SMASH

SMASH needs…

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:27:25 +0000

…or someone like you for our next team of volunteer mentors. We are now recruiting for team 25 who we hope to have in training in June (dates to be published later) with a view to getting them matched up with the young people on our waiting list before the summer holidays. SMASH offers one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences available in Swindon and you get to work with some of the nicest people I know. mentors and young people get involved in sport, the arts, community work, business or just meet up each week and have a cup of coffee and a chat. You don’t need any special skills, just a bit of life experience and a willingness to give up 2 or 3 hours a week to help someone who’s struggling to make the transition to adulthood so if you are a person or you know someone who is, download a volunteer application pack now. We and that pointy guy in the poster (general Kitchener I think) are waiting to hear from you.

Things you can do for SMASH

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:02:02 +0000

Or turn out your closets and donate your salable goodies to the cause. We’re looking for designer clothes, tech and household items that will sell for at least £10 so that ill fitting Vercace or the Van Gough in the attic, bring ‘em in and we can put them to good use.

Small but perfectly formed

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:43:48 +0000

Team 24 are with us at last.

They are Charlene, Charlotte, David, Paula, Rebecca, Rebecca, Rob, Victoria and Michael. We hope to be training a larger team in the spring but with our waiting list at almost record levels it seemed crazy to keep 10 willing volunteers waiting. They’ll be meeting some of our young people on Wednesday 20th January and will be matched up soon after that. Good luck gang, we all hope you have an enjoyable and productive year ahead.

Sponsor a SMASH mentor for 2012

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:50:32 +0000

Dear All

I am writing to you on behalf of The SMASH Youth Project (Swindon Mentoring and Self Help) which is a charity that supports vulnerable and disadvantaged young people form the age of 13 to 19 years old

As a recently appointed trustee and a mentor of six years and currently mentoring mentee number 8, I am writing to you for some much needed help.

We are currently mentoring young people in Swindon and have a current batch of mentors and mentees of 26 active relationships with a further 35 young people waiting to be mentored with an ever increasing list of referrals. We have 10 new volunteers going into training in January. To support and continue training new mentors it costs the project around £1500 per mentor per annum. Our mentors undergo more than 30 hours of training in their first year with us and along with travel and incidental expenses like playing sport, getting involved in the arts in some way or maybe just going out for a cup of coffee and a chat with their young person the costs can mount up. We also offer regular supervision and a 24 hr emergency help line to our mentors and all of that costs money too. In fact we estimate that it costs about £1,500 per year to support a SMASH mentor.

I understand the current economic climate is still difficult and money is tight not just for businesses but for everyone and would like to ask if you are able to help in a small way by sponsoring a mentor. We are looking for individuals, companies or other organisations who will be willing to sponsor a mentor over the course of the coming year. That could cost as little as £20 or as much as £1,500 per mentor depending on your budget but it is vital that we find the funds to continue this incredible important work. Without the support of the community SMASH simply can not continue to do what it does.

Please would you give this your consideration, as these young people will be the future and could well be either an employee in your company or a consumer of your products or services.

If you are in a position to help we would be more than happy to come and make a presentation to your business and you will have the chance to meet some of the team and some of the people you will be helping.

Please find enclosed information about the project and we look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours sincerely

Paul Brown Trustee
For SMASH Youth Project

To sponsor a mentor please contact SMASH or download the sponsor form below
Sponsor a mentor

A chip off the old block

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:40:43 +0000

Melissa Butler presenting a cheque for £140 that she raised by climbing Ben Nevis with her family including her dad Norman, who has been a stalwart fundraiser for SMASH for several years now. Great to see her following in the Norman’s not inconsiderable footprints. Thanks Melissa!

SMASH Street Dance Summer 2011

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:28:23 +0000

Here are some of the SMASH gang, with Katie from Swindon Dance.

They are Heidi, Tammy, Mica and Jemma.

Not appearing here are Sophie and Hayley, who also took part. All ably assisted by our very own Carrie.

Great stuff gang! sorry about the terrible camera work.

SMASHfest 2 is coming!!!!!!!

admin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:40:12 +0000

This year’s SMASHfest will be held at 12 bar on Westcott place

from 7pm on Thursday 21st July

Bans playing will include:

Mortdelamare

Canary Club

The Demented

Fallen Angels

and

Dining with Zeus

There will also be a Bar-be-Que , Henna Tattooing from Henna Magic, street theater from Sixth Sense theater group, Fire Juggling from Jake the Juggler, Maz’s nail bar and more bedsides.

Download your free poster here

smashfest poster pdf

Print ‘em out on some bright paper and stick ‘em up

See you there

SMASHFEST2 —- 21ST JULY 2011 —–SAVE THE DATE!!

admin — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:55:19 +0000

SMASHFEST2 is shaping up to be ………AMAZING……… Everyone wants to get involved with THE Event to kick-off The Summer.The bands are booked —– still waiting for the final line-up but definites are Mortdelamer and The Demented (check out their websites)….Canary Club, Breaking Planets and we’re VERY hopeful that Napoleon In Rags and Zoe Mead will soon be coming back with a definite YES……….Watch This Space…. (No, that’s NOT the name of a band, it’s what I want you to do!!!)…………As the sunshine has been specially ordered, SMASHFEST2 will have a “Festival Feel” with flags flying, barbeques smokin’, henna-tattoos happening, Street Theatre acts entertaining (Sixth Sense Theatre Group….totally brilliant!) …… Look Out for Updates as the full list is finalised over the next few weeks………. It’s all happening at 12bar, Westcott Place Swindon and, can you believe it? Entry is only £3!!……. Enquiries are already coming in for tickets and details of how to get these in advance will soon be posted……… This event is all about raising the profile of SMASH Youth Project, raising some funds and raising the roof for Youth in Swindon. ………. You don’t have to be actively involved with SMASH, you don’t have to be Young or Old, but you do have to BE THERE!!……….

DEE’S GARDEN SALE RAISES £310 for SMASH

admin — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:15:02 +0000

Dee Vaughan knew exactly what she wanted to with all the unwanted “stuff” she had after alterations in her home — Sell it and give the money to Charity. Her nephew, Tony Smith (Tony is one of our Volunteer Mentors) had mentioned SMASH, Dee found out more about us and was inspired to give ALL the proceeds to us. She and her husband Graham, along with their next-door neighbour and friends and family then worked tirelessly to put the event on in their front gardens on Saturday 14th May. A big sign in the garden, plus bunting and balloons showed the way to Upham Road, Old Walcot ………Dee had also bravely– and brilliantly!–appeared LIVE on Swindon’s 105.5 Radio Station to publicise the event and on the day loads of people turned up to buy up the bargains on offer, eat the home-made cakes and support SMASH Youth Project. Dee and Graham were happy to talk to their “customers” about the brilliant work SMASH does and this Awareness Raising is Immeasurable and Invaluable………. what can be measured is, of course, the money raised by Dee and her helpers ……….and when the Grand Total was counted, it amounted to an amazing £310 !!! Well Done and Thank You from SMASH……….

A Message from the NSPCC and Childline

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 08:33:10 +0000

Almost two thirds (64%) of children and young people say they’ve never had any support dealing with exams

New video from ChildLine aims to help young people cope with anxiety

Young people in Swindon will be amongst the millions of under 18s that will sit exams this summer and according to a new survey by ChildLine*, 92% of young people feel anxious about their revision and exams. Findings reveal almost two thirds (64%) say they’ve never had any support in dealing with exams and that over half of young people (53%) say pressure from parents to do well is a major cause of anxiety.

Last year (2010/11) the ChildLine base in Exeter counselled 86 children about exam stress.

Anxiety can make people feel tired, upset, worried, shaky, light-headed or frustrated, and can sometimes present itself as a panic attack or nausea. It’s very common for young people to feel anxious about exams and to help, ChildLine has made a new short film about combating anxiety, which can be viewed on a new ‘Beat Exam Stress’ hub on their website.

Results from the ChildLine poll also found:

· Other main causes of anxiety for young people are not getting into university or college (57%) and fears about sitting the exam (56%)

· Almost half (45%) say they have skipped meals

· Two thirds (64%) of those surveyed said they have had trouble sleeping

· Talking to friends (43%) is the most common way of dealing with exam anxiety.

· 14% say they drink alcohol to cope with exam anxiety.

Alex, ChildLine’s message board host says, “The exam period can be a very stressful and anxious time, so it’s important to ensure you take regular breaks from revision and have a chance to unwind and relax. If you’re finding it difficult log on to the ChildLine website to speak to other young people in the same situation and get advice and tips from our self help sections.”

If you are sitting exams this summer, the following advice can help you cope with anxiety:

· It can sometimes feel like the whole of your future depends on what grades you get. First of all, try not to panic. You have a while until exam results come out. Even if you don’t get the results you need or expect, you still have options and can get help with any decisions you have to make.

· There is nothing wrong with being worried about the actual exam, it’s very normal. The more prepared we are, the more confident we feel in being able to cope. Read more advice on revision tips and how to keep calm before an exam here.

· Check out the new ChildLine video, designed to help young people cope with anxiety, or look for tips and advice on the ChildLine website.

For further information please contact the NSPCC communications team on 0203 188 3655 or out of hours on 07977 127064.

*Survey completed on ChildLine website by 1,275 children and young people taking exams in the summer of 2011, Survey Monkey, 18^th April-3^rd May 2011