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Kickstart

Southend YMCAs Kick Start project is aimed at young people aged 14 to 16, who are not in education, employment or training or are at risk of disengaging from education.

The project runs over a 10 week period, on Monday & Thursday from 10.00 to 15.00.

The young people will gain Level 1 qualifications, which are offered through two different mediums; cooking (Simply Delicious) and live radio (Sound Waves) which will include a work taster session. All students will also gain a First Aid in the Workplace qualification.

In addition there is an opportunity to participate in teambuilding events, such as group meals, scavenger hunts and animal workshops and podcast creation.

Each course ends with a celebration event to recognize the achievements of students.

If you want to apply please email Marina Wright Kick Start Coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Kickstarts Come Dine with Me Event

23 March 2012

Friday 9th of March saw Kickstart's latest group

of young people host their very own 'Come Dine with Me' style event as a celebration of their course completion, and to demonstrate their new found culinary skills.

The students focused weeks worth of preparation and orginisation with the help of Project Tutor and Co-Ordinator Marina Wright into hosting an event promoting healthy eating and team based skills by creating a menu, designing an invitation, inviting one guest and then preparing a meal for them.

Kickstart hosts 'Ready Steady Cook' event

04 February 2012

Kickstart marked the end of a new group by hosting a 'Ready, Steady, Cook' event for students and staff. One of Motivate's full time volunteers, Simon Hampton, assisted the students by helping in the kitchen and mentoring them on the day, alongside course tutor Marina Wright. This is Simon's account of the day.

Towards the end of my first week volunteering full-time with Southend YMCA on the Motivate project I aided Marina Wright with a cookery competition for a group of young people on the Kickstart course.

Although daunting at first due to pre-concieved ideas of 5-10 young people in a kitchen and the mess that could possibly ensue, I arrived on the day extremely excited to meet the participants and discover what recipes were on the menu. The young people were split into two groups, who would go head to head to prepare dishes that would be voted on by attendees to the event and a winner declared.

Although we went slightly over time due to the home-made Garlic Bread not rising in time, the day went brilliantly! Myself and Marina educated the students on hygiene, preparing ingrients, managing timing and flavours. We celebrated at the end of the day by preparing a buffet style meal, consisting of traditional Italian and Oriental cuisine for around 50 people, including staff at Ambleside Drive, students' key workers, teachers and the friends and family of those involved.

The young people thoroughly enjoyed themselves and proved to be accomplished chefs in their own right. They were then presented by Marina with award certificates for those who took part and prizes for the winning team, which ended the day and my first experience of working with a large group of young people supported by Southend YMCA on a high.

Kickstart celebrate the end of their first course

27 July 2011

For the past 10 weeks 10 students have taken part in Southend YMCA's first Kickstart course which aims to give the young people qualifications in first aid in the workplace, understanding nutrition and healthy eating as well as developing communication skills and teamwork.

Over the duration of the course the students have taken part in a CV building workshop, work experience in the catering industry and an animal workshop.

To end the course and to celebrate their hard work, the

students took part in a 'Come Munch With Me' event where each student was allowed to invite one member of staff from Southend YMCA or a school representative to cook for.

Dishes included tomato soup, spaghetti bolognese, Thai Green Curry, homemade pizza, chocolate crunch, baked haddock with butter and rosemary, rhubarb crumble and chocolate fudge cake. Southend YMCAs assistant chef, and TRUST tutor, Justin Derrick, assisted the students in preparing their meals.

Staff then had to fill in feedback forms on the dishes for the students personal portfolios.

The event was followed by a talk from course tutor & coordinator, Marina Wright, who went on to present certificates, gifts and recognitions of their achievement.

Kickstart will commence again in September, to find out more please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Kickstart

Kickstarts Come Dine with Me Event

Kickstart hosts 'Ready Steady Cook' event

Kickstart celebrate the end of their first course

Kick Start Menu