Countdown to The Quest 2012

Summer’s flying by (or maybe floating by!) and one of the highlights of the summer youth programme is now just a week away. The Quest is the annual event enjoyed by hundred of local young people, and the final destination this year is , as always, a closely-guarded secret.

Muirhouse Youth Development Group’s (MYDGs) Joanne Stewart explained: “The Quest is an area-wide event  – a scavenger hunt across Edinburgh ending in a secret location with a barbecue and fun activities for around 100 young people and volunteers, which promotes team work and sportsmanship. The Quest aims to include each youth agency in the North Edinburgh area and is one of the most popular area-wide activities –  it’s been taking place for many years, always with a great turn out.  We are very proud to say that we won an award from the Edinburgh Evening News last year for ‘the best youth initiative’, voted for by Evening News readers, which I think shows the popularity of the event in the community. We’re hoping this year’s Quest will be even better!”

The Quest starts from Scottish Gas HQ on Waterfront Avenue next Friday (27 July) at 11am and finishes … well, who knows?

Some pictures from Quest 2010:

MYDG Open Day

Muirhouse Youth Development Group is holding an Open Day at St. Paul’s on Friday 10 February from 2.30 – 4.30pm.  Find out what’s happening in your area – activities on offer include pool, Wii, table tennis, arts and crafts, climbing, bike assault course and music. Interested?  Call Joanne Stewart on 332 3356 for more details.

Inspirational MYDG

Bike Club Development officer amy Hickman said “Muirhouse Youth Bike Club is an inspirational project which will enhance employability and increase physical activity levels in the area” Speaking at the official launch of the MY Bike Club and MY Adventure.

Young people, members of the public, staff and volunteers from other organisations all packed into the Klub to find out more about the programme of activities Muirhouse Youth Development Group is now able to offer

The afternoon kicked off with everyone coming down to The Klub in Muirhouse shopping centre where they were welcomed by staff and volunteers from MYDG.  Amy Hickman, Bike Club officer, welcomed everybody to The Klub. Jonny Kinross, MYDG development worker, gave an overview of the two projects.

Bike Club funding has been used to become a City & Guilds accredited centre delivering bike maintenance courses to young people. Young people will also be trained up to deliver Scottish Cycle training and GoMountain Bike courses. This will allow MY Adventure to deliver a variety of outdoors activities to groups across Edinburgh, including cycling activities and Dr Bike surgeries.

Councillor Cammy Day attended to show his support for this project.  He finished proceedings by officially opening the workshop and congratulating MYDG on becoming the first Bike Club in Edinburgh, and the first organisation to deliver the City & Guilds qualification in the city!

Young people and visitors were invited to have a look around the new workshop and to have a go on their obstacle course. Everyone admired the new tool boards and fetching Bike Club overalls purchased through Bike Club funding.  They also had Bike Mechanics on hand to fix any bikes in need of some TLC.  All in all a pretty good afternoon, well done to everybody at MYDG!

Amy added “Muirhouse is showing Edinburgh the way forward by becoming the first project in the capital to join this UK-wide initiative. The new Bike Club project will play a key role in the regeneration of Muirhouse by providing local children and young adults with skills and qualifications for the workplace and by switching them on to learning.”

Amy Hickman and Cammy Day look on as Bike mechanic gets to work. Picture: Amy Hickman

“Through the project, young people from Muirhouse will be trained to deliver bike maintenance, Scottish Cycle training and GoMountain Bike Skills. Once qualified, they will go on to deliver bike safety courses and GoMountain Bike Courses to primary and secondary school pupils. The project also lets young people contribute to the local community.”

“Muirhouse Youth Development Group is working with Bike Club,ActiveSchoolsand Muirhouse Youth Adventure to roll out this programme. Bike Club is a UK-wide organisation that offers grants and expert support to youth clubs, schools and other groups to promote health and learning among 10 to 20 year olds. It is operated by a consortium of three charities: UK Youth, ContinYou and CTC – The UK’s National Cyclists’ Organisation, with Youth Scotland as a development partner. Bike Club is funded by the ASDA foundation.”

If you would like more information please contact MYDG on 332 3356

Well done to all at MYDG

Councillor Cammy Day with Bike Club Officer Amy Hickman and MYDG Youth Worker Peter Airlie. Picture: Amy Hickman