Chinwag 2008

The third such event for youth workers, full-time, part-time and volunteers, included workshops on Community Art, Evaluation, Jewellery crafts, Team-building, Performing arts and drama workshop. Funded by Laidlaw Youth Trust and supported by Rank Foundation, H₂O and Oban Youth Cafe once more took on coordination of the event. As previously, Chinwag was supported by a plethora of market stalls, each seeking to resource and equip those attending and included Prince's Trust, GRAB Trust (Re-cycling in Argyll and Bute), Youth for Christ, Fusions, Choose Life (suicide prevention in Scotland) and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Building on the original concept of Chinwag as being a hands-on, equipping event, this aim was developed with the workshops for drama and samba drumming particularly inspiring those who opted into those sessions.

Chinwag was also conceived on the basis that it would be a meeting place for those working with young people. A place to share ideas, successes and challenges. Once more it succeeded in this and as before the challenge set ahead was how to keep the network growing and flourishing to the benefit of those involved and potential new contacts.

Crucial feedback was critically positive:

"I would like to do all the workshops but this is just greediness"
"..it was a brilliant day"
"the combination of formal and informal events always is inspiring.."
"very worthwhile..keep doing it"
"will take the things I've learnt away with me and use them"
"great way to meet people in the same line of work as myself"
"learned a lot listening to other people's points of view"
"great to meet up with everyone"
"most helpful and informative. Would like to see more young people involved"
"it would be very useful to have more time to get to know what each person did"

Three events on, it is obvious that a forum such as Chinwag has value within a region such as ours. The challenge to all is bringing those involved together more often to network and to equip and grow each other.