How we work
All our work is based on a facilitative approach focusing on personal learning and development participants, taking the literal meaning of education "to draw out" as a guiding value. We have a strong focus on increasing participants work, employability and enterprise skills, with an emphasis on encouraging participants to "Turn Your Passion into Pounds"
. Our practice framework outlines informs how our work is delivered and the impacts we aim to make on the individuals and communities of interest we serve.
Programme Categories
Our programmes are loosely divided into 3 main categories, all of which are guided by our practice framework. We work primarily with children and young people in the 11 to 25 age group in youth and community settings and in schools and colleges.
FOR OUR WORK IN SCHOOLS- SEE OUR SKILLS, LEARNING & ENTERPRISE PAGE
Our Practice Framework
We deliver work to practice framework which seeks to develop learning and progression routes:
- Engagement
- initial involvement in our programmes (e.g. Youth Enterprise Hub-The Urban Games & Hip Hop Project-Careers Search)
- Consolidation
- sustained involvement in project, development of TLC Skills (Teamwork, Leadership & Communication), participation in youth steering groups and project teams, accreditation, volunteering.
- Progression
- Training, Education, Enterprise activity, Apprenticeship, Youth Leadership, Work Related Learning
- Payback
- Employment, Setting up Youth Led Enterprises & Social Enterprises, Citizenship & Volunteering in community
Case Studies
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The Urban Games Youth Steering Group
Over the past year and a half we have worked with a group of around 25 young people that make up the youth steering group and leadership team for the Urban Games project. Aged from 13 up to 25 and comprising of young women and young men, this group has been integral to the designing and shaping of the programme including making key decision and planning the format of the big Games events.
Read Case Study -
The Youth Enterprise Hub
In March 2011 Solar Learning set up a Youth Enterprise Hub in Newcastle. This development in our work emerged as a result of the ongoing engagement and interest with young people in our programme delivery. We received the Business Development Fund grant from Newcastle City Council that enabled us to establish the Youth Enterprise Hub (YEH) at Westmorland Business Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Read Case Study -
CREATIVE & CULTURAL PROGRAMMES
In the past year we have been able to progress the Urban Games & Hip Hop (UGHH) project considerably. It has had a positive impact upon the work of Solar Learning (Community Interest Company). We have been able to deliver an active and dynamic programme which has successfully engaged healthy numbers of young people in our work.
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Our other services include
The Solar Learning team has accummulated over 30 years experience in working with young people and have been at the forefront of developing youth led practice, including establishing the first national youth led volunteering and youth led grant giving programmes in the UK.
We are able to support organisations and services with the development of innovative youth led practice in the following ways:
- PROJECT & EVENT MANAGEMENT
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- TRAINING & CONSULTANCY
- WORK PLACEMENTS