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Aim and purpose of initiative | What the project aims to achieve | Specific learning and other outcomes | How is the initiative being implemented | main beneficiaries

Aim and purpose of initiative

Magic Me will work with Sundial Centre and Oaklands School to run an intergenerational combined arts project designed specifically to cater for disaffected young people aged 14-15 years and older people aged 55+. Over six month Point of View participants will learn together in a series of 24 weekly workshop session led by Magic Me artist tutors, supported by School and Centre staff.

Participates will work together to:

  • explore their local area and it’s community past, present and future;
  • record what they discover using photography, video, audio tape and the written word;
  • present their finding to a wider community audience through an exhibition / presentation.

The project will cover two modules of GCSE Citizenship curriculum for all young people and those older people who wish to achieve the qualification.

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What the project aims to achieve
The emphasis will be on motivating participants to want to learn by focusing on their lives, interest and opinions and on enabling them to use and value their existing skills and knowledge.

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Specific learning and other outcomes

  • for young people
    • All students will work towards three Assessment Objectives within the GCSE Citizenship. This includes keeping a personal weekly journal on their experience and competing two pieces of coursework.
    • The school and Magic Me will work with each student to assess their individual needs and design other elements of the project to meet specific requirements for their chosen GCSE cources e.g. practical cource work in English (written and oral) Art, I.T. Support in Year 10 will give good foundation for Year 11.
  • For older people
    • Older learners will be invited to work their GCSE Citizenship (see above) other modules follow in a second phase, after this project. All will learn new skills whist working as active citizens.For young and older people
    • Learn skills in photography, video and audio media including creative, technical and critical skill.
    • Learn skills in I.T, using computers to create written and visual presentations. Passing on existing skills to those older people new computers, thus recognising their expertise. Develop literacy and research skills.
    • Develop their communication and social skills and confidences, in relation to their peers, the other age groups and the wider community and in relation to people with sensory impairments or disabled people.-Develop skills in self-assessments, refection and evaluation; team building, group work and collaboration.

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How is the initiative being implemented
For all learners and for all the groups: An integral part of Magic Me’s method is weekly group feedback sessions, where learners can assess their own progress and that of the project. Learners reflect on the activities (pace, style, content and methodology) informing and undertaking some of the project planning.

As the project ends they will assess their learning, their future needs and interests and plan their next step.A practical working partnership and network will be developed between the 3 partners, led and managed by Magic Me. They will negotiate and agree a written contract outlining: detailed roles and responsibilities of each organisation; named individuals who will carry out reach role; lines and methods of communication; methods of documenting, monitoring and evaluating the project and individual learner’s progress etc.

Artist and other staff meet weekly to reflect on their work and plan sessions supported by Magic Me managers.

Working method: Most sessions will be at Sundial Centre, others at the schools in the Computer suite. Spring and summer terms include:-Session for young and older learners separately to prepare to meet and work with one another;-Weekly workshop for all 20 participation focusing on project themes and skills.

Homework for learners: GCSE students keeping journals, researching family stories, interviewing peers, bring in photos etc.-Creation of public exhibition / presentation and opening event to invited wider audience.-Final session for review, reflection and celebration. Presentation of Magic Me certificates of achievement.

Sessions will be led by Magic Me artist tutors, experiences in community art work with the target groups and trained for the specific dynamics of intergenerational groups. Two core artist, (one is also the project manager) will run the sessions, joined by specialist guest artists e.g. a poet, computer artist. The Sundial Project Supporter Worker and a Teaching Assistant will support the learners during and between sessions.

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Main beneficiaries
Target groups: young people will be: disaffected from learning and struggling with school; poor attendance; unengaged or disruptive when in school; low achievement, low literacy and basic skills; likely to achieve no GCSE’s. Identified by the school as a likely to benefit. Self-selecting when invited to participate. Aim is 10 young people, mixed gender and ethnicity to reflect the school community.

About the local community Bethnal Green, is one of the most deprived wards in the UK. 40% of local over 65s live alone. Retired older people can feel de-skilled and devalue with no clear role in society. Fear of crime and isolation can lead to mistrust and suspicion of young and older are equally likely to suffer from younger people are from different ethnicity. In fact young and older people are equally to suffer from social exclusions through limited income, lack of access to transport, crime and being overlooked by political and social structures. The project brings together learners of different ages as equals, with a shared purpose, voicing their feelings and opinions about their local neighbourhood. For many this will be a new experience. Project activities will provide a safe place in which to explore similarities and differences.

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links with other schools, community groups or organisations locally or nationally
Point of View has been designed by the three partner organisation. The lead partner Magic Me has 13 years experience of running successful intergenerational arts projects in LB Tower Hamlets and beyond.Oaklands School has 600 pupils, most living very locally to the school and the sundial Centre and a strong track record of out of school learning programmes.

It is one of the first schools in the UK to introduce the new GCSE Citizenship. Older people will be: people aged 55 plus living locally; not involved in education and unlikely to have been so far many years; low literacy skills and low confidence about learning; socially isolated and wishing to engage more in their community; self-selecting when invited to take part; identified by the Centre as likely to benefit.

Sundial Centre for older people was set up in 2004, by the Peabody Trust to support older people 55+ living in the community. It provides a wide range of services around health promotion, social, educational and leisure activities, advice sessions, a café and a day care centre. The Sundial Centre Member Forum has invited Magic Me to run a pilot video project with a junior school this summer, following a successful photography project with Magic Me and local young people last year.

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