Woking’s young, hip and trendy descended on the Ypod Centre last week to show off their breakdancing moves at a Dance Battle.  The event saw teams of youngsters from across the south battling it out on the dance floor before breakdancing extravaganza Life of a B-Boy touched down at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre on Tuesday.  Organised by the Woking Dance Festival, the visitors at the end of the battle were Brighton and Hove-based break dance crew New Moves comprising Rhys Mobsby, Denzel Daniels, Miss Rhodes, Roxanne Bryant and Miss Mayhem who wowed the judges with their styles.  The first of its kind for Woking, the event also saw performances from the home-grown talent of the Karen Clarke Dance School who competed against the cream of the crop in a series of knock out rounds.  Organiser Rachel Deadman said the event was a resounding success.  She added:  “It was an awesome event and the atmosphere remained supportive and friendly for the whole evening.  “All of the youngsters, although they were competing against each other, showed one another so much respect.  “There are a lot of excellent street dance groups around the South East, it  was wonderful for groups to come from as far as Caterham and Brighton to take part”.  Many of the dancers rounded their evening off at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre where Woking’s very own self-professed “B-Boy” Chimp Chilla AKA Rob Pourtney was making some killer moves in his hip-hop show Life of a B-Boy.  The Chimp performed alongside two other members of this internationally-acclaimed dance crew Funkstylerz, Mouse and Steady, proving their skills extend much further than the ability to think up interesting sobriquets.

 

On the E2E path to a brighter future

The Entry to Employment scheme aims to give young people the skills they will need for a secure future.  Rob Brown visits the Ypod to see what’s on offer.  A New scheme is helping the dreams of Woking’s teenagers become a reality and paying them for the privilege.  The E2E Entry to Employment project steers youths on a path to further education or employment by offering training and opportunities to learn new skills.  Spearheaded by national youth and crime reduction charity  Narco and based at the YMCA’s state-of-the-art Ypod centre in Chobham Road, the scheme is aiming to set teenagers on the straight and narrow.  But the straight and narrow means anything but boring.  Arts, photography and media courses, tailored work placements and high-tech equipment combine with a weekly incentive of up to £30 to keep learners on the right path.  The Ypod’s professional standard digital music studio surely enough to make the mouth of any hip hop young thing water is fuelling the dreams of Shane Bryant, 17, of one day breaking into the record industry.  Ivor Hartney from Maybury was also reaping the rewards of E2E and looking forward to the future.  The 20 year old said:  “The art is great fun and the music is very good as well.  The facilities are awesome, it’s like a professional studio and some of the stuff you can do sounds as professional as hit songs.  That’s very cool.   “I think the course has given me quite a good chance for the future.  I would like to own my own design business so the art has obviously really helped.  The trainer, Marina has been a big help because she’s an artist”.  Marina Cobra is the visual artist in residence at the Ypod.  She explained her role as she helped course member Robin Gunderman, 17, with his artwork.  Her course aims to teach youngsters literacy and numeracy through art and help them understand the principles, history and techniques of visual art through trips to galleries and street art exhibitions.  “We engage them with a goal and it’s great to see them understanding the art and talking about their work together,” she said.  We teach them how to research what they need to know about the artists and understand shape, proportions, balance and the mediums of art.  It is really rewarding to see them succeed.”  Course trainer Emily Taylor said: “E2E is very much about young people making the most of the opportunities available to them.  The course is not exclusive to, but perhaps more for people who didn’t have the most positive experience of education.  But it’s open to everybody really.  “They can come along, gain qualifications, get on courses for music, arts, citizenship, cooking and team building.  All these things contribute to nationally recognised qualifications and build their key skills.  “Each learner should be prepared to complete a work placement because that is invaluable experience especially when it’s in a core area of their choice.  “We have had marvellous success with E2E.  It’s a great opportunity for young people to do something positive for their future.”  The course runs from Tuesday to Thursday between 9.30am and 3.30pm.  Lunch is provided call the Ypod on 01483 757160 or Nacro on 01784 492192 to find out more about joining E2E.

 

Aug 06 Woking YMCA takes young people to Germany

In August 2006, Youth workers from the Ypod took 8 young people on an international exchange trip to Rastatt, Germany. The town of Woking is twinned with Rastatt in Germany and Fano in Italy and every year the council organises a youth environmental exchange between the 3 countries where agroup of young people from each town visit each other for a week of activities. This year it was Germany's turn to host the event, planning and providing a week for of activities combining environmental conservation work and social activities.

     

      

   

Project particpant Ashley said:

"The Germany trip was such great fun and i would love to go again. The people were so nice, crazy and the food was nice too. All i can say is this, it cost £150 to go! I don't think there ever could be a holiday that was this good anywhere for £150. it was a blast and worth every penny. We (I) learnt so much German and Italian it was great. I am really sad that it has finished and can't wait till next year so we can have more crazy fun!"

Darren gave this feedback:

"Its me Super Squirell-Darren; Hi, , it's been a week since we've been back now and I wish I was back out there already!Its was so clean and tidy out there, and everyone we was with was so friendly. We was also kept very busy for the whole time we was out there, with spare time in the evenings. It was a great experience for me as I've never done anything like this before plus I've never been abroad before, so it was all good experiences. I'll definetely be there next year for when the Germans and Italians come down to Woking."

In August 2007 the Germans and Italians will be visiting us here in Woking. If you are between 16-20 and would like to participate please contact Sarah Henderson at Woking Borough Council sarah.henderson@woking.gov.uk 

 

Civic members applaud centre 

THE YPOD Centre in Woking was given a civic seal of approval when it was officially opened at a huge gathering. Woking Council officers, councillors,Surrey's Lord Lieutenant Sarah Goad and mayors from surrounding boroughs joined the celebrations, at the YMCA's drop-in venue, in Chobham Road, on Wednesday last week. The former offices near the town centre have been converted into two floors to provide a safe where teenagers, up to the age of 19, can meet after school hours and at some weekends. They have the use of a 'chill-out' area, cafe, recording studio and IT room and advise and information are on hand. A second floor is earmarked for a multi-use sports hall, but has yet to be equipped. During the evening the audience saw images on the huge screen of activities taken place by members during the summer including joining a conservation group in Woking's twin town Rastatt in Germany with other nationalities. Woking Mayor John Kingsbury cut a ribbon around the stafe to declare the centre open, saying the £750,000 grant from the council for the conversion had been well spent. He said he and others had visited the YMCA Plantation Cafe, in Guildford, during 2003 and been impressed by what they saw. He said: "we came back to Woking thinking that if it worked in Guildford it could work here". He said: "This will be a lasting testimony to the support of the council, officers and YMCA Trustees. "It is an act of faith in young people". Youth worker at St Johns Church, Woking, Paul Wagtree, recalled that the idea of a meeting place in the town centre came from youngsters themselves in the mid 90's. He said: "Ten years on, it is really exciting to be here and see it and know young people can come here and use it". YMCA chief executive Terry Eckersley stressed that the name implied the organisation was for young Christian men, but was open to all young people of any faith or no faith. He said: "When I first came to Woking I had to do a lot of workon demystifying the YMCA. It is genuinely multi-cultural". During the evening a trophy was presented to members of Woking and Maybury Sports Club for their football teams.

Jun 06 Stars turn out for the opening of Ypod

Herbie Armstrong, former member of Van Morrison’s band, and Terry Chimes, drummer with The Clash and Black Sabbath, will attend the new youth centre launch. The opening night on 29 June will feature live music by some of Surrey’s best young bands, free food, refreshments and entertainment. The invite-only celebration will bring together celebrities, local dignitaries, young people and representative from nearby youth organisations. Terry Eckersley, Chief Executive, said: "It promises to be a fantastic evening for the community and young people. We are very proud of the Ypod and know it will have a big impact on the lives of young people in the area."                                                    

Jun 06 Giving young people a voice 

Woking YMCA is keen to make sure that young people are involved in making decisions about what happens at the centre. In 2005 they ran a competition for young people to name the new facilities. Rosie, 15, from Sheerwater and Maybury Youth Council, came up with the winning name. The Ypod Youth Council meets regularly to input the opinions of young people into the running of its programmes and facilities.

Woking YMCA has formed partnerships with Woking Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Surrey Youth Offending Team and Woking Connexions. In collaboration with these agencies, the youth centre will offer young people advice on housing and homelessness, alcohol, drugs and substance misuse, and help them to find and keep jobs.

Jun 06 A Centre of Excellence

Woking YMCA aims for Ypod to be a centre of excellence in the town. It will work principally with young people up to the age of 19 and will be open after school on Mondays and Fridays and on Saturdays from the beginning of July. Entry is free but for some events, such as live music in the evenings, there will be a small fee.

Due to open at the end of June 2006, the Ypod in Woking will be a youth drop in centre, giving young people a safe place to get together. The centre takes up the first and second floors of Hollywood House in Chobam Road in the centre of Woking. These floors have been vacant for around 17 years.

The project started five years ago with a group of people aged 18 to 25, who decided youngsters in Woking needed a safe place to hang out that would be free of alcohol and drugs. The group began to build up a network of support to help make the dream a reality and two years ago the YMCA became the umbrella organisation to take the project, then named ReGen, forward.

The aim of the project is to provide a safe and positive environment, offering young people an alternative to gathering in the streets, pubs, restaurants and clubs of the town centre. The facilities will be open to teenagers up to the age of 19 and would be inclusive of any gender, race or faith. The centre will offer a youth café, recording studio, Internet access and a comprehensive information and advice service. It will have a drop in area with sofas, a plasma screen TV and an IT area open to the public. A drama hall and stage will provide equipment and space for performing arts workshops and shows and DJ facilities will be available. It will be open after school hours and during some weekends. Entry to the building will be free on most occasions although there may be a small entry fee for gig nights and special events. Professional and accredited schemes designed to equip young people with qualifications and skills will be run by qualified adults. Phase two of the building work includes plans for a sports hall marked for five a side football, which will be located on the second floor. The premises have been provided by Woking Borough Council along with allocation of £750,000 in funds to cover the cost of setting up the facility. The council will remain the leaseholder but responsibility for running costs and upkeep of the centre will lay pass to the YMCA. Surrey County Councils Local Committee for Woking also has allocated funding to the project.

Jun 06 Get down to the Ypod! Soon!

Young people in the Borough have only a few weeks to wait before they can start using the Ypod, a brand new state-of-the-art youth development centre in the heart of Woking.
The new YMCA building - renamed the Ypod by local teenager Rosie - is located in Chobham Road and will be officially opened at the end of June. The Ypod will host a special presentation to which local members of the community will be invited to take a look at the new facilities.

The centre, which has received £750,000 of funding from Woking Borough Council, will offer a youth café, recording studio, Internet access and a comprehensive information and advice service. It will be open after school hours and during some weekends; offering young people a safe environment in which they can chill out with their friends. Entry to thebuilding will be free on most occasions although there may be a small entry fee for gig nights and special events.

Speaking about the Ypod, Terry Eckersley from Woking YMCA, said: “We are keen to create a safe, relevant, user-friendly centre where young people can feel at home and focus on developing different areas of their lives. We are committed to making the centre a success and are looking forward to welcoming young people through the doors.”

 A sign of the times

A Sign of the times - There is no excuse for failing to spot Woking YMCA now that it is finally hoisted up a sign on its building in Chobham Road.  The Ypod Centre, which opened its doors last year, is based in converted offices and the bland exterior gives no hint of the buzz of activity going on inside.  Now, a purpose-made sign, which lights up in the dark, has highlighted the drop-in centre in Hollywood House, which opened its doors in Junes last year, followed by a civic launch in September.  Its catchy name was the idea of a 15-year-old girl from Sheer water who won a competition to choose an appropriate title.  The two storey conversion, founded with a £750,000 grant from Woking Council with added help from youth organisation Surrey Connexions, boasts a large main hall and stage for live music events and discos, an IT suite, recording studio, café and ‘chill out’ area, as well as administration offices.  Plans are being worked out for the upper floor to be fitted out as a multi-use sports hall.  But staff and volunteers are not just focused on fun and games, as youngsters can also find advice, support and information when they call in and courses are also run for them.  Chief executive Terry Eckersley said: “It’s great that we finally have our sign up.  We are pleased because sometimes people have not been able to find us and already we are discovering it makes it easier for them.  “We are now very busy.  We had 150 young people at a gig night recently and up to 60 people come to the centre on regular drop-in evenings, when they can use all the facilities.  We also run dance classes and give employment advice.  “The sign brings us into the 21st century, reaching out to demystify the aims of the YMCA.  We still have our Christian roots but welcome young people of all faiths and none”.  Woking YMCA and the Maybury Sports Club are holding a pool tournament from 6pm-9pm on Monday at the Ypod Centre.  Entry costs £2 and forms are available at the Ypod Centre.  The centre is open from 4pm every weekday except Wednesday, continuing until 9pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday and until 8pm on Tuesday.

Funding for Youth Council 

Woking Ypod are really pleased to be awarded a grant from www.surreycvys.org.uk to help with the continued success of its Youth Council. Money will be spent to further the cause of Young People services and Issues in Woking.

Ashley Collins - A member of Ypod Youth Council with Award.

Ashley has also been doing a placement with Woking YMCA as part of his studies and personal development. Ashley who also been recently involved in International Youthwork has been specialising with Flying colours in Health and Social Care related Issues and Multi Media expression.

Simon Bellord

Simon Bellord our Fundraising specialist is really excited to further the cause of the Ypod Youth Council. Thanks are given to www.surreycvys.org.uk for supporting the Ypod in this capacity and all the great work they do in Surrey for Youth Provision.

May 06 WBC Council Officials inspect Ypod

Darren and Ian are really pleased with the progress being made on the building which is now coming to completion. The building is looking to be open from end of May 2006! Watch this space!

Darren inspecting the state of the art internet and IT centre area and high tech flooring system.
www.woking.gov.uk

Our stylish cafe bar area: Coffee, Juice Bar, New York Bagels etc! It will also have wireless internet access!