Junction Box is an initiative aimed at,

'Targeting and engaging disaffected young people in interactive educational programmes designed to meet their needs, circumstances and requirements for a successful transition into adult life' The Project accepts young people who are in year 11 that have been referred to us by three local Secondary Schools (Thomas Hepburn Community Comprehensive, Heworth Grange & St Edmund Campion R.C), who live in the East Gateshead area and who are experiencing difficulites in getting to and staying at school. The programme first began in September 1998 and has consistently developed and responded to individuals and group circumstances. The success of the Junction Box is firmly based within the concept of building on good practice. Offering and encouraging the 'trying out' of new experiences and evaluating their impact has been the rational behind the Project. Since 1998 there have been a number of components to the Junction Box programme. These have included:

Numeracy & Literacy leading to achievement tests. 20 sessions based around Contemporary issues presently affecting young people. Arts Development Work. Drama work. Residential experiences. International work. Safe driving course. Work experience. Building up a 'mentor' relationship. Information Technology. Individual accreditation for particular pieces of personal work. British Sign Language. Activities which have the demonstration of 13 Core skills as outcomes. The programme timetable runs alongside that of the School academic year and is designed to support and enable young people to sustain their lifelong learning opportunites. It is envisioned that this approach to alternative methods of learning and education can better equip young people to take up further learning/employment opportunities and promote a successful transition into adult life.

Junction Box 2004 consists of eight young people, 2 lasses and 6 lads, who have participated in numerous activities since September, including issue-based sessions, pre-vocational sessions (run by Connexions),physical activities (facilitated by NACRO), outdoor activities (facilitated by WinG and NACRO)a two day residential (facilitated by WinG), sessions facilitated by Northern Architects, craft sessions,literacy and numeracy sessions culmination in AQA Basic Skill Achievement Tests. They also went go-karting twice and are undertaking a Keyfund application to fund futher fun activities.

After Christmas Junction Box will embark on the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, more work with NACRO, work with Gateshead's Soundroom and some science sessions over at the Centre for Life as well as continuing with their numeracy and literacy work.

My name is Jimmy Allan.

I live in Felling.

I enjoy playing football.

I came to Junction Box because I didn't go to school.

The best bit about Junction box is a tab break.

The worst bit about Junction Box is doing work.

When I leave Junction box I want to be a mechanic.

My name is Tony Graham.

I live in the Old Fold.

I enjoy riding bikes.

I came to Junction Box because I stopped going to school.

The best bit about going to Junction Box is doing the activities.

The worst bit about Junction Box is tidying up.

My name is Robert Tuck.

I live in Felling.

I enjoy Mac d.

I came to Junction Box because I didn't go to school.

The best bit about Junction Box is tab break.

The worst bit of Junction Box is doing work.

My name is Edward Harper.

I live in Felling.

I came to Junction Box because I stopped going to school.

The best bit about Junction Box is doing activities.

The worst bit about Junction Box is cleaning up.

When I leave Junction Box I want to go for a job.

My name is Mandy.

I live in Sheriff Hill.

I enjoy loads of stuff.

I came to Junction Box because I never went to school.

The best bit about Junction Box is most of it.

The worst bit of Junction Box is the arguing.

When I leave Junction Box I want to be a nurse.

My name is Gary.

I live at the Old Fold.

I came to Junction Box because I stopped going to school.

The best bit about Junction Box is the tab break and the activities.

The worst thing about Junction Box is tidying up.

When I leave Junction Box I want to be a joiner.

We do maths on a Monday. We have done adds and take away. We do maths in Junction Box. The maths at Junction Box is too easy. We do maths with Linda.

JUNCTION BOX 1-2-1. The Junction Box 1- 2-1 is when the workers keep 1 of us behind on different days and talk to us about what we want to do when we leave and throughout the course. At the end of the session we make a learning contract. Careers 1-2-1 is when Derek Thornton (Connexions) comes to talk to us 1 at a time. We talk about what we want to do when we leave and if we need help.

Web Work: When we are on the computers we make our own Website called Streets Ahead.co.uk We tell people who are reading it what Streets Ahead is like and we are going to put some photos on from Junction Box on the website.

NACRO is an organisation that works with young people and does activities. NACRO organises trips for young people. Shelly and Adrian come and organise trips and take people out. We have already played football at Gateshead Stadium and we are hoping to do more. I would like to go Mountain Biking.

CONNEXIONS

We go to Connexions in Gateshead every week. We play pool and do different activities like card games and speaking and listening. Last time we were talking about how we felt in the group at Junction Box.