Over the summer we had the priviledge to train more potential course deliverers in our Building self-belief programme including the lovely Clary from MyTime who will be using the model as part of her young carer employability programme. We also had a chance to get our existing course deliverers together to review and improve our current programme. Thank you to all who attended. Click this link to read more of our news
I now understand my Dad!
How did you find out about our course in Building Self-Belief?
I found out about it from Sam from Spear – the way he described it made it sound really interesting and I thought it could benefit me in the future.
What for you was the most memorable bit?
Right at the end we were doing a team exercise and we had to work in a team to get across a minefield grid one step at a time. We all were allocated different roles in the team and at some points blindfolded (to make it more difficult) so it was interesting to see how different people approached the task. Together we had to work out how to overcome the obstacle as a team.
Did it cause any arguments?
No arguments. We actually did pretty well and got over quickly. It was fun sharing different ideas about how to get to the other side and feeling frustrated every time we failed and had to go back to square one.
Were there quite a lot of different personalities in the group?
There were a lot of introverts that made the group quite a bit quiet!! There were a couple of extroverts.
What differences did you see?
The extroverts would be ‘yep, lets go we can do this!’ The introverts would be quiet and to the side until someone told them to ‘go on, we’ve got to get this done’.
Had you thought about this before, how you process information differently to other people?
I had thought about it a bit before as I can tell that I was someone who liked to think things through quite a bit. Through the course I got to see the perspectives of others which was quite eye opening and helpful.
What colour order did you come out as?
Green Blue Yellow Red (Introverted feeling) so quite introverted as green and blue are the introverted colours.
And how has knowing that helped you in your life now since completing the course?
Yeah! It’s helped quite a bit. My dad is ‘RED’ so the complete opposite to me. Red is my lowest colour. It’s helped me understand him and him understand me better. We get on a lot better now. I shared the info with him the colour cards and he was able to identify that he was RED.
So, you feel its helped your relationship with him?
Yeah – definitely. He understands me better and I understand him better.
Did you do anything on communication styles?
I found out that my body language is quite closed and I talk quietly. It made me realise that there may be situations where I need to speak up to ensure my voice is heard.
Anything else that you think this course might help you with in the future?
It can definitely help when I get into work and manage different people. It will help me see how people will see things from different perspectives. I now am able to recognise what ‘colour’ people are when I first meet them. It helps me understand why someone behaves in a very different way to me – why they make decisions in a different way or communicate differently.
Would you recommend the course to other people?
Definitely! It’s nice to work out what personality you have and perhaps what your weaknesses are so you can work on them to be the best version of yourself.
The Colour Model – The Colour Works Foundation (tcwfoundation.org.uk)
22 Emotional Intelligence Statistics To Make Your Day (2024) – Soocial
Newsletter July 2024
So – here’s our latest newsletter with a video from our lovely Chair of Trustees – Shenel
Newsletter April 2024
Case study – young person’s perspective of our Building self-belief programme
AJ: So, Katie, what was good about the course?
*Katie: Well, I liked all of it. There were obviously some activities we did that I personally didn’t really find enjoyable, but I can still see how they’re beneficial for this sort of thing. Like that stick one because it’s teamwork.
What I think I’ve gained the most from it is it’s made me less judgmental of other people because I’ve been able to understand my opposites point of view with the colours. That’s what I like about it – it’s opened my mind a lot more.
AJ: Is there anything else you think you learned about yourself?
Katie: Yeah, obviously like I knew there were days when I feel down and not good about myself, but I didn’t know how they might make other people feel, things that people might find annoying about me. I can see now how my emotional state has an effect on other people. So, then I can just not do that for certain people.
AJ: Would you recommend the course to other people? And if you would, why?
Katie: I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I think it really does open your mind a lot about other people and what you’re like. I think with the understanding of the colours it does make it easier for you to communicate with other people.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the young person
Newsletter September 2023 to January 2024
Newsletter Sep 2022 to Aug 2023
Personality profiling – what’s it all about???
Young people who have the opportunity to be part of our ‘Building Self-Belief’ programme get the chance to complete their own personality assessment. We believe this can be a powerful tool for 16-25 year olds as they navigate the complexities of the world and try to understand themselves better. Here are some of the benefits of personality profiling:
Self-discovery: Personality profiling helps individuals understand their strengths, weaknesses, values, and interests. This can be incredibly empowering and can give young people a sense of direction and purpose.
Better relationships: Our colour model of behaviours also helps young people understand how their personality affects the way they interact with others. By gaining insight into how they communicate and relate to others, they can develop stronger, more meaningful relationships.
Career development: Personality profiling can help young people choose careers that align with their strengths, values, and interests. This can lead to greater job satisfaction and career success.
Improved communication: As part of our course we look at different styles of communication. Helping young people understand how others see them and how they can communicate more effectively with a range of people is really powerful. This can be especially useful in the workplace and in personal relationships.
Increased self-awareness: Personality profiling helps individuals understand their behaviour, thoughts, and emotions. This increased self-awareness can lead to better decision-making, improved relationships, and greater life satisfaction.
At TCWF we believe that understanding yourself is a valuable tool for young people as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of adulthood. Whether they are exploring their own identity, improving their relationships, or developing their careers, personality profiling can provide useful insights and support.
Supporting neurodiversity in young people
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in the human brain and how it functions. This includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and many others. As one in seven people are recognised to be neurodiverse in the UK, it is inevitable that a percentage of young people who attend our workshops will experience some form of neurodiversity. We often work with groups of young people who are unemployed and it is a sad fact that only one in six people with autism have a job. While neurodiverse young people may experience challenges, they also possess unique strengths and abilities. It is important to support and celebrate these strengths, while also providing appropriate accommodations to help them thrive. Here’s how at The Colour Works Foundation we are trying to champion and support our neurodiverse young people.
- We recognise the strengths of neurodiverse young people
Neurodiverse young people often possess unique strengths and abilities. For example, individuals with autism may have exceptional attention to detail and excel in tasks that require visual-spatial abilities. Those with ADHD may be highly creative and innovative thinkers. Dyslexic individuals may have excellent verbal skills and excel in oral communication. Recognising and celebrating these strengths can help to build confidence and self-esteem in neurodiverse young people.
- We adapt workshop delivery or activities where possible
We try to recognise where neurodiverse young people would engage better in our workshops by adapting our delivery or recognising where activities need to be modified. For example – providing a clear format for workshop structure at the beginning of the session can help those who need routine.
- Foster a supportive and inclusive environment
Creating a supportive and inclusive environment is crucial for the success of neurodiverse young people. We encourage all our young people to work in groups and develop their social interactions.
- Encourage self-advocacy
Encouraging neurodiverse young people to advocate for themselves can help them to develop important skills and increase their independence. Our workshops help with communication skills that enable young people to clearly share their needs and preferences. We also explore self-management and enabling young people to develop strategies for self-regulation.
We have found that supporting neurodiversity in young people involves recognising and celebrating their unique strengths, adapting our workshops, creating a supportive environment and encouraging self-advocacy. By embracing neurodiversity, we can help to create a more inclusive and accepting society where all young people can thrive.
Emotional Intelligence – what is it and can I really learn it?
What is emotional intelligence? Can you learn it? Can you become better at it? At TCWF we totally believe that you can and that’s why its fundamental to our #buildingselfbelief programme for young people.
Emotional intelligence (EQ), or the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others, is a crucial aspect of our lives that can greatly impact our success and happiness. Whether in our personal or professional lives, having a high level of EQ can help us navigate complex social situations, build stronger relationships, and lead us to a more fulfilling life.
So, how do we help young people raise their EQ (and what can you do to improve yours)?
Here are some strategies that we use and you can apply:
SELF AWARENESS
We help young people build #selfawareness: The first step in increasing your EQ is to become more self-aware. This means paying attention to your own thoughts and feelings, and understanding how they affect your behavior and the people around you. You can start by taking time each day to reflect on your emotions and thoughts, and keeping a journal to track your progress.
EMPATHY
We help young people develop empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. To develop this skill, try to put yourself in other people’s shoes, and imagine how they might be feeling. This will help you understand their perspective and respond to them in a more meaningful way.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
We spend time with young people developing their communication skills: Effective communication is a key component of emotional intelligence. Understanding your methods of #communication and how different this could be to others can help you adapt your style to the situation. To improve listen actively, ask questions, and avoid making assumptions about others. Also, practice expressing your own thoughts and feelings clearly and assertively, without being aggressive or confrontational.
SELF-MANAGEMENT
We help young people work out strategies to manage their emotions: Emotional management involves regulating your own emotions in a healthy and productive way. We enable young people to identify triggers that cause strong emotional reactions, and so develop strategies to manage them in a constructive manner like practicing mindfulness, taking regular exercise, listening to music etc.
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
We enable young people to understand the differences between people so that they can build more productive relationships: Building strong and positive relationships is an important aspect of emotional intelligence. This means taking the time to get to know people, showing genuine interest in their lives, and being there for them in times of need. It also means learning to manage conflicts in a healthy and productive way, and being open to feedback from others.
Developing #emotionalintelligence takes time and effort, but the benefits are well worth it. By becoming more self-aware, practicing empathy, improving communication skills, managing your emotions, and building positive relationships, you can greatly enhance your personal and professional life.
Start today and watch your emotional intelligence grow.