Girls Talk

‘It’s about being young, female, Asian and living in east London... sharing experiences, knowledge, fears, aspirations, being happy, healthy and celebrating identity!

The Girls Talk programme has been delivered to young women within Tower Hamlets and Newham for seven years; supporting the physical and mental well being of young women whose cultural environment at home can be different to that which they encounter on a day to day basis. Through interactive groupwork, Girls Talk creates a supportive setting for young women to explore and find ways of dealing with the tensions they experience, addressing self esteem and confidence, education and communication skills. There are also a number of cultural and community restrictions which prevent young women from accessing support. Some of the issues covered in the project include cultural and religious issues, parental expectations, aspirations and decision making, puberty, self-harm, peer pressure, sexual health and drugs and alcohol.

Bright Sparks
Dare to be Different

Young people do not want to be judged about smoking. Neither do they want to be bombarded with images of diseased organs and messages about cancer. However, it is clear that the anti smoking message is not working with this age group and smoking remains not only an acceptable habit but in some cases a desirable one and a symbol of belonging, being an adult and acceptance.

Drugs and Alcohol Service for London (DASL) have been commissioned by Tower Hamlets PCT to run a pilot smoking cessation programme in schools. Three different programmes have been developed, which bring together elements of current best practice and are based on current research in smoking cessation, changing behaviours and harm reduction practices.

• Dare to be Different

Schools will have structured programmes and drop-ins, tailored for the smoking needs of all year groups in the school. Programmes will be relevant to the needs of young people living in Tower Hamlets, be broad and be open to understand why young people behave a particular way.

The drop-in will include time to explore the reasons for smoking and other issues which are relevant for the young person. The drop-ins will involve consultations about smoking as well as provide interactive learning and facts about the harmful effects of smoking.

• Girls Talk (about smoking)

Girls Talk (about smoking) will support the physical and emotional well-being of young  women, through interactive group work. A ten week programme where young women can learn about health as well as exploring coping mechanisms and how smoking fits in to the equation of coping with being young, female, ethnic and growing up in Tower Hamlets.

• Air Football Youth

AIR Football is an exciting new programme in London providing specialist five/seven/eleven-a-side football training for adults and young people with a desire to improve their quality of life and health and for young people who are engaged with anti-social behaviour, knife crime or addictive substances. It provides an opportunity to increase fitness, confidence, self-esteem, and uses team building skills to assist young people develop their goals. The football project will concentrate on the impact of smoking on health and work with young people in schools.

Find us on Facebook: Bright Sparks - Stop Smoking Project
Email us: brightsparks@dasl.org.uk
Call us: 020 7702 0002

 

Amali Project in Tower Hamlets works with:

• Families who have experienced domestic violence where the perpetrator is no longer in the family and

• Families who have experienced domestic violence where separation may not have occurred and reconciliation is being considered.

Objectives

• Educating children and young people for relationships by exploring non-violent relationships.
• Increase access for women and children to other community services .
• Work with women and children to develop their confidence, build self-esteem and improve mental well-being.
• To work with families to improve their lives by making informed changes to ensure their safety.
• Reduce violence and abuse within families by enabling and facilitating safe choices.

Services

• Risk assessments and safety planning
• Individual support and counselling
• Group work for children and their carers
• Play therapy for children
• Parenting programmes

• All referrals must be made on a DV1 Form obtainable from the project.
• Self referrals will be accepted as well as those from agency representatives.
• Families must reside in the Borough of Tower Hamlets

Amali Project
DASL
Ground Floor North
100 Christian Street
Whitechapel
London E1 1RS

Tel:020 7702 1990
Fax:020 7702 2227