Refugee group achieves results in community outreach project
A refugee group from Iraq have successfully
completed a course on ‘Managing Behaviour’ in children and young
people as part of a community outreach project delivered by York St
John University.
A special ceremony was held at the University where participants
were awarded with completion certificates by Vice Chancellor
Professor David Fleming. The course was delivered over a two day
period and saw 13 men and women, from the Hull Gateway Protection
Programme, develop understanding behind different approaches to
positive behaviour management and offered guidelines on how to
respond to challenging behaviour and reward good behaviour in
children and young people.
The group, who previously sought refuge in troubled Syria,
arrived in the UK in November 2011. Originally from Iraq, the group
escaped the conflict in Syria as a result of an application by the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who deemed them to
be at risk of imprisonment, torture and death.
The Gateway Protection Programme is a
programme set up by the UK Government and the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees, aiming to identify some of the world’s
most vulnerable refugees in order to resettle them in the UK where
they can rebuild their lives in safety. Hull is the second location
in the Yorkshire and Humberside region to offer protection to
resettled refugees.
The Managing Behaviour course was delivered by
Katie Simpson, Deputy Head of External Relationships in the Faculty
of Education & Theology at York St John University.
She said:
“Community outreach work is of central
importance to the University, reflecting its aim to be inclusive
and accessible by engaging with under-represented groups in the
student population. The course delivered in Hull was a great
success, with all participants gaining vital skills to put into
practice in their care of children. It also raised aspirations for
many to continue with other educational opportunities.”
Course participant Noreek Yousif added:
“The course was very clear and well delivered;
introducing us to new methods of managing children, new rules to be
aware of and understanding a child’s point of view. I am looking
forward to investigating further courses to develop my knowledge
further.”
The course builds on earlier work by York St
John University, who previously delivered ‘Is higher education for
me?’ to a group of Gateway refugees from the Democratic Republic of
Congo who were resettled in Hull.
Picture shows: Refugee group at York St
John University with Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming (fifth
from left), Lynda Lo, Refugee Education Manager at Hull Gateway
Protection Programme (third from right), and Katie Simpson, Deputy
Head of External Relationships at York St John University (far
right).
For further information please contact Amy Hall, PR
& Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or E:
a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk
