Youngsters are urged to share their experiences by youth charity (Swindon Advertiser).

Youngsters are urged to share their experiences by youth charity

6:30pm Thursday 8th November 2012 in News By Scott D'Arcy

 

Youth Life Project have launched a Youth Stories Project. From left, are Danielle Brown, Shakira West-Moreland and Nicola Johnson

A YOUTH charity is launching a new project to get young people to tell their stories in a bid to engage with the community.
The Youth Life Project, which was launched in the wake of the riots in London last year, has teamed up with youth website Fixers UK for a project called My Story.
It follows the success of a campaign the Swindon-based charity ran called Youth Stories as a way to provide a channel through which young people can communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

The charity’s founder, Danielle Brown, said the scheme was designed to show what the world is like through the eyes of young people and the ultimate goal was to produce a book of short stories.
She said: “Taking the campaign further with the My Story project, our goal is to put together a book of the stories told, not only young people, but by people of all ages, as we believe childhood experiences can still have an effect on your adult life.
“With its many unique and wide ranging stories it is hoped the book will invoke a range of emotions for the reader.
“But, most of all, we hope this book can make a difference in at least one person’s life.
“It could encourage others to speak out, tell their story, it could bring a sense of empathy to a reader who hasn't been through such experiences in their lives, and it could help bridge the gap between the youth and the old.

“We want this book to have a positive effect in many ways and on many lives and people have the chance to be a part of that.

“Your story can be told in way of a letter, a short story, an artist’s impression, a case study, newspaper article, a comic strip, or a poem -however you best express your feelings, but it must be true.”
Meanwhile, The Youth Life Project is looking for people to run workshops for young people on creatively expressing themselves and are asking musicians, artists, writers and dancers get in touch.
The day of free workshops, including art, street art, writing, music, beauty and more will take place on December 1.
There will also be opportunities for work to be published within a book with help from Fixers. Email nicola@fixers.org.uk.
Email danielletylp@gmail.com with a story or for further information on the project.

Woman Who Died In London Marathon, Was Raising Money In Memory Of Dead Brother

 

Claire Squires was running for her dead brother.

 

Claire Squires was running for her dead brother

Claire Squires, the runner who collapsed and died during the London Marathon, was competing to raise money for the Samaritans in memory of her brother, who died from a drugs overdose, friends and family have said.
Her brother Grant Squires, who suffered from depression after a car accident in which his girlfriend died, is reported to have died after taking an overdose drugs in 2001.
Claire's brother was just 25 when he ended his life.
A friend of the family told the Daily Mail: "To lose one child is just terrible, but to lose another – it’s a nightmare. They are a lovely family, and all the siblings were really close, so it was awful for them when Grant died. Now to lose Claire as well, it is just awful."
Donations have been pouring in for the 30-year-old's chosen charity since her death. By Tuesday morning the account had raised almost £300,000 for charity.
Squires' mother, a care home manager, volunteered for the Samaritans for 24 years, according to The Telegraph.
"I'm running the london marathon for Samaritans because they continuously support others" Squires Just Giving page declared.
"It was just going to be for fun. but its a fab opportunity to raise money for my charity the Samaritans if everyone i know could donate £5.00 that would be a great help and change lives." she wrote.
Squires, from North Kilworth in Leicestershire, fell to the ground as she made her way along Birdcage Walk, near St James' Park, on the final stretch of 26.2 mile course.
Tests to establish her cause of death are expected to take place in the coming days. She is the 10th person to die taking part in the London Marathon since it started in 1981.
Close friend Nicola Short paid tribute to Squires describing her as an "inspiration" who brought laughter and love to everyone's life.
The pair climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for the RAF Association last year, raising £1,500 for the charity.
Paying tribute on the association's website, Short said: "Claire is an inspiration to us all. She brought laughter and love to everyone's life. She will be sorely missed by all.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time."
In a statement on its website, the association, which works to support serving and former RAF personnel and their families, said: "It is with great sadness that the RAF Association has heard of the tragic death of Claire Squires, 30, following the London Marathon on Sunday.
"Claire was a wonderfully vibrant and energetic person, who was a keen charity supporter and loved by all who knew her. Claire's efforts in support of the RAF Association helped to raise hundreds of pounds for our charity and that is something for which we will always be grateful.
"In 2010 she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and also took part in other fundraising events in support of the RAF Family in recent years."
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of Samaritans, said the organisation was deeply saddened at news of her death.
She said: "We are devastated following the tragic death of one of our marathon runners and are supporting the family through this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew her.
"We appreciate all that our marathon runners do; it is with their support, commitment and fundraising efforts that that we are able to offer our vital service for people with nowhere else to turn." the 26.2 mile course. She was given medical attention by paramedics but died at the scene.

reposted from- The Huffington Post