Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, COVO has been training young people aged 11 to 21 in oral history techniques, photography and filmmaking. So far we have interviewed local residents and market traders, including local author Stephen Bourne, about their memories of growing up in Peckham and how it has changed over time. The project will culminate with an exhibition organised by the young people in the Autumn. Watch this space!

"I learned that when you are interviewing someone you have to make the questions as open as possible so as to allow the interviewee to speak as much as possible. I also got to know the family history of the father of one of the young people in the project and how they moved to Peckham from Birmingham and before that from Kashmir".

15year old student

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COVO has been commissioned to work in 4 pupil referral units in Colchester, training teachers in effective ways of engaging vulnerable young people and developing together a child-centred curriculum that is based on the young people’s complex needs.

"I have learned that through COVO activities students were able to do more in terms of focusing on the task, working as a team and taking turns. As a consequence my expectation about what children can do has increased." Teacher

"I have started to consult students before planning a lesson and to incorporate their suggestions into the lesson plan". Teacher

"Working with COVO has helped me understand that it is not just what we teach young people that is important but it’s how we help them to reflect on their learning". Teacher

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COVO has been working with a group of Year 9 girls at risk of NEET for the past two years. The programme involves delivering an alternative curriculum in core subjects (English & Maths) with a strong focus on creative activities that develop student's social and emotional skills.

"We did activities relating to life skills and had fun. The adults believed in me. The training has developed my skills in dealing with problems and I feel more confident now." Year 9 Student

"My behaviour was really poor at first. I learned to open up more and communicate with others and that if I put my mind to it I can achieve good results." Year 9 Student

"COVO's approach to the often complex issue of working with marginalized young people has led to innovative solutions and insights into causes of disengagement." Hugh Stultz, Southwark Children's Services

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Working with a group of 20 children at risk of exclusion, this project focuses on the transition from primary to secondary school. The children have been exploring what transition means to them, asking their parents about their experiences of schooling and their peers about their feelings of moving on. The groups have chosen music and movement based activities to explore the themes of transition and change and have gone on outings to Greenwich Park and the Observatory as part of the programme. They will share their learning outcomes to the school in end of project presentations. The project has been running for three years funded by the London Youth Offer (terminating its funding stream in April 2011) and is currently one of COVO's funding priorities.

"I learnt that I am not the only one to be worried about going to secondary school. I used to feel anxious but and now I feel excited about changing school." Year 6 student

"The sessions have helped me to understand the difficulties I have with behaviour back in class." Year 7

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COVO first delivered a play project with children and staff at Goodrich in 2007. The focus of the work consisted in introducing team games and activities at lunchtime led by trained children and staff, and developing a framework based on communicating difficulties and resolving them as they emerge. COVO is now back in the school training new members of staff and groups of children in play activities and reflective behaviour practices, supporting the school to be even more inventive at playtime!

"Children say we (play supporters) have made a big difference in the playground."
Year 5

"Since this student was chosen to do COVO training I've noticed he is really growing in confidence and is really proud of what he is doing." Teacher of Year 5 student with anger and emotional difficulties.

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