Young people

Coaching isn’t mentoring, counselling, or giving advice. It is an opportunity to talk about things and make your own decisions about goals you can set yourself and decisions you can make about your own life.

Penny Millar

What are the benefits for young people?

The individual photo and facilitation session encourages the young people to really look at themselves, and using the photos as a trigger, talk honestly about ‘who’ they see, how they feel, and how they might move forward with confidence and a different/more optimistic attitude. Whilst the aim is for ’voyagers’ to see themselves in a positive light, the photos might show them a side they like less, but they can talk about that too. photoVoyage provides an opportunity to verbalise their self-awareness, talk about goals, and have an opportunity to question their own and others peoples’ assumptions around their personal and public image. It gives them an opportunity to take responsibility for who they are.

”Is this who I really am? Is this who I want to be?

Individual sessions

Each ‘voyager’ spends 90 minutes with Penny. She shoots photos and chats in a relaxed way, then downloads the photos straight on to her computer. They look at the photos together … and start to talk. Talking from the third person perspective helps young people feel much safer about talking honestly and openly.
Each voyager leaves the session with a cd of their photos and a ‘book of their voyage’ into which they will put their favourite photos and write about them . As part of their commitment to their ongoing personal development they will use these books with their Youth workers , mentors and counsellors.

Group workshops

The individual sessions can be followed by group workshops. Penny will work with youth workers, or the organisation can run them without her. Using the photos within a group, and seeing themselves as others see them is really valuable. Sharing this (new) honest view of themselves can be reassuring, and a well organised workshop will not become an opportunity for criticising each other, but rather a chance for the young people to identify their own and other peoples’ strengths and positive qualities and share these thoughts.

Cost

Working on the basis of 4 sessions a day, the cost is £200 per client. Follow-up workshops £150 p.h. For work outside a 20 mile radius of London, I would prefer to book 2 consecutive days if possible. I will charge basic travel costs and (non-luxury !) accommodation where necessary. These costs are negotiable (within reason, please)

NOTE: For reasons of confidentiality, I do not put photos of young people into the public domain.

Clients

Reading YOT, Lewisham Yot, Chatham YOT, Gangs Resettlement Norhtgate Clinic - Edgware, Hackney RAP, SKY Partnership, Dalston Youth Project, CHANCE UK.

Penny worked closely with me to create images of the young people representing the accessible sides of their characters and helping them to see who they truly are… her communication and ability to engage a 'very high risk' group of young people on a one-to-one basis enabled the team to feel confident often leaving her alone with the young people to build individual relationships.

Andrez Harriott, Gangs Resetlement Officer, Lewisham Youth Offending Service

The young people at the clinic present with multiple difficulties which include lack of self-confidence, self hatred and poor self esteem, difficulties in forming relationships and communicating. Given the nature of their problems they find it difficult to engage with strangers or often due to previous traumatic experiences to trust adults.was impressed by Penny’s warmth and easy nature that helped her quickly establish a rapport, and inspire sufficient confidence in the young people that were both curious and motivated to work in this way. Overall the outcome of the group was that the young people’s self confidence in their bodies and their image was increased and it gave them an opportunity to explore issues in a new way.

Maggie Discombe, Head Occupational therapist, Northgate Clinic

photoVoyage helps people express things… without the photos there would be less talk… they are looking at themselves and not being told something. They have probably never talked like this in their lives

Ray Austin, SKY partnership

I have been coaching 13-16 year olds in schools, encouraging them to think for themselves and set some goals. I have not so far used photoVoyage, but will do so when the opportunity presents itself.