Starfish Group Project Ltd - Alternative Education

Rose from Lynmouth - Moturoa

The Starfish Project Alternative Education Programme is for young people aged 13 – 16 years who have been excluded from mainstream education. It has been developed to offer students an alternative education environment which is based around their needs and abilities, while offering a different setting and structure to the traditional mainstream school.

It is this total belief in the importance of education, and the overwhelming negative social outcomes that occur when disconnected from it, that Starfish is striving to support. While we strive to transition the young person back to school, the return to mainstream education is not something that many of our students are ready for. Our programme is designed to offer these students an alternative pathway for their educational needs.

We give the young people who are on the Starfish Project Alternative Education Programme the chance to experience activities that will grow their confidence and self-belief. We look at creative ways to inspire and motivate these young people, to engage them in learning, while teaching them life skills and giving them social experiences that they may not have had the opportunity to appreciate.

As part of our programme, students are taught practical budgeting and home economic skills, through shopping and cooking modules. There is a large kitchen space at Starfish, and we use this for cooking with the students on a daily basis. Every day all the students and teachers share a meal together that the ‘duty’ student and teacher have prepared. So, not only are the young people taught practical life skills through cooking and budgeting, a positive, homely environment is also being created that they all enjoy, and most importantly, young people are fed a nutritious meal. All of these things help the young person to feel connected, valued, and to experience the sense of ‘belonging’ to a community.

If funded, we will be able to provide the students with a nutritious lunch each day and also hygiene products that they cannot provide for themselves. We would also continue to provide cleaning products and toilet paper. We engage in sponsorship each term, which is a huge help, however we are aware on the strain our sponsors are under with many organisations seeking assistance. This grant would alleviate that pressure for 2018.

Our team consists of Head Tutor Dane Haskell; Camp Mother Jacqui Holdt and Social Workers/Teaching Assistants Abi Patene and Toni Mackay.
The entire programme is overseen by our very passionate Managing Director and Social Worker extraordinaire, Sara Bright.

Thank You so much for taking the time to read this!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NB. more information, including qualification criteria and referrals need to go through Kristine Eagles at the Taranaki Activity Centre, 334 Frankley Road, New Plymouth, phone 06 753 5719.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------