UCOL is proud to partner with Palmerston North City Council, Y-Central, Sport Manawatū and Police to deliver ‘Kick for the Seagulls’ to a group of 10 rangatahi for the first time in Palmerston North.
Kick for the Seagulls is a 17 week programme created by Sir Graham Lowe which teaches Level 2 literacy and numeracy skills through the language of sport. This is the first time the programme has been taught outside of New Zealand prisons.
UCOL Executive Dean Engineering and Applied Technologies, Danny Reilly, formally welcomed the group of teenagers and programme partners at a mihi whakatau this month welcoming them to UCOL’s Manawatū campus, prior to Sir Graham Lowe meeting the group today.
“Last week I asked you all to be kind to yourselves, this week I’m asking you to remind yourself that you are your best asset,” Reilly said as he explained to the group the importance of their own self-belief.
“Sir Graham Lowe created this programme for people just like you, you are not an experiment. By the end of these 17 weeks, you will be a team, your job is to pick each other up and help each other to succeed – this programme is not an easy feat. By the end of it, you’ll have achieved your Level 2 Numeracy and Literacy credits which will open so many doors for each of you. I hope by the end of this, you’ll see a vision for your future path, having been exposed to options of what’s next while you’re here on campus,” said Reilly.
Sir Graham Lowe then visited the students in class the following week, sharing with them his pride and aspirations for their journey over the course of the programme.
“I was exactly like you kids at 14, and through the language of sport, I was able to change my mindset and therefore my life”, said Sir Lowe before quickly providing a look into his early life in school, and his sporting career.
“I had switched off in school, I was not interested in the slightest. It was my sports coaches who dragged me and encouraged me at 14 to make a change in my life after I switched off at school. Being part of a team, and everything that entails is what helped to keep me on track and then I became aprofessional sportsman.”
“The biggest thing you’ll learn is teamwork. No matter what the team, there will always be others who pick things up better than others so it’s time to learn to notice that and help others in your team.”
So, what is that winning team formula? Pride, persistence, teamwork, selflessness, commitment, humility, says Sir Lowe.
Y-Central Programme Manager Natasha Guilford is thrilled at the partnership working to come together for the betterment of these teenagers.
“I’ve been working in the youth space for over 20 years. I’m so pleased that there is a real sense of collaboration across partner organisations throughout the Manawatū, that aligns with The Y’s vision to empower young people to build just, sustainable, equitable, and inclusive communities. There’s a genuine desire to come together to actually make a difference and improve the lives of our rangatahi. It takes the effort of a village which in this case looks like Y-Central working hand in hand with Police, UCOL, Palmerston North City Council, and Sport Manawatū,” says Ms Guilford.
Constable Connor Sparkes, Youth Engagement Team of the NZ Police, is also appreciative of the partnership approach.
“For some of these students, just having a daily routine with a purpose to each day and the opportunity to complete something productive will be a huge step in the right direction.”
“Some of us will take for granted all the different careers we saw adults around us hold. However, for some young people, they don’t have that exposure and therefore it’s not something they think or dream about and don’t work towards. Thanks to the collaboration, I’m hoping this group of teens will develop their own dreams whilst exposed to all the other awesome things they could go on to study at UCOL, providing even further motivation to achieve their numeracy and literacy credits.”
Kick for the Seagulls programme is defined by 12 guiding principles:
- Plan for a great year
- What is a winning team?
- Let the dog see the rabbit
- No such thing as can’t
- Practice ‘til the lights go off
- Look for the person in the dinner suit
- Never die wondering
- Kick for the Seagulls
- Be ready and well-prepared
- Keep shifting the attack
- Put up with the pain
- Discover the power of your team early