By Pippa Gregory – GFS Great Yarmouth Young Womens Development Worker
Armed with banners, leaflets and a smile on their faces, GFS Great Yarmouth attended Lowestoft College’s Health and Wellbeing Event.
The event, held on 15th March, was an opportunity for the College’s students to explore the support networks available to young people in the Norfolk and Suffolk area. Alongside organisations such as the Terrance Higgins Trust, Norfolk LGBT + Project, Youth Service and Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind, our vibrant stand took pride of place in the College’s Learning Resource Centre.
It was a great opportunity to reach 150+ young people and promote the work GFS is doing in the area. With ‘health and wellbeing’ as the day’s theme, we spoke with the students about confidence, self-esteem and resilience as well as their contributing factors; self-awareness and how to stay safe as they enter into adult relationships. These were the ‘hot topics’ amongst these 16-19 year olds, all of whom are in the process of kick starting their adult lives – an exciting, yet nerve-racking experience!
Our interactive approach to the event drew in the crowds and got them all talking about their own health and wellbeing and what they are doing to safe guard it as they hit their late teens.
There was a fantastic buzz around the stand with students feeding back that we were “the best stand there!” and many others showing great interest in our ‘Butterfly Effect’ projects– always lovey to hear! Not only were the students great to work with, but it was a chance to speak with other agencies and organisations and find new ways to promote GFS Great Yarmouth’s work.
In the coming months, Lowestoft College will be joining forces with Great Yarmouth College to become East Coast College which will be a great opportunity for GFS Great Yarmouth to reach more young women. On top of this, GFS Great Yarmouth has been invited to attend two upcoming events in the community. We’re looking forward to spreading the word about what GFS Great Yarmouth Project has to offer.