DICE Futures Project
THE DICE Futures Project
Where it all started?
DICE started in partnership with volunteers in Community Associations way back in 2013-2014, when the communities realised that young people in Bloomfield, Breezemount, Clandeboye and Whitehill were being left behind and not provided with the safe spaces, support and resources they deserved. Anti-social behaviour was on the increase in communities and young people were becoming vulnerable and more and more disengaged. The DICE Project was created and with support from The National Lottery Fund Empowering Young People and now Community Fund, has grown from strength to strength.
How we work in 2024:
We are excited that the DICE project has received funding by The National Lottery Community Fund for the next 4 years. This will enable us to continue the valuable youth work within the areas we work in need. The DICE Futures Project aims to reach young people aged 10 - 15 years old across North Down but more specifically in Breezemount, Bloomfield, Clandeboye, Conlig and Whitehill. We currently run 5 weekly sessions from Monday to Friday with loads of different activities in the Youth Clubs we run, from learning all about yourself to some very exciting and always competitive games of rounders and dodgeball! We can’t forget the much-loved baking and cooking sessions which sometimes ends up just a little bit messy, but that’s all the fun of learning how to do it! From Art sessions to gaming, pool to darts, there is something for everyone. At DICE you won’t even realise you’re learning, and that’s the beauty of it.
In addition to general youth work activities, we have several project outcomes which focus on supporting young people to have better futures, including educational support, using IT to become their own ultimate ‘influencer’ & create an action path towards their goals and dreams for the future. We are seeking to developing their resilience, personal awareness, appreciation of their assets & improve their wellbeing. This will be done by giving young people the skills, knowledge & practical experiences needed to enhance their personal & professional aspirations.
We value young people and the experiences and opinions they bring. As young people are at the core of what we do, we strongly believe youth work should be led by the young people and we engage with young people on an ongoing basis to ensure we are meeting their needs and the views they are expressing.
The Young People:
DICE Futures youth clubs are open to all young people aged 10 – 15/16 years old. Across all our youth clubs the leaders, volunteers and young people who attend strive to ensure our “safe, fun and welcoming” ethos is felt throughout every club. At DICE Futures we provide a reliable and consistent safe space, in which young people have a voice and are valued/respected for who they are.
Please contact the team for anymore information via email racheldice@ndcn.co.uk or samdiceproject@gmail.com or telephone 02891 461386
Check out us out facebook Dice project or Instagram dice_bangor for the latest fun were getting up to!
Leaflet for days, times & locations of Youth Clubs
Registration
To register your young person for DICE Connections, please complete the attached registration form and email to: manager@ndcn.co.uk
Registration Forms are essential, please complete the registration form attached and bring to club with your young person.
Specific Programmes & Activities:
DICE is passionate about young people’s education and supporting them to strive for a better future through education. The DICE Success after school programme has been developed following direct conversations with young people who were worried about their education. At DICE Success we use different techniques to suit a range of abilities because we understand that all young people are unique, have great potential and learn differently.
The DICE Futures ‘Try-it-Out’ programme is a programme range to open young people up to a wide range of activities or educational sessions which ordinally they may not be able to do. ‘Try-it-Out’ supports young people to try alternative careers and educational paths. The most recent ‘Try-it-Out’ sessions is sports based giving young people the chance to try a range of fun sports such as pickle ball. As well as the sports side of things young people are learning all about the benefits of health eating and sport.
As well as these, we have a young Leaders programme which encourages young people to develop their leadership skills, raise their hopes and aspirations for the future and organise some activities and event that showcase their skills and talents.