5.3. 'Building Bridges' in Sheffield/UK
A peer group education programme of a non-governmental organisation
The National Coalition Building Institute
(NCBI) England, is a registered charity and affiliated to
NCBI International.
Target group and place of the project
Young people between the ages of
15 and 26 years who were drawn from youth clubs in Sheffield
area took part in the programme. They come from a diverse
range of background like Jewish, Christian and Muslim; Afro-Caribbean,
Asian, Pakistani, white English and black English; disabled
and able-bodied; lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual; employed,
unemployed and students. They were at that time all voluntary
or part-time paid youth workers, or young people using youth
work provision.
The young people who take up trainer's
role could take advantage of youth work provision. It took
place in Sheffield, at a residential centre.
NCBI gained access to the young people
through the youth service and youth organisations.
The start
The group were already meeting as part
of a Youth Involvement Group and they identified prejudice
reduction and diversity work as something they wanted to
take on. NCBI were contacted by the youth worker involved
because of our good reputation in this field of work.
Main content of the project
The main content of the project
was to welcome diversity; for participants to reach for
pride in their own identities; understand diversity issues;
make effective interventions to prejudice and discrimination;
and to train other young people in prejudice reduction methods.
Outline of the methodology and description
of one particular session
We wanted to bring ideas to every
city, town, campus and organisation. Our staff and Associates
helped in launching Local Associations in different communities.
We led either introductory one-day Prejudice Reduction workshops
or 3-day train-the-trainer workshops teaching the people
(a minimum 15 including leaders from community groups, schools,
religious groups, local governments, police, private and
public sectors) to lead the NCBI Prejudice Reduction workshop
and Conflict Resolution models.
We provided further assistance and training
to local groups and National Associates (local community
leaders designed for connection with NCBI).
NCBI methodology is different from that
employed by many others in this field of work. It is upbeat,
fun and practical. It offers specific and concrete skills
which are immediate, practical and adaptable. Guilt and
blame are counter-productive and immobilising and as such
form no part of the content. Participants are encouraged
to reflect on current practice, to increase their own personal
effectiveness and to plan future action and strategies.
At a recent workshop for a group of young women hearing
each others stories of racial, religious and ethnic prejudices
had them moved and making connections with the way they
have themselves been hurt, and emerging with new understandings
and a more sophisticated of how all their experiences are
connected.
The best and the worst moments of the
project
The main successes and failures
The main success has been twofold. Firstly,
each participant has given feedback that their understanding
of diversity issues, prejudice and discrimination have been
radically altered, their behaviour and ability to handle
situations has dramatically changed. Secondly, many of the
participants have gone out and used what they have learned
with other young people. The main failure has been that
we have not had the financial resource for the key trainer
to remain involved to offer an on going support, supervision
and fresh training input required for the group to continue.
Training for peer-teams and\or their coaches?
The project itself was specifically
about providing training for peer-teams.
Financial and material resources
Financial resource came from the
YIP programme, NCBI England, and Sheffield Area Youth Association.
Input and training for the key trainer came from NCBI International.
Results and the impact of the project
The project made a good impact on
the young people who were directly involved in the project
itself, and with the young people the peer-teams have gone
on to work with.
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