Philanthropic funding from the Amanda Flynn Foundation will allow YFS’ The CLUB program to be delivered in three more schools across Logan, until 30th June 2017.
The CLUB (Communication, Learning, Understanding, and Belonging) works closely with vulnerable school children in Logan helping them to improve their mental health and wellbeing and develop their social and emotional skills.
It currently operates in five local primary schools: Eagleby, Harris Field, Woodridge North, Kingston and Browns Plains. These schools are funded through The Salvation Army, Communities for Children Logan.
Thanks to the Foundation’s grant, school term 3 started with The CLUB operating in new schools including Logan Village, Marsden and Waterford West State Schools.
The CLUB started four years ago; sees 280 children per year and so far over 1000 children have participated in it.
Michael Carter, The CLUB’s program manager, said YFS wanted to extend it to other schools because of the need in Logan schools.
“It’s important to help young children to develop socially, learn about whom they are and how they relate and connect with others, whether it’s their peers or their family. The program gives them some tools to use not just now, but later on in life as well,” Mr Carter said.
“These are basically tools around being able to manage their internal world, their emotions and their thoughts. Children are never too young to start learning about who they are,” he added.
The CLUB usually runs an eight week Little Steps program for students in Prep to Year 3, and an eight week CLUB program for students in Years 4 to 6.
Each program works with groups of maximum eight children improving their ability to manage emotions and social conflict within a group environment.
“We will continue to deliver the same program. We will have another Children‘s Group Specialist and we will work with 16 children in each school, each term,” Mr Carter said.
The CLUB is closely aligned with Logan City Council’s Logan Together Project which aims to create the best life opportunities for every child in Logan.
It uses different delivery methods such as games, songs, group talks and stories to help young at risk children to:
- build their communication skills
- understand and manage feelings like anger, worries, fears, anxieties and stresses
- improve their self-esteem
- respect diversity
- respond to bullying
- build healthy relationships