Home

Imagine You Can is a national Community Interest Company all about young people and families. We help young people to be the best they possibly can be. Our workshops, whilst huge amounts of fun obtain REAL results. We link the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, History and Geography with the Arts, Media, Business and Performance.

Imagine You Can go to parliament

The House of Commons in London recently welcomed a number of outstanding Imagine You Can project students as the IYC crew headed to the world famous Parliamentary venue.

Six students from one of our Dartford projects were invited to attend a special reception in Westminster as a reward for their exceptional contribution to the national youth campaign "Make Space for Health." Young people from the marketing, media, singing and dance workshops had previously written and produced adverts for the Nestle supported campaign as well as taking part in an outstanding pre-match entertainment show in front of thousands of spectators at the Charlton Athletic v Norwich City football match.

Dave King, Director of Imagine You Can said:
"What a tremendous experience for our 'Young Imagineers' to visit the home of British politics. Their work on the Easter programme in Kent was genuinely superb and the invitation to Parliament is a well deserved "thank you" from some incredibly influential and important people. Our students never fail to amaze us with their dedication, ability and self-belief. It's all the more pleasing that influential people are now beginning to acknowledge the uniqueness and major changes our projects deliver."

The Kent Easter project was supported by Kent County Council's Extended Services Team as outstanding project co-ordinator, Trudy Donachie, was also invited along with students to the reception which included a speech from Children and Young People's Minister, Tim Loughton.

Trudy continued:
"It was a special day for everybody involved and I feel privileged be invited as well as see these young people from Dartford make major leaps forward in their confidence, ability and overall approach to life. It's humbling and precisely what the Kent Extended Services team is in place for. A huge well done to all the young people, you should be proud, because I certainly am."

Imagine You Can also recently received a glowing 2 page letter from Tim Loughton MP, inviting the high flying youth service providers to assist in national policy guidance as well as increase their work with young people across the country.

Students tackle World Cup referee Howard Webb

Students from Clifton Community Arts School and feeder primary schools put Rotherham's World Cup Final referee Howard Webb on the spot at a press conference. They gained inside information on what it's like to take charge of the biggest sporting event on the planet.

Billions watched the explosive Johannesburg showdown between Spain and Holland in July - but the 39-year-old South Yorkshire police sergeant found questions from the budding newshounds almost as tough to tackle.

They discovered that a vital part of Howard's pre-match routines is listening to the soothing sounds of rock band Snow Patrol.

"The kids were keen to know what went through Howard's mind during the build up to the final," said Imagine You Can director Simon Fox.

"He admitted he was incredibly nervous and for the week and a half in the build up he could hardly sleep at all.

"Then when the match was under way after only 22 minutes he'd already issued four yellow cards, and he knew the record for a World Cup Final was six.

"But referees and their assistants work as a team and Howard said he was able to get feedback and advice from his linesmen through his ear piece and they backed him up and said he should carry on in exactly the same way."

Howard told the pupils they too should stick to what they believed in when they were pursuing their future careers, and backed the project which has seen other youngsters quizzing sports stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, Ian Botham, Michael Vaughan and Graeme Souness.

"There were a few nerves on my part before the press conference and the students certainly had some interesting questions," Howard said.

"It's fantastic that young people are given opportunities to actually meet, interview and talk to people they see on the television and make it 'real' for them. As a youngster I certainly looked up to people from the area and beyond and it is the little things you learn that can have a real positive impact on the rest of your adult life."

Pupils also wanted to know how refereeing the 2010 final compared with the famous Wembley showdown of 1966, and when he planned to resume his duties with the police force.

Howard brought in his World Cup Final medal for the youngsters to see, as well as one of the controversial Jabulani balls used throughout the tournament.

"It's not every day a young person gets the opportunity to speak to and interview someone who has taken part in a World Cup Final," Simon said.

"It was made all the more unique that Howard is from Rotherham and has fond memories of his schooldays here and is now flying the flag for the area."

• "Experience of a lifetime! I will never forget it" Anna, 13, Newcastle
• "It was a great way to get further in filming" Charlie, 12, Yeovil
• "It was very challenging, energetic and a lot of fun" Mohammed, 13, Gloucester
• "It gave me the chance to explore my interest in filming and now I want to pursue it as a career" Louise, 16, Teesside
• "I want to be a journalist and now I know how" Tom, 15, Blackburn
• "Imagine You Can made me a different person and more confident" Mya, 14, Teesside
• "It was the best thing I have ever done" Robert, 15, Bradford
• "It taught me to have more confidence and do things I thought I couldn't do" Andrew, 16, Newcastle
• "It taught me everything I never had" Karl aged 13, Middlesbrough.