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Showing posts from 2017

Volunteering

Why volunteer People choose to volunteer for many different reasons. For some it offers the chance to give back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it’s too provide chances to develop new skills or build on existing experiences and knowledge. Below are a few reasons why people volunteer Make a difference to the lives of others Help others less fortunate or without a voice Feel valued and part of a team Boost confidence and self-esteem Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience Regardless of the motivation people who volunteer find it challenging and rewarding. Why I volunteer I have been a volunteer for Canvey yellow door for almost two years. I volunteer as it allows me to build on my confidence and self-esteem which has grown since I started. It allows me to use my experiences to help others and make them feel good about themselves.  The staff and volunteers at yellow door are so friendly and helpful which makes you f

Self Harm

What is self-harm Self-harm is when you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with difficult feelings, bad memories or stressful situations and experiences. People have different ways of expressing self-harm such as; Express something that is difficult to put into words Change emotional pain into physical pain Reduce very strong feelings or thoughts Punish yourself for your feeling and experiences After you have self-harmed you may feel a short term of release. The cause of the distress has unlikely not gone away and it may have come back worse. Once you become dependent on self-harm it may take a long time to stop. Types of self-harm There are many ways people can intentionally harm themselves, such as: cutting or burning their skin punching or hitting themselves poisoning themselves with tablets or toxic chemicals misusing  alcohol  or  drugs deliberately starving themselves ( anorexia nervosa ) or  binge eating  (bulimia nervosa) excessively exercisi

Firework Safety

Bonfire night or Guy Fawkes Night (5 th November) is the day in 1605 when Guy Fawkes tried and failed to blow up the houses of parliament in the gunpowder plot. The anniversary of this failed plot is marked with bonfires and fireworks displays in public places, paid for events and those in peoples back garden. Fireworks have also become common for Halloween, Diwali, New Year and the Chinese New Year. Fireworks parties can be fun if safety rules are followed. Remember that fireworks are actually types of explosives and can cause severe injuries if they are not handled safely. Safety on fireworks Never play with fireworks - Fireworks can be so exciting and fun but they can also be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal if handled in the wrong way. Keep a bucket of water and a hose by the bonfire in case of emergencies . Used fireworks and sparklers can be placed into the bucket for safety. Only buy fireworks marked with the BS7114 kite mark . Never put fireworks or sparkle

What is a C-card?

  A c-card (condom card) is for people aged 13-25. It is a small card so it will fit discreetly into your wallet/purse or pocket. The card allows you to pick up free condoms. You can get them from Yellow Door (Canvey Isalnd Youth Project) or any collection point that displays  the c-card logo. A pack usually includes 12 condoms and a lube of your choice. How does it work? Before you get a c-card you must have an assessment with a worker. This takes about half an hour and they go into detail about how and where to use it. Within the assessment they will chat to you about sex, relationships and if you happy about the decision. You will need to give your date of birth and part of your post code (this information will never be used to contact you.) Once you have been assessed you will be given the c-card and a selection of condoms. You will need to tick on the c-card which type of condoms you would like and then hand it over to a member of staff at any collection point. You do n

Getting A Grip on your Finances

 Many money worries can be overcome just by getting to grips with your finances. Knowing what you have coming in and what is going out will help you to understand where all your money is going. Remember knowledge is power! Get organised and take your time Set aside at least an hour before you begin planning a budget. Doing it in a rush is likely to mean you forget something or make mistakes. It's a good idea to gather together all the paperwork you’ll need before getting started, so get together everything you have that  relates to your income and outgoing, the list below will be a guide: ·          a few months’ worth of bank statements ·          your recent credit card/store card bills ·          copies of your household bills ·          Details of overdrafts or loan ·          Details of any borrowing from friends/relations etc ·          details of your savings ·          information on any regular incomes you may have such as payslips, benefit informati

How to write a CV

A CV is the first opportunity to tell an employer what you can do. Your CV is an important part for when you are job searching.    B efore starting to write your CV sit down and make lists of any job or work experience you have had, any skills or achievements you may have which might help in the job role and any hobbies you like to do in your spare time. This will help you out when writing your CV.    What is a CV   A CV (curriculum vitae) lets you to summarise your education, skills and experience, selling yourself to employers.  When writing your CV only include main facts as employers want to read only relevant information.     What to include   Contact details -  include your full name, home address, mobile number and email address. You do not have to include your date of birth.    Profile – this is placed at the beginning of your CV. It is a paragraph that highlights your key reasons for applying for the job. Pick out a few relevant skills that m

Looking after your Mental Health

Eating well Having a healthy diet is important when you want to look after yourself not just physically but mentally. Your brain needs a mixture of nutrients to stay healthy and function well. Everyone should have three meals a day with two healthy snacks in between. Try to cut down on sugary foods and drinks. A healthy diet should contain a mixture of these Lots of different types of fruit and vegetables Wholegrain cereals or breads Nuts and seeds Dairy products Oily fish Plenty of water Exercise To keep your mental health in good a healthy condition you should try and fit in at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise three times per week. This does sound like a lot but the key is moderate. Try activities such as walking places instead of getting public transport as well as cycling and swimming. Exercise helps with your self-esteem. It can also help make you concentrate, get better sleep and look and feel better. Having some quiet time There are many ways which

Relationships 101

Healthy relationships A healthy relationship is not about finding that perfect man because a perfect man does not exist, but it’s about finding a partner who will bring balance into your life making you happy and confident about whom you are. There are many different ways to know you’re in a healthy relationship below are a few example of how to know if you and your partner are true love or need some time out. Conversation Relationships blossom when you can talk openly and honestly to each other. This means you can talk about anything under the sun and both feel like you are heard. Conversation will help to build a relationship, make it strong and make it last a long time. Having some space Being in a relationship does not mean you have to spend 24/7 with each other this can give you time to pursue your interests and build stronger relationships with your friends and family. This should help keep the relationship fresh and help you both grow as individuals. Respect Respe

Consent

If it is not your body it is not your decision Sexual consent means a person agrees to have sex or sexual activity and they are free and able to make their own decision. It is really important to get and give consent before any sexual activity. Consent should always be clear, so if you are in any way unsure check you have it. If you or partner feels hesitant stop and ask. Sexual activity is only right when it is between two people who have given consent, unless you both clear about what you are doing and are capable of making a choice you are breaking the law. If in doubt just ask The best way to find out if a person is willing to have sex is to simply ask. This will stop you from guessing and trying to interpret mixed signals. A person can also give nonverbal consent by engaging in the activity but always remember they are allowed to change their minds. To know if someone is giving consent you need to be able to answer these two questions Does the person want to give consen

Body Image

What is body image? Body image is how you feel and think about your body. It is also how you think other people see you. In teenagers and young adults body image can be closely linked to self-esteem. Who we are and how we see ourselves is influenced from many different sources such as family, friends, culture, media, magazines and the television. Negative body image Negative body image is when you do not like the way you look. Most people feel like they don’t measure up – especially when they measure themselves against the standards of beauty commonly seen if the media. You start to feel uncomfortable and self-conscious about your body and may people cannot even see for themselves who they truly are. Positive image Having a positive body image is how you feel about the way you look. Accepting yourself for who you truly are. Many people with a positive image know that their bodies are not perfect but they accept, appreciate and even love the differences. Positive or negativ

Starting New

There will always be changes in our life. It could be a new school or change of class, new job or new house all of these things can make us anxious because of the unknowns. Be Positive Start with a good attitude. This is really important, if you are not mentally prepared for whatever you are starting, what you encounter will be a lot more challenging. Realize that you are starting something new and it is normal to feel worried. Look at it as an adventure and a challenge rather than adding stress in your life. Be friendly   Dealing with new people is always daunting. When we get nervous we lock ourselves into a bubble just focusing on what is happening to us , we forget to interact and meet new people. Before going in to the new surrounding take a couple of minutes to say to yourself I am going to be friendly to everyone I meet. Having a friendly attitude is a great way of making yourself and others feel at ease. Whatever you are up against in the new situation having a smile o

Confidence

Self-confidence is about believing in you. Confidence cannot be learnt like a set of rules; it is a state of mind. It takes practise, knowledge and talking to others seeing what helps them to be confident. Confidence comes from a feeling of well-being, accepting your body and mind and believing in your own abilities, skills and experience. Ways to boost your confidence Notice when you are thinking negatively and try to change this. Stop comparing yourself to others – everyone is different, if you keep comparing yourself to others you will find things missing from you and your life. Try positive self-talk – think about things you do well and talk yourself up not down. Try to think of a time you did something new and succeeded. Think about qualities that have helped you in life. Think about what makes you happy and remember to do these things. Do things you know you are good at. Try something new like a new sport or a new interest. Accept compliments when people give them to