As they returned for a new term at school, some pupils were ready, willing and more rounded than ever before after a positive, fun-filled summer of self-learning, self-development and deserved reward.
From a project supported by Prison Link, ‘Refocus for Kids Awards’ presentation saw children from Birmingham and Sandwell, in the West Midlands, from 11 years old, and upwards, acknowledged for their contributions made in making their communities a brighter and sharing one to live in, as they grow and make their respective contributions to that end.
Following the project, which was started just after the Covid-19 pandemic, this ceremony – held at the Beacon Church Centre in Handsworth - was a way of saying “Thank You” for each and every one of their individual inputs throughout the summer weeks.
Ricky Dehaney, the CEO of Prison Link, is responsible for the functioning of the Basic Training in Prison Work course and delivers this training in the College and the University. He also manages the organisation’s staff and ensures that the offender resettlement programme is efficient with constant monitoring.
With the programme taking place during the summer school holidays, he was at pains to highlight the function of the programme, saying: “Refocus for Kids is a project by Prison Link that’s funded by the Million Hour Fund Lottery, with the awards for all who completed a summer 5-week project - a set of workshops set out to look at their behavior and self-development before they are taking on outdoor excursions to see how they can manage living in everyday life, away from school!
“This before we then take them out on leisure activities as a kind of reward for their achievements. We at Prison Link looked at how they then perform at school, refocused after the pandemic – hence, we have our ‘Refocus for Kids’ programme.
As an arm of Prison Link, Refocus for Kids is an initiative and project which falls under the organisations quest in diverting young people from crime and disrupting the intergenerational culture of inner city offending which made this project desperately needed in our community.
Renowned poet, Dave Wilks, was present to highlight the poetry workshop he ran for the kids, with him describing their work as “powerful”, as he done his bit to help them to bring out their creative juices. And that he certainly did as each of the children who took part stood to the fore to read their penned work in front of a live audience – for many of whom it was their very first time in doing so.
“They were all powerful,” said a touched Mr Wikes. “The content of each and every one of them was truly powerful.” A sentiment that was shred unbound by their parents, other family members, staff and guests who were there to hear them.
“Continue to open up your mind,” he said, “because there are some great things in your mind. You just need the right platform to do so.”
After sharing a couple of his more recent works, one - ‘Direction’ – proved apt for the future generation of creatives who were there. ‘In The Morning’ also proved inspirational before he then began the presentation of certificates to all the children who took part in Refocus for Kids 2023 (its 3rd year) and achieved there set goals.
Prison Link board member, Pastor Doreen Makaya said: “Congratulations to all who took park in the five-weeks programme. The mind is a terrible thing to waste. It seems to me that over the 5 weeks you did not waste your creative abilities, your minds and your abilities.
“I pray that you make the most of your abilities. Use what you have learnt here – in working together and believing in yourself. Use the gifts you’ve been given!”
For the recipients, they were: Adeen Tanveer, Arianna Reece-Mahoney, Daniel Stanford, Isaiah Foster, Lauren Dooley, Malik Junaid, Nicholas Stanley, Nikia Headley-Clarke, Remaya Headley-Clarke, Samuel Stanford, Charade Dodd, Trey Dodd and Zion Richards.
One special certificate was given to the one aforementioned Dave Wilks, for his role in teaching the children leadership skills, communications and management abilities. That before the Headly Clarke Girls dance crew would bring the day’s preceding to an end.
The conclusion from the Refocus for Kids presentation - “The ‘end game’ is to see these young people make the right decisions in their respective future lives and make lasting contributions to the world in which they live,” says Dehaney. Although the project has finished, our support for the children and their families will remain ongoing.”
Other members of the project’s leadership team are its coordinator, Dionne Dehaney, Youth Worker Rachel Dehaney, who works alongside Dave Wilks.
