Youngsters reach out to offer support at Falcon Lodge Community Centre

Oct 2 2009 by Diane Parkes, Birmingham Mail

NEWCOMERS at a Birmingham community centre are guaranteed a warm welcome, thanks to a team of young peer supporters.

Trained by children’s charity ChildLine, the peer supporters are ready to sort out problems, help friendships and buddy new members at the Funny Factory youth group on Sutton Coldfield’s Falcon Lodge estate.

Each of them brings their own skills to listening and conflict resolution, but some training sessions helped a good deal. ChildLine in Partnerships outreach and training worker Emma Thompson spent a few evenings at the centre in Churchill Road, passing on skills to the adult leaders and the young supporters.

“When any new young people come along, the peer supporters introduce themselves, introduce them to other children, show them the ropes,” she says.

“It can be a bit nerve-racking coming along somewhere new, so it just aims to help them to settle in.

“They also sort out any fall-outs between young people. The training they did aims to give them the skills to know how to do that by listening to what the young people are saying.”

The peer supporters are all members of the eight to 13-year-old group. They meet weekly at the centre and also help sessions for under-eights. Each of the team volunteered but had to be interviewed and undergo the training. Emma says that, while their intention may be altruistic, it also promotes development in the peer supporters themselves. “They do it because they want to help others but it also helps as they gain in confidence and skills.”

The group is run by trainee community workers Asha Banyoko and Stephanie Georgiou, with support from play workers Sally Roberts and Tanya Crickmore.

The adults say they have seen a change since the peer support system was launched in February.

“It has really given the young people who are peer supporters a lot more confidence,” says Asha.

“It has made a difference to the group as a whole. There is a softer environment here now. It has always been friendly but it makes it a bit more welcoming, especially for new people who may not know people.

“It is good for the young people to take on these roles as they have a different perspective. The adults are here if they need us to take on issues but, in many cases, the young people are capable of sorting them out.”

The scheme is only part of the anti-bullying work done at the centre, which is used by more than 150 young people from a range of schools.

“We also have drama education here and there is the opportunity for some of the older children to become leaders of the younger groups,” adds Asha.