Best Practice Meeting for Youth Development Presentation by Chapter 2 Deirdre Mayo

Question?? Do too many cooks spoil the broth? Or Do many hands make light work?

History  Idea born at first Youth Best Practice Meeting – February 2007  Returned with idea to Chapter  New Chapter Youth Officer  Decided to give it a go

Background 18 CUs in Chapter 2 Not all Youth Officers present Returned to CU with idea Established enough buy in to proceed

1 st attempt All 18 credit unions to send 1 finalist to the final to represent their credit union Everyone to do their own promotion Application forms and posters available to each credit union All youth officers to help with the running and organising of the final

Success?? Yes and no Only 1 credit union held a heat, sending 5 acts to the final Everyone else who applied went straight to the final Total number of finalists – 21 Chapter youth quiz was the same weekend

Back to the drawing board  Called a youth officers’ meeting to discuss  Emphasised need to work together  Decided to - Have 4 – 5 heats - Centralize the promotions - Share the costs  Approached Chapter for Support

General agreement  4/5 heats to be held within the area, preferably in schools  Smaller sub committees  Each CU asked to contribute  Name that identified with CUs  Decided on CU Factor  Posters and application forms from CUs

Planning 4/5 Regional Heats Approached Schools Went to press - Application forms - Posters

Promoting the CU Factor Compile list of post primary school Targeted Youth clubs Sent Packs to all selected groups

Side-tracked??!! Bad News Need for positive reaction Charity CD CD Launched – Launch Party Cool FM DJ

Promotion Stand at local Shopping Centre Fund Raising for Cancer Research Promotional Leaflet Small cost, big impact

Sub Committees Summer 2008 Smaller Committees Organised –Heats –Judges –Comperes

September dawns  Target Schools  Credit Unions promote - Hand Deliveries - Post - Talk to Teacher  Waiting begins!  Finally applications begin to come in  Kettle’s boiled – flood of applications

The Heats Sub committees arrived at schools at 4pm along with the DJ. Contestants were invited to practice. DJ check that their backing track was working properly. Photos of contestants taken. A slide show was then produced of their photos. Backstage, balloons, lights etc were being positioned.

The Heats Rehearsals over Admission charge to cover costs Heat commences at 7.30 Singing Commences Judged on Set Criteria All contestants receive CU Voucher

Slideshow photos

Gift Certificate This voucher will be added to your account at your local Credit Union Business Name Chapter 2 Irish League of Credit Unions to £10.00 This certificate entitles Number Expires 30th April 2009 Authorized by For participation in the CU Factor 2008

Ballymena heat

THE FINAL  23 Acts in total - 4 from each heat - 7 in older age group  Booked hotel to seat 300  Ran out of space

The Final

The Winners

Another Charity CD Young people keen to record CD Shine a Light Charity 15 Acts Launch – 21 st March

The Future Planning has started Change age groups slightly Possibility NI Event After that, who knows?

What did we learn? Many hands do make light work Tremendous event to interest young people Try this in your chapter Happy to help in any way