Atlanta - Usher's New Look Foundation

Atlanta - Usher's New Look Foundation  In February 2011, loveLife Generation along with the Brunswick Club in Fulham got a taste of the 'Powered By Service' training programme led by youth leaders from Usher's New Look Foundation. The STAR himself also decided to pop by to the delight of everyone in the room. Usher’s New Look Foundation invited us to attend the annual World Youth Leadership Conference in Atlanta in July 2011. After 3 months of frantic fundraising bag packing at Morrison’s and ector writing funding applications we made it with a grant from Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium. We were the only group representing the UK From 20th – 22nd of July we mingled with young leaders from all over the world, learnt from each other and shared our experiences. We were motivated by the experiences and insights of high flyers in business, politics and the arts including Usher and Dougie Fresh. We performed at the Expressions event and were interviewed for both local and national TV. Peace was so overwhelmed she refused to allow anyone to touch her after being hugged by Usher!!!!
After the conference we stayed on to volunteer on a house building programme with Habitat for Humanity and take in the cultural and historical sights and sounds of Atlanta. We came back to London armed with a toolkit of resources to help train other young people in the Powered by Service curriculum and have just trained our first group to start setting up youth initiatives locally with funding from the Foundation. How cool is that!

NewLap at Newham College

We worked with Newham's Late Arrival Programme (NewLap) based at Newham College of Further Education in East Ham. This year, loveLife was integrated into NewLap's Enrichment Programme and we supported over 85 young people to improve their English communication and teamwork  skills over two and a half terms. 

Despite the very limited level of English, we were able to adapt the loveLife material to help 68 young people complete their Youth Challenge Award.  

The icing on the cake came in the last term when many of these young people became confident enough to make a promo film introducing NewLap for the new intake in September. This was really rewarding for loveLife as many of those featured in the film had been unable to say anything in front of anybody 6 months earlier. We wish them every success in the future.

Ape Media

loveLife was contracted by Ape Media to deliver a sequence of OCN courses on their Skills Jam programme targeting young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

We delivered nationally accredited courses for Personal Development, Teamwork Skills, Career Portfolios to groups in Newham. We also designed and deliveres a tailor made course for young mums in Waltham Forest combining elements of loveLife modules and parenting skills to accredit them on the OCN scheme.

Most of the young people we worked with have gone into further education and training. 

SPRING INTO ACTION :)

loveLife Generation's Spring into Action project took to  the streets once again to re-claim our connection with nature!!!!!
We spent a few weeks learning all about the environment around us from the WildLife Trust and how we could sustain and protect it. We began the work by taking time out to learn about natural trees, plants and habitats in the neighbourhood of Hallywell Crescent and sowing wild flowers to brighten up the green under the trees.


We made great bird feeders from recycled drinks bottles, bits of twigs and some rope.

By putting those three things together and painting them in bright colours we were able to hang our colourful bird feeders on trees around Hallywell Crescent. Believe it or not, these trees are just in front of a very busy street which doesn't usually see such brightness.


We collected lots of used and old containers to make into planters like old buckets, tool boxes, empty chocolate boxes etc. We then decorated these containers filled with evergreen plants or herbs that are wildlife friendly.

We then knocked on resident's doors and gave away the finished planters to interested residents. As we were working on the street by this stage, some of the young people came out to get involoved with creating their own planters with their own pots / containers.

The residents including Mr Wise  (yes that was his name) was very happy to receive a planter and thought it was a great initiative - especially as they themselves learnt the beauty of re-using things they would otherwise throw away >

Rosemary in a Celebration box!!!!

loveLife Generation go WILD

Well, what a start to the new year that it has taken until March before we had a chance to write about all that is going on :) 


After the success of the Hallywell Project we gained the attention of organisations working in the local area including the Wild Life Trust!
We have joined forces with them and the Generation has been busy working with them learning about the environment, different plants for the garden and creating plant pots from old materials. 
Imagine an old tool box ready to be chucked away as the tools it used to keep have slowly been borrowed and lost. There is no more use for this box...BUT instead of adding to the landfills it is  transformed into a beautiful plant pot!
Or a caretakers old mop bucket will now brighten up somebody's front garden!


The young people involved have been very excited and will go around residents houses and offer them their creation in the hope it will continue the community spirit which they evoked over Autumn last year.


It just goes to show that anything can be beautiful just depends on your perspective...more to come soon :) 




Rukiyah 

Define Your Destiny - loveLife Generations 2011

Well what a year it has been-

Every time I have tried to list everything we have done this year, I always miss things out ! Some time in the beginning of the year we were fortunate enough to take part in Usher's New Look Foundation workshop where the man himself graced us with his presence! And some time near the end of the year we were selling our all natural 'hand made with love' products with the Generation that have branded themselves as 'Double L G'


I am going to attempt to highlight some of our achievements of 2011 but before I do, A MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who has been involved, inspired, motivated and supported us. Keep flying high.


Ushers New Look Foundation - February and July 
After having taken part in a workshop run by young people from the Foundation; being graced with Usher's presence and been given tickets to see Usher in concert a few of the loveLife Generation were given the oppotunity to attend a youth conference in Atlanta. They mingled, showcased talent and shared their experiences. On return the young loveLife Generation members trained and delivered the New Look Foundation's workshop with young people in Newham. 

Take Back The Future 2011
We run this programme very successfully over 2011in partnership with NAADV. The young people involved were enthused and each cohort produced used their creativity and made a short film 'Hidden Heroes'; a music track and spoken word pieces. 




Arianne De Rothschild Fellowship August 2011
I spent 2 weeks in the summer in Cambridge learning all about Social Entrepreneurship to ensure that loveLife Generation has a sustainable  future...


Swedish exchange - August 2011
 We had a whirlwind when young people from Sweden came over on the R.E.S.P.E.C.T exchange funded by  the British Council's Youth In Action.
We ran workshops on gender equality, put on cultural shows for each other and made great memories. 


Peace Awards September 2011
On 20th September 2011,  loveLife Generation  was shortlisted for the prestigious London Peace Awards hosted by Mayor Boris Johnson. We were awarded a certificate for our bridge building work on the 'Village in the City' project



Greece - Creativity September 2011 
Creativity Six was back in Greece in September 2011. loveLife groundbreakers aged 18 – 26 years spent ten glorious days with 120 young people from 12 EU nations developing the theme of volunteering and activism in creative ways.


Future 100 Award November 2011
We are very pleased to announce that we are a FUTRE 100 winner which recognises the success of young entrepreneurs who 'demonstrate flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture'


The Hallywell Experience Winter 2011
How well do you know your neighbours? Well after our 'Village in the City' project the neighbours of Hallywell Crescent are better acquainted. Every Sunday loveLife Generation put on different activities and brought the community together - see our earlier blog on this project.












Hand made with love Winter 2011
Having learnt all about making natural products LLG made natural products and sold their Winter Warmers in time for the christmas stockings!







HAVE A GREAT 2012 :)

Winter warmers at the Market =]

 

Now that winter is approaching we have joined forces with Hand Made Hats (says it in their name) so that whilst they can help you wrap up warm with hand knitted hats and scarves, the loveLife Generation can keep your insides nice and warm too with our range of Winter Warmers.

We have teamed up with qualified herbalists who have shown the young people at loveLife how to create natural products that will keep the chill at bay. These include lip balm, winter tea and bath salts.

These fabulous winter products are all natural and do not have to cost you an arm and a leg - no - we have learnt the wonders of natural ingredients that can be found in our very own back garden!!!

We are hoping to sell these products in local markets and to families and friends whilst the young people gain some invaluable business skills. Look out for the loveLife Generation's Winter Warmers.

Young Person's Persepctive

This weekend loveLife generation took to Forest Gate's Christmas market. We were finally putting on sale handmade natural products that the young people had been learning and making over the last few weeks. 

Some of the most popular products were the Lip Balms & the Candles. After the people had tried a little bit of the Herbal Tea, they couldn't resist and they were soon flying off the table.

Some people converted to tea lovers after they insisted that they only drank coffee. 

Having never had to sell anything  in the past especially in the cold, it was a really good feeling seeing people buy the products which we had made. 

This was a Winter Warmers special but I am looking forward to the Summer cooler special.

If I had the choice to do this again (in the summer) by jolly I would!

Salma