News Archive
2009/10 News Items
Global Rock Challenge
A team of young people from Swanwick Lodge will be taking part in this year's Global Rock Challenge, performing a piece called Fallen Angels. Preparing for the performance has been part of a regular behaviour management programme which aims to help develop self esteem and promote healthy life choices.
Rapturous Applause for the Young People at Swanwick.
‘It was such a fantastic performance, I was literally blown away, just brilliant’ (Elissa Coster, Drugs Worker, PRISM Network).
Friday 14th August saw the Swanwick Lodge Children receive rapturous applause following their week long training programme working with Zoie Golding’s Fuzzylogic dance troupe (www.fuzzylogicdance.co.uk) during the summer programme. The focus of the performance ‘someone is missing’ was based upon a poem written by one of the young people and was attended by a number of Children’s Services Staff as well as the Swanwick team.
The week long session was an integral part of the Swanwick Lodge behaviour management programme, the focus of which was developing self esteem through the medium of dance. This medium saw the young people creating a fantastic and poignant piece which explored the emotional impact on loved one’s who experience a family member going to war. The rigorous exercise and dance training agenda was supplemented by an art session in which all of the young people contributed to creating an incredible scenery as a backdrop to the piece together with accompanying props. ‘What a change in a week, and what energy and enthusiasm these guys have’ said Zoie Golding, founder and choreographer of fuzzylogic.
Zoie Golding founded fuzzylogic in 2000 and aims to push the boundaries of dance through a unique style of high tempo and energetic contact work fused with exciting narrative contemporary dance. Fuzzylogic have a wealth of experience in running workshops in schools and referral units.
What a world we live in!
Swanwick Lodge students have had an exciting year looking at global citizenship in a variety of ways and have been fortunate enough to entertain a number of visitors who have shared their cultural backgrounds with us and who have educated us in some of the rich diversities of the world in which we live.
The Nuffield Theatre supported our understanding of autism by bringing their production of Shouting, Stamping and Singing to Swanwick Lodge followed later in the year by their production of Rome, The Empire Strikes Back where we learned about the Roman Empire in one hour - quite an epic task!
African Fusion spent a day here teaching us African style dancing, chanting and drumming using traditional instruments and music. Although we were exhausted by the end of the day we left with a fuller and richer understanding of the life and traditions of Africa.
Southampton Football Club not only gave us an excellent coaching session but educated us on the migration of peoples around the world in the 21st century and the reasons for individuals leaving their countries of origin and the reasons for them settling in others.
Art Asia arranged for Ratchi Sood to come in and teach us a variety of movements needed in Asian dance. After some hilarious moments with 2 left feet we almost had a full blown Bollywood production ready for the stage!
Fantastic...'Creative but insecure'
'Last week Fareham library hosted a fantastic display of artwork, produced by the young people of Swanwick Lodge.The piece entitled 'creative but insecure' showed off the wide range of skills that are honed by the staff and the fantastic results that are achieved by the young people. The display, coordinated by Marc Beattie, was received enthusiastically by visitor's to the library who were in awe of the work and the breadth of creative options available here at our education centre.
2008/09 News Items
Swanwick Lodge receives Goodwill Message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu
V.S.Ps should 'reach for the stars…according to Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner and the first black South African Anglican Archbishop, who recently sent a goodwill message to the children at Swanwick Lodge. Describing them as 'V.S.Ps - Very Special People' Tutu tells them that God believes in all of them and created them as part of his plan for the world.
John Coughlan awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List
John Coughlan, Hampshire County Council's Director of Children's Services has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.
The honour is in recognition of his work for children's services, helping to improve outcomes for children both locally and nationally. And in particular the award recognises his work alongside John Freeman, Director of Children's Services in Dudley, in setting up the Association of Directors of Children's Services which officially came into being in 2007.
Both men were the organisation's inaugural joint presidents and both have worked tirelessly to ensure the ADCS has promoted the effective integration of children's services nationally, supporting members and working with government agencies including the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Ofsted.
John Coughlan, who is married with two children, joined the County Council in 2005 as its Director of Children's Services to oversee the integration of Education and Children's Social Care services into the current Children's Services department. Under his leadership the department contributed to a successful Joint Area Review of children's services across Hampshire and more recently it was judged to be consistently good across all areas of children's services by Ofsted inspectors.
Commenting on the CBE award John said: "This is a an honour and a tribute to children's services as a whole. I especially want to thank my family, my colleagues and the elected members in Hampshire. Without all their backing this would not have been possible."
Councillor Ken Thornber, Hampshire County Council's Leader said: "I wish to congratulate John for this award. It is a testimony to his hard work and dedication to ensuring the successful integration of children's services, not just here in Hampshire, but nationally as well. Under his leadership Hampshire County Council Children's Services have been recognised as narrowing the gap between the outcomes of the most vulnerable children and all children and young people.”
Andrew Smith, Hampshire County Council's Chief Executive added: "I am delighted for John. This is a well deserved award. As a member of the County Council's corporate management team he has made a vital contribution to the work of Hampshire County Council as it seeks to ensure the county is an excellent place for people to live, grow up and work in."
Swanwick Lodge’s Stevie Waight to represent Hampshire in Spain
Swanwick Lodge’s Stevie Waight is to represent Hampshire in Spain, at the Assembly of European Region’s (AER) Youth Summer School in August 2009, after her winning essay entitled ‘Water – life’s essential’ caught the judges eyes.
The AER Summer School 2009 will bring together young people, regional decision-makers, elected politicians and experts from different regional and local administrations across Europe who are interested in developing solutions to tackle water issues. During the week there will be a number of roundtables and dynamic workshops around the topic of water. The program includes daily activities, study visits and the opportunity to discover the Valencian experience in water management. The young people will be encouraged to work together on the issues, to share experiences, express their opinions and develop a heightened awareness. On returning home, Stevie and her AER colleagues, will act as “water ambassadors.”
Stevie was selected from among a number of applicants due to passion and commitment that she demonstrated in her application. Her idea of using her experiences from the summer school with the young people that she works with at Swanwick Lodge really caught the eye of the judges, and we hope that she will successfully achieve this upon her return. “I am really proud of Stevie’s achievements and am looking forward to her enrichment sessions with the young people here.” (George Smart, Registered Manager, Swanwick Lodge)
Stevie will be attending the AER event with Lisa Finch, another young person from the Environment Department.
A Strong Provision of Care
Following a recent unannounced Ofsted inspection under the Care Standards Act 2000, Swanwick Lodge has been judged as Good. This means that the inspector felt that the provision of care was strong. The report went on to say
'The practice in the home is child-focused and the outcomes for the young people are good. Young people enjoy good, supportive relationships with staff and are given individual help and support as required. The staff team is experienced and able to provide consistency of care for the young people accommodated. The accommodation is bright and homely…'
George Smart, Swanwick Lodge's Unit Manager said ' I am happy with the report, our team work very hard to deliver a good service to the children and this report is a credit to them all.'
2007/08 News Items
Swanwick Lodge visited by the Children’s Minister
Swanwick Lodge were visited by Beverly Hughes, Children’s Minister, Counsellor David Kirk, Counsellor Patricia Banks and Director of Children’s Services, John Coughlan on December 13th 2007.
Our visitors received a briefing about our work here at Swanwick Lodge and then they met two of the young people and toured the Unit.
The Minister concluded her visit by stating that Swanwick Lodge provided a very caring environment that contributed to the young peoples wellbeing.
Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UJ
This page was last updated on 15 June 2011. © Copyright Hampshire County Council 2012.