying, a scheme that sets dads on a mission to encourage their children to read, and a project supporting children's mental wellbeing, have all been awarded for their work.

The City of Edinburgh Council's Achievement Awards ceremony, which took place last night, celebrates and recognises some of the best projects supporting children and families across the city.

An audience of more than 350 invited guests attended the event which was hosted by City Children & Families Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren and Forth One Radio presenter Boogie.

City Children & Families Leader Cllr MacLaren said:

"I am honoured to have been able to reward such great examples of success in the city. It is important that we recognise all of the excellent work that goes on to improve the lives of young people and the dedication of those involved in the nominated projects, who are making a real impact in Edinburgh's communities.

"This year the judging panel had its toughest job yet, with the level of entries being outstanding. A huge well done to all of those who were nominated and let's celebrate the success of Edinburgh leading the way for children and families."

Forth Radio DJ, Boogie said:

"It was a wonderful night and a great occasion where we could recognise the good work that's been done for young people on behalf of Edinburgh. I am delighted to have been a part of the Achievement Awards."

The full-house audience was treated to performances by Stenhouse Primary School African Choir, the Royal High School Chamber Group and were piped into the hall on arrival by Seoras Lewis an S4 pupil from the City of Edinburgh Music School.

Notes to editors:

Award Categories

THE CONVENER'S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Winner

Junior Award Scheme Scotland (JASS)

The Junior Award Scheme Scotland (JASS) is an accredited learning programme for young people (P6 - S2). There are three levels (bronze, silver and gold), each requiring a higher degree of commitment.

The programme aims to be enjoyable, challenging and achievable.  It can be tailored to individuals or groups and is therefore realisable by all, regardless of ability or background.  There are four sections at each level which are:  My Interests; Me and My World; Get Active, Stay Active; and Adventure.  

The young people are involved in deciding what they would like to do and what targets they wish to set.  This gives them ownership of the project and builds confidence, team work and interpersonal skills.  Each participant keeps a portfolio of evidence of achievement, and certificates are awarded for the completion of each section and the completion of the full level.

So far, in this academic year, 3099 young people are taking part in Edinburgh. They are from a range of primary schools, secondary schools, special schools and youth groups. A further six local authorities are running pilots of JASS across the Untied Kingdom this year.

THE DIRECTOR'S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Winner

Edinburgh Youth Issues Forum

On Friday 3 June 2011, Edinburgh Youth Issues and the City of Edinburgh Council ran a successful event to help young people explore how services could be improved to equip them with employment skills.

Young people, from the Edinburgh Youth Issues Forum and a group of Council officers, met throughout the spring of 2011 to plan the event. The event brought together 34 young people with 24 service providers, who took part in a creative and participative programme exploring how services could better equip young people with the right skills to get work.

CREATIVE APPROACHES

Winner

Using animation to address difficult behaviours

In order to address behaviours that could lead to a child being excluded, two of the Hospital and Outreach Teaching Service (Primary Team) decided to use film making as the means to improving behaviour.  The main aim of the project was to raise the child's self-esteem who was in danger of exclusion.

Groups of children learned how to work collaboratively, whilst learning to listen to each other and being respectful of each other's views.  They also used this medium to explore conflict resolution. 

Highly Commended

Dads on a mission

The Queensferry Early Years Centre project was designed to engage fathers in their child's learning. In particular, supporting their child to develop early communication and literacy skills and be fun for both.  The project signed up dads as 'special agents', setting a series of 'missions' for them to undertake at home with their child - including story telling; building story tents; making musical instruments; singing and rhymes; making books; puppets; and recording a selection of stories for their child. 

Highly Commended

Ratho through the ages

Children from Ratho Primary School and the wider community took part in a week of investigation and imagination, discovering the characters and history of Ratho. They brought it to life through creating real characters from the past and it involved the whole school and local groups working together.

SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

Winner

Running Alone

Wellington Film Academy's 'Running Alone' is an eerie ghost story with serious undertones.  The drama focuses on real issues faced by young people such as bullying, relationships, friendships, feeling safe and standing up for yourself; and is made by young people experiencing these issues every day.  Having enjoyed screenings at the Filmhouse and New Town Theatres, and success with a Certificate of Merit from the International Film Festival, 'Running Alone' now eagerly awaits success at the Borders Arts Festival.

Highly Commended

A Track through Time

A Track through Time was an innovative digital imaging project that ran as part of the Council's community and learning development summer programme.  The project was centered on the former local railway in the Leith area (which is now used as a cycle track) and was brought to life by the recollections of some of the older users at Duncan Place Resource Centre.  Young people took photos of the old station sites and worked with old images to produce some stunning new work.  Their work was exhibited in a Leith restaurant in October.

Highly Commended

Wester Hailes Education Centre

Staff from the schools in the area are working together in newly formed 'Teaching Learning Communities', making learning and teaching more consistent throughout the schools. The structure to the school day has been changed to facilitate every student having a mentor. The staff and students then worked together to deliver personal learning plans.  These plans were reviewed monthly when the students and mentors met to discuss progress.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Winner

Seasons for Growth

Seasons for Growth is a 10 week programme produced by Good Grief Australia, that helps children and young people to develop strategies for coping with changes and challenges that they face in their lives.  Since January 2008, the Growing Confidence Project has incorporated this programme into the package of support it offers Edinburgh schools in promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being.  The Growing Confidence Team have provided training, funding and ongoing support to around 70 staff who have facilitated 80 groups benefiting 489 children and young people in Edinburgh schools.

Highly Commended

Leith Academy Fit for Girls

Leith Academy, alongside Fit for Girls, has made changes to the PE Department and extra-curricular activities in order to encourage girls to have an active lifestyle.  The PE staff have engaged with girls in the school to create a physically active environment in which they feel comfortable and have fun.  Developing a positive relationship between the girls and the PE staff allowed them to suggest changes which would make the PE Department more "girl-friendly", for example: a new dance studio; posters with girls' role models; hairdryers and mirrors.  Overall this has helped to improve the girls self esteem and keep them active.

Highly Commended

Bright Start playgroups

Bright Start playgroups enable children with profound and complex needs to play and learn together in an accessible and appropriate environment.  Children experience a wide variety of activities including music; sensory stimulation; soft play; and opportunities to interact with others.  Families value the opportunity to share ideas and experiences and learn together. And many have particularly welcomed the social aspect of the group where they have formed lasting friendships.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Winner

The Union

The Union partnership was created due to the police receiving a high number of youth related calls from local residents.  The initiative was aimed at reducing these incidents by providing young people, who gather in particular areas, with an appealing alternative. The Union provided a safe and informal environment for young people to meet and engage in activities. Young people had their say in the project through consultation on the proposals.  

The Union partnership consists of the Council's Community Learning and Development, 3Ms Youth Partnership, South Central Edinburgh Youth Forum, Lothian & Borders Police, Boroughmuir and James Gillespie's High Schools, Edinburgh Leisure and Napier University.

Highly Commended

Liam and the Alien: a book for children by children

Craigour Park Primary pupils have collaboratively worked with other age groups, external agencies and education workers to write, publish and market their book - Liam and the Alien.  The book aims to promote a healthy lifestyle through a fun and engaging story.  The writing project began from a strong relationship between the school and the "Moredun Makes it Happen" organisation which promotes healthy living within the local community.

The class went on to work with Edinburgh College of Art on the illustrations; an author and local library for the writing; and professional publishers for marketing, publishing and promotions.

Highly Commended

Developing Global Citizens and Pupil Partnerships

Pupils at participating nursery and primary schools evaluated their own school's Developing Global Citizens (DGC) work, and then arranged visits to their partner school where they learnt about their fellow pupils experiences. The initiative was mostly pupil led, with them arranging the visits and reporting back a group event at the City Chambers.

Those who were involved included: Craiglockhart Primary, Dalry Primary

Grassmarket Nursery, Preston Street Primary, St John's RC Primary Stenhouse Primary, The Royal High School Primary, Tollcross Nursery.

PARTICIPATION AND CITIZENSHIP

Winner

Portobello High School shared responsibility

The Shared Responsibility Project aims to create local, national and global awareness of the environmental devastation and human cost of coca cultivation, drug trafficking and consumption.  The project aims to forge global alliances to help in the fight against illegal drugs through co-operation between the nations in the supply chain.  Embedded in the values of Curriculum for Excellence, the project allows young people to mentor and teach their peers.  It empowers young people by allowing them to take responsibility for their future and the future of their communities, both local and global.

Highly Commended

Davidsons Mains Park Project

Davidsons Mains Park, Mamook Graphics and Earth Calling - a local environmental education group - got together to produce a public information leaflet about the park.  The leaflet aims to inform visitors to the woodland of all the wildlife they can expect to see while on their walk. Over the course of a term they spent eight days out in the woods studying wildlife that they then photographed; recorded; wrote; drew; graphed; composed and mapped their findings. 

Highly Commended

Leith Academy - Equality and Inclusion

Leith Academy celebrated diversity and inclusion through themed assemblies; an international market place; diversity workshops; and a diversity school show.  The school has also developed links with St Joseph's Demonstration School in Malawi.  The principles of equality and inclusion have now been embedded into the whole curriculum. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Winner

Children's Practice Teams service improvements

Children's Practice Teams are in the front line of working with children and young people who are in need, at risk, or needing to be looked after.  While carrying heavy and complex workloads, staff committed to challenging organisational changes to improve outcomes for families, children and young people. Recruitment and development initiatives were implemented to attract and retain frontline staff, as well as good leadership throughout. The staff's commitment, together with the changes, brought dramatic improvements in when and how children get a service, particularly for child care and prevention.

Highly Commended

Enhancing early vocabulary

Sighthill Primary School's speech and language therapist, Marysia Nash, and Primary 1 teacher, Lorraine Gray, developed a pilot programme to improve the complex vocabulary of children who, because of social deprivation, lack these skills. These children are more likely to come within the bottom 20% for achievement.  The project initially ran for 10 weeks, and during that period children heard stories and were encouraged to notice, understand and use more sophisticated vocabulary identified within the text.  Follow-up activities consolidated their understanding and use of these words.

Highly Commended

Growing Confidence

Growing Confidence provides a holistic range of training and resources to raise awareness and understanding about positive mental health and emotional well-being for staff, parents and children.  Informed by the latest research in neuroscience, psychology and social science, it offers a package of support and training opportunities to primary schools and early years settings. To date more than 1,300 staff, parents and carers have benefited from Growing Confidence programmes.