One of the ways that Urban Synergy aims to positively contribute to our mentees’ lives is through our provision of different ‘experiences’, designed to open their horizons. Urban Synergy’s experience days encourage mentees to exercise mind and body: mentees not only learn, create, and analyse, but also take part in fun activities such as trips to adventure theme parks.
Experience days are typically organised by the Urban Synergy Events Team in school holiday periods so that each young person will typically have the opportunity to participate in 4 to 5 experiences for the year. Experience days are conducted within the parameters of health and safety requirements and are based on the Every Child Matters criteria:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic wellbeing
Typical Experience Days
The following are a snapshot of some of the activities Urban Synergy offers as part of its Mentee Experience Days programme.
First Aid (Stay safe)
Mentees attend a taster course in conjunction with the London Ambulance Service and learn basic CPR skills that can make the difference between life and death.
Goal Setting (Enjoy & Achieve)
As an adult it is often difficult to know what goals and outcomes we want to achieve for ourselves. So, imagine how difficult it must be if you are a young person – especially living in today’s society where there are so many conflicting expectations. This workshop enables the mentees to find new ways of making better life choices to shape a better future for themselves. It assists them on their journey to success and help to steer them in a direction that will be more beneficial to them.
Voluntary work (Make a positive contribution)
Mentees have volunteered at projects including the Pineapple Luncheon centre, an African Caribbean project for the over 60’s. At the Pineapple club, volunteering enables the young people to help out in the daily running of the club – from setting up and playing games with the older folks to helping to wash up after lunch. What often surprises the youngsters is that they are able to find common ground with the elders and many have said that the experience has given them a sense of respect for their elders.
Urban synergy mentees also volunteer for the day at Tesco stores, packing groceries for customers to develop their interpersonal skills and sense of working together as a team.
T-shirt Printing workshop (Enjoy & Achieve)
Mentees get their creative juices flowing with this workshop where they learn the basics of screen printing. They design a personal logo and work collaboratively to design a single t-shirt for the group, which they are then able to take home.
Met-Track (Enjoy & Achieve)
Mentees were introduced to the Metropolitan Police run Met-Track programme which aims to offer sport as the healthy alternative in life to young people who might not otherwise get the opportunity. Athletes from British International track and field teams past and present, coach young people in several athletic events.
Sailing (Enjoy & Achieve)
Most of our mentees have never experienced sailing and the Ahoy Sailing experience allows them to participate in a range of water based activities that support the National Curriculum. The activity challenges mentees to push beyond their perceptions of what they can achieve.
