Author: Marc Doherty
Welcome P7’s
Milnes and Speyside Senior Youth Worker
Hi, I’m Maria McAllister Senior Youth Worker in Speyside and Milnes.
I’ve been a youth worker for 14 years, 3 years as a volunteer and 11 years with the Youth Engagement Team working in different areas throughout Moray.
I started my working life as a Nanny in London moving to Elgin 31 years ago. Here I studied Tourism and worked in hotels in Elgin and Inverness as well as many years at Johnstons of Elgin. I enjoyed tourism, meeting people from all over the world but as I took on a more training role I realised I enjoyed the training, helping and mentoring, especially young people.
I have a daughter and two step-children, all of them adults now as well as two wonderful grandchildren. My spare time is spent with the grandchildren, we enjoy baking cakes together, visiting different parks around Moray and running around until grandma (me) can’t keep up any more!!!
Come find me if you need information, advice or fancy a good chat,
Look forward to meeting you all
Email: Maria.Mcallister@moray.gov.uk
SYP Information Session
You can also visit the SYP Website by clicking HERE
The Young Person’s Guarantee…
The Young Persons Guarantee DYW Moray Leaflet
(Click on the title for more info)
Well Done Kerry Niven-Gordon!
Well done to Kerry Niven-Gordon from Forres, Kerry an S6 pupil at Forres academy has achieved a 200 hours Saltire certificate for her volunteering contributions across Forres, Kerry has been giving up her spare time to support The Chest, Heart and Stroke Charity shop, The Lossiemouth Baptist Church holiday club and Girl Guiding Moray as a young Leader. Kerry is also a member of Moray Youth Matters and the Pea’s in a pod, podcasting team which are part of the Youth Voice programme supported by Moray Councils Youth Work Team
A parents guide to being social online
Whether trying out new games, sharing family pics or live streaming lunch, this December we will probably be spending more time online playing and socialising. Here’s our guide on how you can support your child to be safer online.
Here is a link to Think U Know resource page with tips to keep you safe online
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/parents-guide-being-social-online/
OR
Check out the home activity packs as a way to start conversations as a family
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/
You can also visit the Inclusive Digital Safety Advice Hub watch the video for more details.
SYP Manifesto 2021 – 2026
Young people have shaped SYP’s work over the next five years, as well as inform Scotland’s political parties on what changes Scotland’s youth would like to see in the next Scottish Parliamentary term.
Who cares? Scotland
Click on the image above to visit the Who Cares? Scotland website
The Who Cares? Scotland Helpline is a lifelong offer open to Care Experienced people of any age across Scotland. Following on from the positive feedback on our Covid-19 Helpline throughout the first few months of the Coronavirus crisis, it is evident that a dedicated phone line is a valued source of connection for our community.
Instawalks
Instawalks turn photography into a collective shared activity. A group of people meeting to explore a place or route together.
Instawalks will have a different theme for each route. The young people will be asked to take snapshots along the walk and post with a specific #Hashtag.
Photos of individuals will be shared with their permission only.
Elgin Academy will have groups walking every Monday and Thursday.
You can book onto an Instawalk using the QR code on our program OR using this link.
You can follow @morayyouthwork on Instagram here
Elgin Academy
Week 1
5th & 8th Oct – #Quarrelwood #Nicewalk
26th & 29th Oct
1st Instawalk of the Term from Elgin Academy. Looking forward to many more @LizzyToon @MarcD_ElginYW @WYouthworker pic.twitter.com/6If9oYxNz9
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) October 26, 2020
Elgin Park adventure pic.twitter.com/N3rEOW2hs5
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) November 20, 2020
2nd & 5th Nov
Solo walk 2nd Nov Exploring Elgin Town pic.twitter.com/EamYz7UjTb
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) November 20, 2020
Campfire session pic.twitter.com/BaWXuF8HwB
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) November 20, 2020
9th & 12th Nov
More woodland exploring pic.twitter.com/Gree9vse1g
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) November 20, 2020
The walk on the 12th was a visit to The Warehouse to test and give thoughts on using Youth Work in a VR setting via Altspace. See the Moraywide VR Project for more information.
19th Nov
23rd & 26th Nov
30th Nov & 3rd Dec
7th & 10th Dec
Not only have this group explored and showcased different walks in Elgin. They have taken time to learn to look after their mental health, support others in a group and build strong relationships with their youth workers. @WYouthworker @MarcD_ElginYW @LizzyToon #YWSkillsFramework pic.twitter.com/AIp1XqBuAX
— Morayyouthwork (@morayyouthwork) December 10, 2020
Miles Achieved
Celebration Week!!
Feedback & Evaluation
One of the very best things if the term. Well done to all and a fab video. 🤍 https://t.co/PF9mcjTJFh
— Lizzy Toon (@LizzyToon) December 10, 2020
👏 Awesome team effort from the young people at @morayyouthwork, putting together this #YWSkillsFramework video to discuss what they get out of youth work!
✅ Teamwork
✅ Confidence
✅ Creative thinking
✅ Emotional resilience https://t.co/ze2rLNr1xv— YouthLink Scotland (@YouthLinkScot) December 11, 2020