Make a Connection to Exhibit at Education Show London 2003

Make a Connection is a global initiative that aims to help young people discover their value as individuals; find their place in both the community and society at large; understand others, and respect cultural diversity. At a practical level, it offers an invaluable resource for those teaching life skills to young people (aged 11 - 16). Make a Connection will be exhibiting at stand PT166 at the Education Show taking place from 25-27 September 2003 at London, Olympia.

Make a Connection is an initiative from the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and supported by Nokia. The Children and Youth Partnership Foundation (NCB) has developed and manages the programme in the UK. To date, over 2000 resources have been distributed and over 500 teachers trained to help young people develop key life skills.

The programme offers more than just a teaching resource, it also provides free teacher training, curriculum planning assistance, website resources, assessment and evaluation materials, and planning and support for community-based citizenship activities. As part of a new initiative, Make a Connection is working closely with schools to measure the impact of the programme.

Make a Connection supports and follows many relevant Government initiatives such as NHSS and PSHE teacher accreditation, with one of this year's main priorities being the new phase of the Key Stage 3 (KS3) Strategy to be introduced into schools by the Government in September 2003. Based on four principles: Expectations, Progression, Engagement and Transformation, the KS3 Strategy provides secondary and middle schools with an opportunity to build on the successes of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies in primary schools. Make a Connection supports this strategy by focusing on inclusion, active learning, assessment of pupils and use of a wide range of teaching strategies and techniques.

Finally, the programme recently added a 4 lesson module produced in partnership with the National Missing Persons Helpline (NMPH), which tackles the area of running away and going missing, with the aim to better equip young people so that running away becomes their last -- not first --option.