News
January 2010
We sadly had to say goobye to our fantastic Project Manager Kim at Christmas time. The young people and the staff are missing her greatly and we wish her the best in her new role.
December 09
Fancy dress Christmas party
December 09
We had our usual end of term trip and we went to planet ice in Cardiff for ice skating. A fabulous day was had by all.
March 09
A massive thank you and congratulations to all the staff, students, parents and freinds of the Smart Project for helping to raise an amazing £400 for Comic Relief!!!!! Over 3 days the students and staff took part in organised activities which included a funny film and pyjama day, leg waxing, fashion show, sweetcorn eating comp, bush tucker trial, yes/no pie in the face game, make up comp, talent comp and a 2 hour fancy dress sponsored walk along the coastal path. Thank you to all who took part and to those who donated money. A big thank you goes to Lindsey for helping the students organise and run all the activities!! Enjoy the photos!!
February 09
Well done to Patrick (Beefy) Duffy, Ben Davies, Dillon May and Rob Rees who last week completed the Phoenix Fire Course. Along with other students they attended the Llanelli fire station for a week where they learned how to work with hoses, ladders and breathing apperatus. They also passed their Heart Start resuscitation certificate. On Friday they took part in a passing out parade infront of friends, family and our staff and students. They showed us what they had learned and received their certificates from Llanelli's Town Mayor Hubert Hitchman. Ben also recieved a special award for Student of the week. Well done to you all!!
February 09
Last night Lindsey and Kim were at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen for the Duke Of Edinburgh Awards evening. In this current year Carmarthenshire young people achieved the most Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the whole of Wales, something we are proud to have contributed to. Three of our past students, Becca Dunne, Carly Maides and Benn Davies, and one of our current students, Patrick (Beefy) Duffy, attended the evening too and picked up their Bronze Awards. Jordan Flynn, Sophie Gabriel, Matthew Kirkham and Charles Freeman also achieved bronze with us last year but were unable to make the ceremony. Well done to all of them, and to our other students from last year who completed Duke of Edinburgh units.
Becca, Carly & Benn on stage Patrick (Beefy) on stage (4th from the left)
January 09 Junior sports leader award
Congratulations to our students who recently completed their Sports Leader Award. Six students spent a week learning how to coach younger pupils in indoor sports. They learned how to referee, organise sessions and about health and safety. For the last two days they took sessions with pupils from Burry Port Junior School, where they organised and run the sessions themselves. They all did very well and over the week gained alot of new skills and increased in confidence. Well done to Charlotte, Ben, Mikey, Robert, Dillon and Steven!
Charlotte Robert Steven Mikey
Dillon Ben
Christmas Party 08
Again this year we held our Christmas Party at Stamps. We had a lovely 2 course meal and many students and all of the staff dressed up in fancy dress. Well done to Karl for winning first prize in the fancy dress competition and to Kirsty and Charlotte for joint second. Also well done to Beefy for getting the most reward points for the term and to the green group for winning the points competition. Also well done to Beefy, Robert and Eddie for getting 100% attendance for the term.
Charlotte, Lindsey & Kirsty Karl & Lindsey The female staff The male staff
THE BOYS!! THE GIRLS!! Jock?? Sian having a boogy
Ice skating trip
Our end of term trip before Christmas was to Cardiff Ice Rink. We had a brilliant day and no one got seriously hurt! Well done to Gordon for getting all the way round the rink on his first attempt at skating. Nick, Ben and Karl managed to stay upright for the whole session, not so lucky were the rest who got cold and very wet every time they fell.
October 08
Each year The Prince's Trust celebrates the success of young people, xl advisors and Prince's Trust employees. This year we nominated one of last years students, Charles Freeman for the Educational Achiever of the Year Award. Also Kim was nominated by the xl Manager of Wales Gerry O'Sullivan for the Leadership Award. They were both shortlisted for the award which meant we would attend the awards ceremony in Cardiff City Hall on 29th October.
Charles was nominated because he hadn't attended school for 3 years before starting on the Smart Project. He had very low self esteem, no idea what the future held for him and didn't have any ambitition. He was referred onto the Project, where we as staff found him pleasant and helpful, but he struggled to make new friends and his attendance dropped to just one day a week. However since Chritsmas Charles made massive changes. He started attending the Project every day and formed strong bonds with the group. The Club took part in a three day camping trip, including watersports, and Charles had to overcome his fear of water. He did so well that he now attends a canoe club twice a week. We can't believe the dramatic changes we have seen in him since the start of the year.
Kim was nominated because she manages the Smart Project and puts huge amounts of effort into testing out different activities and asking young people what they think. It is this feedback which has formed the success of the Project. Many of the young people come onto this programme with a negative attitude and a lack of understanding as to why they have been referred. Kim is renowned for working with them by communicating openly and on their level. She gains their respect, and this mutual trust allows the young people to realise their full potential. Kim devised the Smart Project in 2002 and we are currently in our 7th academic year.
We attended the awards ceremony and it was a brilliant event to be a part of. We were over whelmed by the success of all of the nominees and we would like to congratulate all of them for their acheivements.
Unfortunatley Charles did not win the award, coming second in Wales, however we are immensely proud of the changes that he has made over this last year and for being shortlisted for the award. We are confident that he will continue to grow and mature into a fantasically successful young man.
Kim won her award for leadership and all the staff and young people both past and present would like to congratulate her and thank her for all of the hard work she has put in over the years. Well done Kim - you really deserve it!!!!
We are now waiting to hear whether Kim will be shortlisted from the 21 regional finalists to attend the UK finals in London in March, we'll keep you updated!!
(From left) Gerry, Sian, Lindsey, Charles, Kim and Amy Kim receiving her award with Carol Vorderman, Jonathan Hill and the sponser
Kim & Sian with Aled from Radio one Amy, Sian, Lindsey & Charles Amy, Charles, Kim & Lindsey