Horizons Programme

Outlined in this section is a summary overview for each module of the year long programme. This is to aid applicants to understand what the module is and what it aims to achieve. Each of the modules are designed in and order to support participants progression, building up the participants confidence to succeed as the programme progresses. Programme materials and resources have been developed to support the delivery and successful organisations will be invited to an induction and training day where these resources will be shared. In summary there are five modules for delivery over the period titled as below:

• Module 1 – Who Am I Belonging Programme
• Module 2 – Me and My Community Social Action Project
• Module 3 – Me and My Leadership Development Accreditation
• Module 4 – Me and My Career Social Enterprise
• Module 5 – Me and Beyond My Community

Programme Induction for Organisation Delivery

A detailed induction day will be provided for a voluntary and statutory delivery staff for the programme which will include an overview of support materials and detail of all programme module elements. This will take place on the 14 June 2024 at a venue to be confirmed, from 10am to 4pm with lunch provided. Six hours of time has been budgeted within staff salaries to facilitate full participation. (6 Hours)

Module 1 – Who Am I Belonging Programme (June – August 2024)

*This element of the Module will be centrally paid for by the Education Authority, including any associated transport.

Module 2 – Me and My Community Social Action Project (September – October 2024)

*This element of the Module will be centrally paid for by the Education Authority, including any associated transport.

Module 3 – Me and My Leadership Development Accreditation (November – December 2024)

*This element of the Module will be centrally paid for by the Education Authority, including any associated transport.

Programme Update and Training for Organisations

A six-hour update and training session will be provided for staff between November and December 2024 to prepare for module four and five of the programme. This will take place on the 15 November 2024 at venue to be confirmed, from 10am – 4pm with lunch provided by the Education Authority. Six hours of time has been budgeted within staff salaries to facilitate full participation. (6 Hours)

Module 4 – Me and My Career Social Enterprise (January – April 2025)

*This element of the Module will be centrally paid for by the Education Authority, including any associated transport.

Module 5 – Me and Beyond My Community (May – July 2025)

*This element of the Module will be centrally paid for by the Education Authority, including any associated transport.

Graduation Event

At the end of the programme all Horizons Participants will come together to celebrate and reflect on their achievements as part of the programme. Formal certificates will be presented as part of this programme including testimonials by participants. This will take place by the 31 July 2024, from 6.30 – 9pm. Six hours of time has been budgeted within staff salaries to facilitate this element. (6 Hours) This element of the programme will be centrally paid for by the Education Authority including any associated transport.

Total Staffing Hours for Programme

Delivery, preparation, and induction/training staff hours for this programme totals 296 Hours.

Outlined in this section is a summary overview for each module of the year long programme. This is to aid applicants to understand what the module is and what it aims to achieve. Each of the modules are designed in and order to support participants progression, building up the participants confidence to succeed as the programme progresses. Programme materials and resources have been developed to support the delivery and successful organisations will be invited to an induction and training day where these resources will be shared. In summary there are five modules for delivery over the period titled as below:

• Module 1 – Who Am I Belonging Programme
• Module 2 – Me and My Community Social Action Project
• Module 3 – Me and My Leadership Development Accreditation
• Module 4 – Me and My Career Social Enterprise
• Module 5 – Me and Beyond My Community

Module 1 – Who Am I Belonging Programme

Young people will have the opportunity to develop strong relationships within their local group, developing a sense of belonging within the Horizons programme. The programme will help the young people develop skills such as leadership, communication, problem solving, self-awareness and teamwork. This will be done through team challenges, opportunities to lead the group, life mapping and journaling. The programme will also explore the current issues that the young people face within their communities from a strength-based approach, promoting a social action mindset for module two.

Key themes:

1. Leadership – Exploring and developing leadership within the group and developing skills through individual leadership tasks, with opportunities to take the lead.
2. Teamwork – Building teamwork skills such as communication and problem solving, whilst developing relationships with peers and staff which support positive group dynamics.
3. Community – Developing a greater understanding of their own network and others to give them a greater sense of belonging within their own community. Recognising the positive contributions, they can make as young leaders.

Key learning outcomes:

• Young people will have an increased understanding of the Horizons Programme.
• Young people work together to creating positive group dynamics.
• Young people feel part of something (belonging) and will develop positive peer relationships.
• Young people develop a greater sense of self and others.
• Young people build teamwork skills and each other’s strengths.
• Young people will have a greater understanding of leadership.
• Young people to have increased confidence sharing with the group.
• Young people will understand how to set and breakdown their goals (Goal Setting)
• Young people will have increased their presentation skills.
• Young people will have increased confidence in their own creativity.
• Young people will have a greater understanding of their own network within their community.
• Young people will have a greater understanding of others.
• Young people developed positive peer relationships.

Module 2 – Me and My Community Social Action Project

The Social Action project is a model of working together to create positive change.  We encourage the Horizons young people within their locality to plan and create visual projects that will showcase their talents, develop confidence and self-esteem, learn new skills, and support intergenerational projects. 

The purpose of the Horizons Social Action project is to enable young people to feel empowered whilst creating positive change in their communities; to know that their passions can be realised, and that their contributions are valued.  The experience of designing, developing, and delivering social action projects will enable the young people to know that they are, and can continue to make a practical and impactful difference in matters of interest and importance. 

The aim is to deliver a Social Action Project within the local community measuring individual and community impact. The Young people will deliver a Social Action Project that makes a positive contribution to society and their community will experience economic and environmental wellbeing.

Key themes:

1. Understanding my community- Exploring the community looking possible opportunities for improvement
2. Generosity – Enhancing leadership capacity through planning and delivering a social impact programme within the local community. The giving of one’s time.
3. Self-reflection- measuring the impact that the project has had within the community.

Key learning outcomes:

• Community connection – increased understanding of your community
• Identifying local needs – increased empathy of others through development of community impact assessment
• Exploring civic responsibility – increased knowledge
• Enhancing the voices of young people within the community – developing effective advocacy skills
• Development of personal skills and capabilities – planning, delivery, and evaluation of social action programme
• Increased visibility and recognition of the positive contribution of young people within the community – through celebration events

Module 3 – Me and My Leadership Development Accreditation

The Education Authority Youth Service recognises that effective youth work contributes to each young person achieving his or her potential at every stage of their development.

A key target within the Regional Development Plan is that of Closing the Performance Gap in learning and achieving, through the provision of accredited training for children and young people.

Through the Horizons Leadership programme participants are given access to accredited programmes in leadership and community development. All courses require that the young person is fourteen years of age on completion of the course.

As part of a group the young people select an accredited course based upon their needs (Available course options contained within Appendix A). The course is delivered through informal youth work methodologies and young people develop an individual portfolio to help evidence achievement of the course objectives and learning outcomes, based upon the assessment criteria outlined.

Themes Include:

• Leadership skills development
• Sports Leadership
• Peer Mentoring
• Diversity and Good Relations

Key Learning Outcomes

• Young people see education as fun, relevant, beneficial, and achievable.
• Development of a range of skills, knowledge and understanding which benefit both the individual and own community
• Enhanced employment pathways to further education, training, and employment opportunities
• Increased awareness of the impact of youth community engagement in response to the voice of children and young people

Module 4 – Me and My Career Social Enterprise

The Social Enterprise project is a model of working together to create a business that creates a positive change in local communities. We encourage the Horizons young people within their locality to plan, advertise, create, and sell a product or service that will showcase their talents, develop confidence and self-esteem, learn new skills, and support the local community.

Throughout this project young people will try out ‘roles’ within businesses and hear from exciting career opportunities and will be showcased non-traditional pathways and support to employment. At the end of the programme, young people will participate in regional marketplace and dragons’ den, along with local social enterprises and small businesses.

Aims

To create a social enterprise within the local and regional community measuring individual and community impact. The young people will deliver a Social Enterprise idea that makes a positive contribution to society and that supports community environmental wellbeing. 

Themes:

1. Understanding business- Exploring the community looking possible opportunities to set up a local business that gives back to their communities.
2. Generosity – Enhancing leadership capacity through planning and delivering a Social Enterprise Programme that positively impacts their own community.
3. Self-reflection- measuring the impact that the project has had on the young person and the community.

Key learning outcomes:

• Community connection – increased understanding of your community
• Identifying local needs – increased empathy of others through development of community impact assessment
• Increased knowledge of civic responsibility
• Enhancing the voices of young people within the community – developing effective advocacy skills
• Development of personal skills and capabilities – planning, delivery, and evaluation of social enterprise programme
• Increased visibility and recognition of the positive contribution of young people within the community
• Increased business skills

Module 5 – Me and Beyond My Community

The module of the programme supports young people to further enhance their personal and social development through. This module will also include an International Leadership Experience.

 Themes

• Recognition of achievements through the Horizons programme
• Social Enterprise project
• Accreditation
• Vocational training
• Improved community connection

Key Learning Outcomes

• An opportunity to complete vocational training in an area relevant to their future chosen career pathway.
• Young people will complete 1-2 vocational training courses.
• Participants will support the planning and delivery of a regional celebration event in recognition of the learning and achievements gained through the Horizons programme.
• A showcase of projects completed, and outcomes gained.
• Sharing of individual and group learning, progression and impact within own community

Staffing and Salaries

Staff salaries for the programme will be provided to each successful organisation based on the number of hours identified in the delivery expectations, which include face to face sessional delivery, preparation and collaboration time and attendance at induction and training, this is 296 hours for the programme period.

This will be based on the top salary point of a JNC pay scales for an Area Youth Worker I,/Centre Based Youth Worker I, which will also include employers’ national insurance contributions and pensions contribution in line with EA’s contractual arrangements. This is demonstrated on the table below:

Programme Costs

All programme costs will be paid for by the Education Authority as outlined and noted in the delivery expectations section. This includes residentials costs through an EA Outdoor Learning Centre, Accreditation Costs (including accreditation through and supported by the Education Authority test centre), programme budgets for social action and social enterprise, flights accommodation and airport transfers associated with the International Leadership experience, Graduation, and any transport costs linked to the Hub meet up programme.

Management Costs

In addition, the established salaries costs noted above, the Education Authority will provide a 10% management cost to all successful voluntary youth organisations based on the total salary cost. This can be used were applicable to cover organisation administration costs, overheads and mileage associated with the programme. For each organisation this will be £710.40.

Total Allocation to Successful Voluntary Partner

The total allocation per successful organisation will be £7,814.40.

Overnight Sleep-in Allowances

Overnight Sleep-in allowances in line with JNC will be provided in addition to the total budget allocation to each group following completion of the residentials.

Outcomes Based Accountability Framework for Horizons

In agreement with the Department of Education and the Education Authority ‘A Fair Start’ Programme Board an outline of monitoring and reporting for the project has been agreed. This is to reflect not only children and young people’s progression against the youth work outcomes, but to reflect feedback from participants, parents or carers, teachers, and the local community to demonstrate the impact the programme is having for young people, families, schools, and the wider community. The Outcomes Based Report Card for this project is outlined in Appendix C within the Guidance Document below.

Reflection leading to Ensuring Quality and Continuous Improvement

In addition to reporting on the Outcomes Based Accountability framework, as part of the reporting each project will provide reflective feedback per module on the strengths, gaps, and proposed areas for improvement. This information will be used to inform decisions in the design and delivery of the programme to foster an approach of continuous improvement.

Reporting Frequency and Method

The Education Authority are required to provide quarterly updates via the Education Authority A Fair Start Programme board to the Department of Education. To facilitate this each Horizon project provides at the end of each month basic participation and attendance data. At the end of each module each Horizons project will also provide a measure of progress against the youth work outcomes for participants, summary feedback from the community, family and education where received and outline strengths, identified gaps or areas for improvement. This monthly and end of module return is provided through an online response form.

OCNNI Level One Award in Youth Work Practice with a credit value of five and thirty-two guided learning hours. This qualification is designed for young people who have been involved in a youth group and have leadership aspirations and potential.

OCNNI Level 2 Award in Youth Leadership with a credit value of three and twenty-four guided learning hours. This Award enables young people to share experiences and gain essential knowledge for leadership, equipping them with practical skills that they will need in their organisation while developing their leadership skills.

OCNNI Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Diversity and Good Relations. This award helps young people become more aware of diverse groups within our communities and the importance of respect. Young people will have a better understanding of what is meant by prejudice and discrimination and will recognise the value of equal opportunities legislation. Both Level one and Level two Award in Diversity and Good Relations hold a credit value of three with thirty guided learning hours, respectively.

OCNNI Level 1 Award in Peer Mentoring for Young People has a credit value of three and twenty-seven guided learning hours. This award has been designed to help young people understand the role of the peer mentor and the benefits it can bring to people and communities.

OCNNI Level Two Award in Peer Mentoring Practice, has a credit value of three and twenty-four guided learning hours. This award helps to develop effective mentoring skills and techniques and understand the impact of mentoring relationships within the community.

Leadership Skills Foundation  Level One, twenty-three guided learning hours and three credits awarded. This is a Nationally Recognised qualification that enables successful learners to assist in leading purposeful and enjoyable sport/physical activity under direct supervision.

• Workplace First Aid
• Health and Safety in the workplace
• Child Mental Health training
• Level 2 Food Hygiene for catering
• Person Centred Care,
• Medication Training for Care,
• Moving and Handling People in Health and Social Care,
• Safeguarding Adults
• Level 2 Food Hygiene and safety,
• Special Needs and Disability in the Classroom,
• Food Allergen Awareness,
• Disability Awareness for Employees,
• Social Media Marketing,
•  Starting a Business,
• Anaphylaxis Awareness,
• Communication Skills in Health and Social Care 
• Conflict Management,
• Child Sexual Exploitation
• Child Criminal Exploitation Awareness,
• Data Protection,
• Introduction to Safeguarding Children,
•  Autism Awareness,
• Communication skills 
• Basic Life support 
• Resilience Training & Challenging Behaviour in Children
• Welding safety
• Paediatric First Aid
• Mental Health Awareness
• Sexual harassment for employees
• Business training
• CPR Awareness
• Communication Skills
• Safeguarding in Sport
• Safeguarding in Children’s Education
• Environmental Awareness
• LGBT Awareness
• Health & Safety 
• Health and Social Care 
• Time Management
• Presentation Skills
• Bullying & Harassment
• Resilience Training
• ADHD Awareness,