#reloadnorthants

We are pleased to be a part of the #reloadnorthants program, offering children across Northamptonshire the opportunity to come to our centre in Northampton and participate in the adventures of Percy the Owl. The holiday activity fund is a government funded program that supports children who receive free school meals in the school holidays. Its aims are to provide engaging activities linked to food, wellbeing, and encouraging children to be more active and to support them in wider educational activities.

We can’t wait to welcome children next week and will keep you posted about the things that we get up to during the course of the week.

Easter Holiday Activity Club

This Easter Holiday we are excited to be offering something different to some lucky primary age children in Northants. We will be partnering up with our friends Wild for Life to offer a 4-day activity adventure at our beautiful site in Walgrave – Little Acorn Farm.

The children will embark on a journey led by Percy the Owl and discover his life and world at Little Acorn. They will connect up with nature, the animals at the farm and their wild companions. They will have the chance to care for the residents at the farm and learn about their lifestyles and what they need to grow and thrive.

We will be cooking, crafting, tracking and foraging and generally exploring and discovering nature and the outdoors and of course there will be horses too!

What the children don’t realise is that they will be learning about themselves. Problem solving, building confidence and developing lots of new skills.

Most of all, we will be having fun, enjoying some space, fresh air and the chance to learn more about what the world around us has to offer.

***Covid Procedure in Place***

We have 17 acres of secure open countryside and private woodland at Little Acorn Farm so the children will be outside for most of the time. We do have separate well ventilated indoor space and a large outdoor bell tent where the sides can be removed too in the event of inclement weather.

If you are interested in any of our future holiday activity events through the summer, then please contact info@theseedsofchange.co.uk

 

Lockdown feedback from learners

Recently we’ve been collecting some feedback from learners about their Covid support from The Seeds of Change over the past few weeks. This was to gauge what we had done well and the benefits that our learners felt and also what we could have done better. As much as we can tell you about our work in our words, we think that the learners say it best themselves…

What has made you attend TSOC during lockdown?

“To become friends with the people and the horses so that they don’t feel lonely and so that I don’t feel lonely.”

What has been most helpful for you when attending TSOC?

“Feeding the sheep and health checking the chickens. It makes me feel happy to know that they are all ok and happy and have a good time here too. I don’t think they get as much attention as the horses so I want them to feel equal and have the same amount of love.”

What have you gained from attending TSOC?

“Family and friends in the animals and coach.”

“I have gained happiness every time I come here because I love all of the things that we do.”

What else could we do to support you more over the last few months?

“No. I think you have done enough. I think you always try and give me lots of support, this always makes me feel happy.”

Feedback from learners attending during lockdown:

“It’s been good to escape home.”

“I feel lucky to still be coming.”

“Pleased to get out the care home and have seen my friends and Tommy.”

“Yeah it’s been alright.”

Feedback on attendance at TSOC during lockdown:

“I’ve missed being here.”

“I was really bored in half-term, coming here gives me something to focus on.”

What can each of us do to protect children?

Last week I was fortunate enough to be a part of the VERU Conference (Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit) focusing on Exploitation through the lens of parents.

Tough subject. But a key message from one of the first speakers, Graham Goulden, was around the role of communities in addressing this problem.

Perhaps most of us are fortunate to feel safe in our homes and our communities, hopefully most of us will not have been the victims of violent crime and therefore our awareness of it is removed from our conscious thoughts.

However, some of us will have witnessed or experienced some form of aggression, either passive aggression or physical aggression and at that point we have a choice. A choice to stand up or to pass by and not to get involved.

Violence and exploitation does not start with gangs, knives and drugs. It does not suddenly appear during the teenage years out of nowhere. Perpetrators of violence and exploitation are not just hooded youths, they can be seemingly respectable and responsible adults who hold down good jobs and live in nice neighbourhoods. You see, those who violate or exploit others have often been allowed to develop and refine their skills over years.

Frequently, victims and perpetrators are the same people. Physical violence usually starts with words; with learned behaviours and attitudes formed in childhood. School bullying, cruelty to others and unkind words and actions; manipulative behaviour and the desire to coerce or control others.

Spotting the red flags early on can make the difference between someone getting the right help and someone going on to commit more serious acts of violence or exploitation later in life.

At The Seeds of Change we see victims and perpetrators. Both need our support. Getting to the root of the emotion behind the behaviour can help to unlock the solution and enable either party to shift their position. The perpetrator to take ownership for their emotions and express them in a more appropriate way and the victim to build confidence and self-esteem, empowering them to feel that they have a choice and can make a change.

In our communities, though, we can all make a difference. As Graham said: “We promote what we permit.” If we do nothing when we observe these behaviours we are saying that it is ok for people to behave or be treated in this way.

No victim is to blame. As adults let’s not be bystanders, let’s promote positive and respectful treatment of each other in our actions and model these behaviours in our children.

For more information about the signs of exploitation and what you can do if you suspect someone is being exploited, visit the VERU website for lots of useful information and contact details of who to reach out to and what you can do:

https://bedsveru.org/veru-village/frontline/

Eating Disorders

A part of our ongoing Safeguarding Training we focus on different areas of training and development with our team each half term. We select the areas to prioritise by referring to our ‘Cause for Concern Tracker’ where keep to record any areas of concern with young people who attend our provision.

This is all in addition to the statutory Safeguarding that we all continue to comply with and also additional training offered by other support agencies around young people.

In January we focused on eating disorders and how to spot the signs of these.

Eating disorders can start for a number of reasons. Often underlying anxiety or a fear or concern about not fitting in can be the driver for these conditions manifesting themselves. If they are left unnoticed or unsupported, they can lead to more serious problems. Therefore, it is important to identify concerns early on and ensure a young person receives help.

As a provider we are often asked to support young people as a part of their recovery, or on occasions a young person who is attending our provision may display signs of an eating disorder. It is important to be aware of the signs.

The TSOC approach can form an important part of a recovery programme and offer help to address the underlying reasons for this developing too. We embed physical and emotional health in all of the sessions that we hold because it is important for all of our clients to be aware of this.

Horses enable us to do this easily and making the comparisons with how their diet and exercise affect their moods and behaviours enables us to have those conversations in a very unobtrusive way.

If you are concerned that a child you know may have an eating disorder, here are a few places where you can get help and advice in the first instance:

Young Minds: Eating problems

National Eating Disorders Association: Warning Signs and Symptoms

Beat Eating Disorders: Downloads & Resources

Community Children’s Health Partnership: Eating Disorders

NHS: Bedfordshire and Luton Community Eating Disorders Service for Children & Young People

Continually adapting to students needs

One of the benefits of working with The Seeds of Change is our ability to be agile in the way that we work and support learners in their work away from our sessions. One of the issues that our students can face is coping back in a more traditional learning environment, in the case of one learner a mainstream school. We practice strategies and scenarios during session time that learners can use away from us but if we can do more to facilitate this process we will always do so.

This week one of the teachers at a learners school has reached out to us to enquire if there are any tips or strategies that she can use to support our learner in school. During the learners session with us we were able to discuss how he was feeling and he was able to share that his frustration was he was frightened about “making mistakes”. When discussing this with his coach they discussed some exercises that he had done previously with the horses that had helped him to feel calm and how those exercises could be adapted back in school to help him to feel more comfortable. In addition they practiced the breathing exercise which we often use with students to reduce anxiety and promote feelings of calm.

Together they were able to prepare a “feelings volcano” that included quotes about the importance and positive aspects of making mistakes. He picked these himself and together the coach and student made a step by step guide that his TA can work through with him in school to continue the experience and build upon the positive steps that he had started during his session this week.

When he returns next week we will be able to review how that has gone for him and which parts he found to be helpful.

Our work with schools and a joined up approach really helps to support our learners in a more comprehensive way and for the schools who commission us to share in some of the strategies that young people find work for them back in school. We will look forward to hearing how this young person has coped when he attends his session next week!

January Update

January Lockdown Update

As we head into another COVID-enforced national lockdown, we are still open for all learners and new referrals. Since March 2020 The Seeds of Change have continued to welcome those learners who were deemed “vulnerable” by the government and have continued to work with commissioning bodies to enable continuation of education in our settings  whilst following guidelines issued by the government.

Please see our updated COVID-19 Protocol and Arrangements documents for more detailed information.

Please contact us if you have any questions related to this update:

t: 01234 881871
e: enquiries@theseedsofchange.co.uk

Virtual Equine Therapy

Into the Field offers learners the unique opportunity to take our horses into their home, school or family environment at a time and in a way that keeps them in control of every aspect of this totally bespoke programme.

If you would like to book a virtual taster session to discuss how we can help please get in touch:

t: 01234 881871
e: enquiries@theseedsofchange.co.uk

Or download our Into the Field brochure for more information about the programme.

Covid-19 Protocol for The Seeds of Change [Jan 2021 Update]

Since 23rd March 2020 The Seeds of Change UK Ltd have continued to welcome those learners who were deemed “vulnerable” by the government and have continued to work with commissioning bodies to enable continuation of education in our settings  whilst following guidelines issued by the government in their Guidance for Educational Settings on 22nd March 2020.

In September the government compiled guidance for educational establishments to support ALL children to return to education and this policy is covered by the guidance for the full opening of schools document https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak?utm_source=28%20October%202020%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19

This document is updated regularly and will be following a return to full lockdown from January 5th, 2021.

This is the principle documentation that we refer to for direction, but in addition we have taken additional steps as we have seen fit, following our own risk assessment and to meet the unique requirements of our own educational establishment and to offer maximum protection to our learners and our staff.

In the event that there is an outbreak of COVID-19 or any of our staff or pupils are suspected of contracting the disease then we will follow the guidance from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928841/Symptomatic_children_action_list_SCHOOLS_FINAL_22-10.pdf

Or the additional requirements of any local authority that we currently work for wherever possible.

Control Measures

We have and continue to maintain social distancing to ensure our workplaces are as safe as possible for all of our learners and our coaching team and during this time have revised and amended the following procedures and work practices.

  • Our Risk Assessment for both delivery sites
  • Our Safeguarding Policy
  • Our Learner Induction Procedures
  • Our Student Partnership Agreement
  • Our Curriculum & Support Offer
  • Our working arrangements, timetables and daily structure

Working Environment

We are fortunate that much of our work is outside and therefore supports the 1m social distancing guide. We are re-arranging the layout of our internal spaces to adhere to the at least 1m working rule and as a result of this will be working with smaller group sizes, being 1 coach to 3 learners rather than 2 coaches and 6 learners.

This change will ensure that we can reduce the social contact but also work in multiple locations on site rather than in 1 larger group. This will mean workstations and zones where learners will still have access to all resources but will move around during the day.

Arrival on Site:

We have strict drop off and pick up points the will be marshalled during arrival and collection times and will ensure that congestion at key times is minimised. Learners will be escorted onto site by coaches and taken straight to a hand wash station where they will be asked to confirm that they are in good health and that they are not aware of anyone else in their home displaying signs of Covid 19.

We take the temperature of all staff and learners attending site with a non-contact thermometer and if their temperature exceeds 37.8 C they will be asked to leave the site.

Everyone will be asked if they or anyone in their household is exhibiting signs of COVID-19 and if so they will be asked to leave site.

All temperatures are recorded daily.

When testing equipment becomes available, we may also ask for a test to be carried out.

PPE:

Regular hand washing will take place throughout the day and antibacterial gel will be used between tasks when hand washing is not possible. Full details of our health and safety procedures can be found in our Risk Assessment Document attached to this Protocol.

There will be a range of PPE for learners and coaches to make use of if they feel more comfortable with using this. This will include masks and gloves which can be worn, but should not be used in place of hand washing or other general hygiene procedures. At the end of the day these should be disposed of or bagged for cleaning / disposal as appropriate.

All staff and learners will be asked to wear face coverings when inside or in communal areas.

Induction to Site & Student Partnership Agreement

There will be a re-induction to site for all learners the first time they return to the centre or for new learners on their first visit. This will include a briefing about the ways that we propose to keep everyone safe, followed by a request for them to read and sign a Student Partnership Agreement.

There is a copy of this agreement attached to this document. It is in addition to the document that we ask all students to sign when they begin a programme with us, but the new section relates specifically to COVID-19.

Students who do not observe the 1m rule will be asked to leave the site if they represent a risk to others. We will take any breech seriously and will contact referral bodies to collect the young person from site if this situation occurs.

We will take similar action should other procedures not be followed relating to student and employee safety.

Curriculum and Support

Since September we have regularly monitored the adherence to COVID-19 procedures and reviewed them as necessary. This has resulted in us hiring an additional person to ensure deep cleans at the end of a coaching day in Northampton where learner numbers are higher.

We continue:

  • To support the wellbeing of our work force
  • To focus upon the issues that many learners may present with upon returning to an educational environment.

Primarily this is the therapeutic support that many are likely to require having been absent from structured learning for a period of time. The trauma associated with many of the issues that COVID-19 may have had upon them and the preparation for emerging out of lockdown.

Whilst it is very much our intention to return those who are studying towards a qualification to some form of routine that was present before, we primarily want to support mental and physical wellbeing and therefore priority will be given to offering this in the first instance.

As we head into another lockdown we will be communicating with schools and external referral bodies to notify them that it will be our intention to remain open and to offer a variety of external outreach services to maintain contact with those learners who cannot get to us in person.

Our Commitment

We will ensure that our learners return to an environment that supports them emotionally to come to terms with their experiences & to reflect upon them. We will help them to develop strategies to come to terms with these experiences and then to move forwards out of lockdown and to emerge in a stronger place, better able to cope with the world around them.

At The Seeds of Change our ethos has always been to focus on the learners and to help them to overcome their barriers to learning and progress in their lives in the future. We are fortunate to have the best co-coaches to enable us to do this – the HORSES.

Horses offer us a unique opportunity to work with young people to deliver learning that is transferable. At this time the horses once again will help all of us to emerge from this crisis better equipped and more resilient to face the world around us and we can all learn from their unique wisdom and calm.

For any questions or additional information around our COVID-19 Policies please contact:

The Seeds of Change

Unit 9, Manor Farm

Astwood

Beds MK16 9JS

TEL: 01234881871

COVID 19 arrangements for closure and safeguarding young people [Jan 2021 Update]

From 5th January 2021 parents were asked to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and for schools to remain open only for those children of workers critical to the COVID-19 response – who absolutely need to attend.

Educational providers were asked to provide care for a limited number of children – children who are vulnerable, and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

Vulnerable young people

Vulnerable young people include those who have a social worker and those children and young people up to the age of 25 with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

Those who have a social worker include children who have a Child Protection Plan and those who are looked after by the Local Authority. A child may also be deemed to be vulnerable if they have been assessed as being in need or otherwise meet the definition in section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

Those with an EHC plan will be risk-assessed in consultation with the Local Authority and parents, to decide whether they need to continue to be offered a school or college place in order to meet their needs, or whether they can safely have their needs met at home. This could include, if necessary, carers, therapists or clinicians visiting the home to provide any essential services. Many children and young people with EHC plans can safely remain at home.

The Seeds of Change will continue to work with and support social workers to help protect vulnerable children. This includes working with and supporting social workers, carers and the local authority. The lead people for this will be: Jemma Fuccillo and Rachel Wiles. In their absence Rachael Frossell and Katherine White.

There is an expectation that vulnerable children who have a social worker will attend an education setting, so long as they do not have underlying health conditions that put them at risk. In circumstances where a parent/carer does not want to bring their child to our setting, and their child is considered vulnerable, the social worker will explore the reasons for this directly with the parent and communicate this with The Seeds of Change in the normal way.

Where parents/cares are concerned about the risk of the child contracting COVID-19, The Seeds of Change or the social worker will talk through these anxieties with the parent/carer following the advice set out by Public Health England.

The Seeds of Change will encourage our vulnerable children and young people to attend their sessions, including remotely if needed.

Attendance monitoring

The Seeds of change will monitor attendance, communicate this with the Local authorities and education settings. Attendance for Luton Local Authority is through the mechanism of CPOMS.

In all circumstances where a vulnerable child does not attend their session, or discontinues, The Seeds of Change will notify the referring body or point of contact for the young person.

The optimal scenario is to have a trained DSL (or deputy) available on site. Where this is not the case a trained DSL (or deputy) will be available to be contacted via phone or online video – for example when working from home.

Where a trained DSL (or deputy) is not on site, a senior leader will assume responsibility for co-ordinating safeguarding on site.  This will be Lisa Hobbs. These staff members are also qualified to deputise having attended the Working Together Course and continued Safeguarding CPD.

This might include updating and managing access to child protection online management system, CPOMS and liaising with the offsite DSL (or deputy) and as required liaising with referring bodies.

The DSL will continue to engage with all referring bodies which can be done remotely.

Reporting a concern

Where coaches have a concern about a young person, they should continue to follow the process outlined in the Seeds of Change Safeguarding Policy, this includes making a report via CPOMS (only applies to ALPS learners) which can be done remotely.

In the unlikely event that a member of staff cannot access their CPOMS from home, they should email the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will ensure that the concern is received by the referring body. Coaches are reminded of the need to report any concern immediately and without delay.

Safeguarding Training and induction 

DSL training is very unlikely to take place whilst there remains a threat of the COVID-19 virus.

For the period COVID-19 measures are in place, a DSL (or deputy) who has been trained will continue to be classed as a trained DSL (or deputy) even if they miss their refresher training.

All existing coaches have had safeguarding training and have read part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (2019). The DSL will continue to communicate updates to the rest of the organisation.

Online safety 

The Seeds of Change will continue to provide a safe environment, including online. This includes a 15 minute remote coaching session – see Procedure for Remote coaching session. The Seeds of Change will share messages on its website and social media pages.

Supporting young people on site

The Seeds of Change is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all its students.  As an organisation we will continue to be a safe space for all young people to attend and flourish. The Seeds of Change will refer to the Government guidance for education and childcare settings on how to implement social distancing and continue to follow the advice from Public Health England on hand washing and other measures to limit the risk of spread of COVID-19.

Key Contacts:

Jemma Fuccillo- DSL

Rachel Wiles- Deputy SO

Rachael Frossell- Deputy SO

JOIN OUR TEAM – 1:1 Coach, Bedfordshire

Due to an increase in work, we are currently looking to recruit a 1-1 Coach to join our existing, hardworking team of educational equine coaches. The role involves delivering our programmes to vulnerable or challenging, disengaged young people, one to one and in groups, 4 days per week, term time only. The role will be based at our centres between Bedford and Luton.

Safeguarding is one of our key priorities and potential applicants should be fully aware of and compliant with Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation. It is our aim to provide an environment where young people feel safe and supported and are able to achieve their full potential.

ROLE

You will be responsible for coaching using our equine facilitated approach and by using The Seeds of Change structure and programme content.

Working with individuals in one to one sessions and groups, you will be responsible for coaching them towards a range of learning outcomes in a supported and empathetic way. Gaining the clients’ trust and working through a range of tasks and activities that will support the learner in developing skills that will help them in their everyday life.

THE INDIVIDUAL

We are looking for a self-aware individual, with a mature approach, who is easily able to relate to people of all ages through good inter-personal skills. This person will need to be empathetic and non-judgemental with a fundamental interest in building and developing skills and potential in others. The individual should have the ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Additionally, we are looking for someone who is passionate about working outside and understands the benefits of outdoor learning relating to physical and mental wellbeing.

This person will be required to occasionally travel to different sites and therefore it is essential to possess a car and a full driving license.

COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate should possess a good sound knowledge of handling and working around horses and have some experience of working within the education sector. Experience of working with vulnerable or challenging, disengaged young people would also be desirable, as well as counseling or mental health experience and work in an educational or classroom setting.

  • Empathetic coaching skills
  • Resilient, confident and enthusiastic
  • Good communication skills and be able to deliver coaching to meet all kinds of learning styles
  • Good life experience, and be accepting and non-judgemental towards others
  • Ability to interact and communicate with individuals at all ages and levels
  • Professional with high personal standards
  • Articulate with good literacy and numeracy skills
  • Shows initiative and can respond to change in a proactive and positive way
  • Good IT skills
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Practical, resourceful and love of the outdoors.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

  • Maths and English GCSE or equivalent

Desirable:

  • Counseling or youth work qualification
  • Teaching qualification

REMUNERATION AND OVERVIEW

The Seeds of Change are a progressive, forward thinking organisation who are an equal opportunities employer. A competitive salary will be offered to the right individual.

  • Job Type: Part time – Term time only (4 days)
  • Part-time hours: 18-24 per week
  • Salary: From £11ph
  • Application deadline: 04/01/2021
  • Expected start date: 24/01/2022

To apply, please email your current CV and a Covering Letter to enquiries@theseedsofchange.co.uk.  For more information about the role, call 01234 881871

COVID-19 considerations:
We are working to the government guidelines for educational settings and all possible precautions are being taken to protect staff and learners. A lot of our work is completed outside.