It's no secret that Kids Kabin aims to build kids' confidence, but last year we went further than before by introducing a Youth Leadership Programme for kids aged 12 to 16, designed by young people with the support of our staff and volunteer team.
In this blog post, the young leaders that took part in the pilot scheme, which saw them running Kids Kabin workshops at last summer's Walker Outdoor Week, which is a big community event, explain how they feel they've changed as a result.
“I’d been coming to Kids Kabin for four years, but this was the first chance I'd had to start leading sessions,” said Alaina.
“There were six of us on the programme, three from Cowgate and three from Byker. The idea started after we explained how we wanted to help other young people and take on more responsibility.
"We had two training sessions, including First Aid with St John’s Ambulance. Then we went ahead and ran workshops at the Walker Outdoor Week in Stotts Park and Walker Park in Walker.
"We ran the pottery wheel and the smoothie bike, and helped families with pizza making, lots of face painting, and arts and crafts.”
MK added: "I learned how to communicate better with people. I learned patience, I’ve never had patience in my life.”
Mika explained how they dealt with some of the programme's challenges: “This one parent got really impatient and rude in the queue for the smoothie bike. I wanted to just stop and walk away, or shout at her! But I talked to the staff, had a break, and everything calmed down.”
CN agreed, adding, “Kids are difficult but I learned how to respond to things which need support.
"Jude, a Kids Kabin volunteer who worked with us on the programme said we showed lots of strengths, like 'optimism', 'mindfulness' and 'initiative', and that we had 'responded well to difficult situations'.
"Will, who is Kids Kabin's Chief Officer gave us a big thank you and told us the programme would run again at half term!"
The pilot, which was led by Jude Billate, one of Kids Kabin's international volunteers who returned to us last summer after almost three years away, focused the pilot scheme on developing leadership, communication and organisational skills, as well as building creative and practical confidence.
The initiative exceeded our expectations and supported by our Newcastle Programme Lead Ingrid Pearce, another is due to take place this February half term, and learning from that will help shape the initiative into Easter and summer 2025!
Learn more about how Kids Kabin's work supports young people at kidskabin.org.uk/impact.
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