CLICconference: My Pride
It is not often that I write articles for CLIConline.
I’m busy working tirelessly behind the scenes or on the occasion that I do, I’m usually promoting our next National Editorial Group residential or competitions, services and initiatives.
However, today is different. I’ve just returned from the first ever CLIC Information Conference for young people in Wales in the Ebbw Vale Institute where around 150 young people and professionals from organisations were in attendance.
So why am I moved to write this article upon arriving home? I haven’t been home since Saturday afternoon, having spent the weekend working with members of our National Editorial Group at a residential to prepare for the conference today. I should be putting my feet up, relaxing and leaving work until tomorrow. I should be, but I’m not. Instead of catching up on my sleep, I’m considering the right words to convey how I feel.
Perhaps it's the huge sense of pride that I feel for CLIC as a project and for the CLIC staff team that worked so enthusiastically to ensure that today was a success that is stopping me right now.
Maybe it’s the knowledge that the aim of the conference to raise awareness of the CLIC network of websites with young people was achieved, with many of our Local Editors in attendance alongside professionals from across Wales.
It could be the organisations that came along, who got involved and contributed to the event and for the representatives from the Children, Families and Young People's Division of the Welsh Assembly Government who were there offering their ongoing support.
Perhaps it’s the fact that AM Huw Lewis, the Deputy Minister for Children attended this morning and delivered an insightful speech in support of CLIC and all that we do, emphasising the importance of CLIC as the flagship Information and Advice project for the Welsh Assembly Government.
Maybe it was Keith Towler, the Children's Commisioner for Wales highlighting in his entertaining speech, the hands on involvement he had with one of our local Editorial Groups for WICID in Rhondda Cynon Taf, his understanding of CLIC and the support that he readily gives. It could be the fact that he recognises CLIC not only as a valuable information resource for young people but as a powerful and unique youth media platform that allows young peoples voices in Wales to be heard, locally and Nationally, staying with us at the event for the whole afternoon talking to young people.
It's all of the above... but that’s not quite it.
The overwhelming sense of pride I feel right now is for the outstanding team effort that four members of our National Editorial Group put into being our presenters today.
Jess and Ben from Neath Port Talbot Youth Council, Ant from the Young Flintshire Editorial Group and Paul from the newly formed Editorial Group for Anglesey, Defaid, provided us with a highly entertaining, energetic, interesting and informative day. Giving up their free time this weekend to prepare and plan their presentations and speeches, they persevered with our gruelling schedule and came up with creative and original ideas to make the conference appealing to young people.
Yes, that’s why I feel moved to write this article when I should be resting, because without the stars of our show and the rest of the young people from our National Editorial Group who planned and shaped the conference, it wouldn’t have happened and it wouldn’t have happened so well.
In May 2010 at our planning residential in Cardiff Bay around 20 young people from across Wales set out the aims of the conference, who should attend and be invited, where it should be held, the format of the day and the types of workshops that should be delivered.
In August 2010 at a residential in Pembroke, 14 young people developed the ideas for workshops and activities further, with a small group stepping forward as volunteers to be presenters for the day. In front of the rest of the group they had to display their presentations skills and put forward their case as to why they should be the ones to represent CLIC.
Originally there were going to be eight, but the inevitable happened for some, work and school had to take priority over their activities as voluntary members of our National Editorial Group. Those unable to come along were Jess from the Swoosh Editorial Group, Ant from the Young Flintshire Editorial Group (yes, we have two Ants from Flintshire!) and Alex from Neath Port Talbot Youth Council, all shining personalities that were sadly missed. Sam from theSprout Editorial Group couldn’t come along to prepare with us this weekend but instead joined us for the conference, confidently representing theSprout and delivering a one-man presentation that had his audience hanging attentively on his every word!
Sometimes ‘us’ behind the scenes responsible for CLIC forget that all of the young people involved are giving up their free time to volunteer, helping us develop our network of youth information websites when they could be hanging out with their mates, playing rugby, going to the cinema, going to parties, etc. Of course what they get in return is the chance to have their opinions and ideas acted upon in a National project, develop their skills, have new experiences and gain accreditation towards qualifications. We obviously do try to throw in some extra fun to make it all the more worthwhile.
This weekend we didn’t do that, it was purely focussed on hard work, there was no highwire activity in the trees, no messing around in a muddy assault course testing their resilience, no powerboat ride to thrill and excite them, no building of rafts to stretch their problem solving abilities. CLIC National Residentials are always a mixture of serious work on leading and developing CLIC with a good measure of well intentioned nonsense and fun entertainment and activities like talent competitions. This weekend, four young people from North and South West Wales who have all met before under the afore mentioned circumstances, came together to explain the CLIC network to young people that were unaware of its existence.
The planned eight were going to be presenting and leading the majority of our workshops, but with only four remaining in the days leading up to the weekend, the pressure was all on them. Instead of leading on most of the workshops for the conference, some of the group instead supported members of the CLIC team in their delivery with the focus put upon their main presentations.
Of course we made our own fun during our unrelenting schedule, catching up with each other since our last residential, almost falling over laughing whilst Ant made us practice the Haka with such extreme passion and enthusiasm that his veins were popping out of his neck, listening enchanted whilst Paul played us the CLIC song he composed and created over the weekend proving once again his incredible musical talent and as always we were thoroughly entertained by the comedic banter from Ben and Jess as they developed the main CLIC/MEIC presentation.
They all worked hard and the hard work paid off. The group confidently represented CLIC and our National Editorial Group, displaying an admirable commitment to the project. Today was also the culmination of them completing a Youth Excellence Award for the planning, preparation and delivery of the CLIC Information Conference.
Yes I’m proud. I’m bursting with pride right now to be working with such exceptional young people.
As the conference day ended and the various groups of young people from schools and organisations etc. had to leave, one thing for me was only briefly touched upon...
THANK YOU
Thank you Ben, Paul, Ant and Jess for your commitment to CLIC, your hard work and dedication in your free time to making today a huge success!
Our catchphrase from this weekend.....It's all about you ;)
Kathryn Allen
Senior Development & Participation Officer
View more pictures from the event
8 Comments – Post a comment
GeoffCLIC
Commented 67 months ago - 19th October 2010 - 08:53am
Wot Kath said - Respect to the Young people who made the CLIC Conference such an amazing success!
Sprout Editor
Commented 67 months ago - 19th October 2010 - 09:09am
It was a great day. Thanks to all that made it possible, especially the four presenters- you were ace.
Also, thanks loads to all the Sprouters who came along. Am always chuffed when you give up your free time for theSprout and CLIC. And Sammuel, your performance was a classic. You're an absolute legend!
CLICtania
Commented 67 months ago - 19th October 2010 - 12:25pm
Big up to the CLIC National Editorial Group. You're all awesome. And yes we do realise what hard work you put in and are very grateful to you all, the best bunch of young people you could ever ask to meet. Think I'd better stop there before I say something highly embarrassing and get all emotional!!! ;O)
Also, da iawn chdi Paul. Fair play for making a song from such a subject and wow to the guitar playing! Can't believe I missed seeing you playing again. You'll have to give another performance at the next residential. Cân am ddefaid tro nesa ella?
Altogether now: "Come on let's get on the computer and go on CLIC online...lalalala!"
SamuelPatterson
Commented 67 months ago - 19th October 2010 - 14:13pm
I like this :D
I'm glad that the day was such a success . I thought it went really well.
And thanks Kath and Arielle for your nice words :)
WICIDeditor
Commented 67 months ago - 19th October 2010 - 18:32pm
It really was an awesome day! I was so impressed with how smoothly it ran, and at how many inspirational all the young people are. The presentations were BRILLIANT!
Great to meet new people, do Ant's banana song and the haka next to Keith Towler, and I cried laughing at Sam from theSprout's speach, excellent!
Thank you to the Wicid Ed Group for all your hard work. Martyn, Adele and Gareth thanks for coming yesterday and for helping me do a 20 point turn out of the car park.
National Editor
Commented 67 months ago - 20th October 2010 - 16:53pm
Although I spent a good portion of the day driving around the South Wales Valleys like Eddie flipping Stobart, I enjoyed the parts of the conference I was there for. Especially Ant's hacka - I didn't know the guy had it in him, and was genuinely scared of his screaming! YAAAAHHH!!
jeopreddy
Commented 67 months ago - 20th October 2010 - 18:07pm
The photos are brilliant! Since I have two days inset tomorrow, I am going on a CLIC article writing spree, so you've been warned!
CLICtania
Commented 67 months ago - 22nd October 2010 - 23:50pm
I'm expecting good things Jess, given the ribbing you're giving Ben for his ;O)