News Archive 2008
12-11-08
What a busy month we have had!
This autumn dreamwall welcomed Johnathan Calvert-Davies and James Fillingham to the team from the Pricewaterhouse Coopers ‘Responsible Leadership Programme’.
The gents spent a total of 5 weeks with us, working with Brett and Natasha to develop new business, but more importantly working on the weekends with our young people! They contributed hugely to the team, and gained a great insight into what issues young people really face in todays world. Thank you for all your efforts.
If you are interested in how they found the experience, James kept a blog whilst with us, which can be found at http://james-pwc-rlp.blogspot.com/.
Dreamwall are also excited to announce that James is now an active member of our board of trustees. Welcome to the team!
Dreamwall welcomed a new residential group this half term. 10 young men from ‘Carers First’ in Kent came away for the week on a well-deserved break. All 10 men are young carers, caring for a family member full time. The week gave them a chance to just be themselves, and they all excelled in this! We had such a fab week away, taking on a particularly cold river challenge, the bog challenge, the well loved ‘sneaky beekys’ and much more. Our top 3 for the week were…
Bronze - Kaj
Silver - Sam
Gold - Reece
Well done lads, we look forward to hearing what you’re up to and hopefully seeing you soon.
Our post 16 group for young people in/leaving care came away in October, which is always a pleasure to work with. These young women all demonstrate such a mature attitude and the residential works so well because of this. This time the girls completed a ‘work day’ around the farm, weeding the well-used patio area, re-painting the giant chessboard, clearing up the rabbit warrens and making the dreamwall vehicles spic and span! All involved worked so hard throughout the day, and it really shows with the end result. They all also planned, budgeted, shopped for and cooked a meal for the whole group. Well done ladies!
Time Out
Boys 2 and Girls 2 have been away with us this month also. It was particularly rainy with Boys 2; this was taken full advantage of whilst out walking. Those who wished (staff included!) got to storm through huge puddles like Labrador puppies! Needles to say this ended with soaking wet smiles! Girls 2 had a Halloween themed weekend with us, creating double side nice and evil masks, spiders webs and the timeless pumpkin carving. We were also lucky to have 2 social workers volunteer with us on this group, thanks very much for your time and hard work Becca and Lucy!
Up and coming
This next month will see Girls 1, Boys 1, Pathways and PYOP come away, we look forward to seeing you all and having a good old catch up!
1-10-08
What an extravaganza and what a turn out! We at dreamwall are all delighted at how the evening went. All young people involved worked so hard for the evening, which really showed in the performance.
The boys were split into two groups, one demonstrating some of the tasks and activities young people undergo on their first residential away, the other performed a gripping piece of ‘trust work’ which had the audience on the edge of their benches! The girls were also split into two groups, one group transformed themselves into ‘umpa-lumpas’ (green hair and orange faces galore!) performing a dance to the well loved music, as well as being the on-hand assistants for the show. The other group performed the finale of the evening, a performance portraying a story of their views and experiences of being a young person in care. They worked tirelessly the entire week on the performance and it was a brilliant end to the show.
We were delighted to have the Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton with us, as well as important and vital members of Southampton Social Services, all of whom played key parts in getting dreamwall ‘Time Out’ where it is today. A big thank you to everyone who came along to support the young people, without this we wouldn’t have such a successful programme. Many thanks, from the dreamwall team.
Two more Junior Leaders have made the move up to becoming paid members of staff with dreamwall, earning themselves a well deserved place on the ‘grey shirt’ team. John Hall and Jess Pearson join the team after consistently demonstrating a great attitude and work ethic on the Junior leader programme. Congratulations from all at dreamwall.
dreamwall would like to wish Samuel McGinley and Laura Firbank good bye and good luck in their teaching careers. Thank you so much for all your hard work with the young people, you will be missed by everyone. Don’t worry though folks, they will be back!
15-8-08
dreamwall Extravaganza!
This summer we have decided to go bigger and better than last year with our summer shows. Thursday 28th August will see the first dreamwall Extravaganza (of hopefully many!). Each group from 'Time Out', a Southampton 'SED programme' will be performing an act for the show in front of parents, carers, family, social workers and many more! We are very excited about the evening and look forward to updating you on the event.
If you have any questions about the evening please contact Rachel in the office on 02392 751208.
New staff recruited!
dreamwall is pleased to reveal to you our newest members of the staff team; Brenton Watson and Jack Gibbins. Both young men completed an application process and trial weekend, and had their new achievement announced on their last weekend as Junior Leaders. Their position as 'grey shirts' in the dreamwall team recognises the hard work and personal growth they have both gone through and gives young people two more brilliant role models to aspire to.
On June 7th 2008 the dreamwall team were delighted to attend the wedding of Ian & Rachel Gosling. The ceremony was held at the ‘Square Tower’ in Old Portsmouth, followed by a boat trip from Gunwarf Quays for the reception on Spitbank Fort. Needless to say we all felt like celebrities sailing off into the distance! All at dreamwall wishes the newlyweds a big ‘Congratulations’, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to shed the tracksuits and don some rather smart attire for the day!
The Mayor of Southampton has named dreamwall as his chosen charity, commencing from his inauguration on the 14th May 2008.
At the Southampton Foster Care Services Christmas ball 2007, dreamwall were presented with an award for ‘Exceptional Services to Children in Care 2007’. This award highlights dreamwall’s continued dedication in providing high standards of service for young people in care.
Ofsted rate us as OUTSTANDING!
Ofsted JAR of Southampton published 16th October 2007 Specifically page 11 section 34
read more at Ofsted reports