Introducing the New Life Project

The New Life Project for young mothers aged 16 - 25 has been up and running since July 2008. Courses started full-time in September 2008. The project is split into 3 sections, Strand 1, Strand 2 and Strand 3.

I have had a fantastic time getting to know the team and getting to grips with my job as Recruitment and Support Officer. My role in the New Life Project is to organise the timetable, recruitment and inductions, and to support the women through their learning journey.

The course runs for 3 days per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10:15am and 3:00pm. The course is designed to give the young mothers 'time-out' for their own personal development, and opportunities for them to grow as a parent. We provide a creche whilst the young women are attending their classes.

The project includes: 10-week sessions of IT, health and fitness, cookery and digital photography. Personal development and confidence building is taught through film-making. The women are working towards producing a film that will be shown in January 2009 at the Women's Workshop for the new recruits onto the course.

In Digital Photography the group learnt how to take good photos and were let loose with the cameras. They had great fun taking pictures of Cardiff Bay and their children. They learnt how to edit and print their pictures. They have their own memory stick to encourage them to keep snapping away to record their time here.

Cookery is fun as each week the group prepare and cook a meal for themselves and their children - usually there is some left for me too! The lunchtime is a great time for the group to relax together and get to know each other personally as well as helping their children learn good eating habits.

Other sessions have included activities designed to enhance children's language and skills; creative play and music and movement.

In January 2009 this group moved on to the volunteering strand of the project and a new group started. We wish them good luck for their progress.

Lindsay Jackson, Recruitment & Support Officer, NewLife Project.