Showing their Resilience
Ramsgate Get On Track group deliver their social action project, overcoming challenges with last minute changes!
Despite a last-minute change in venue for the Get On Track group in Ramsgate’s social action project, participants, Ruby and Owen proved their resilience and adaptability when faced with a challenge, to deliver a fantastic and interactive session for a local elderly care home.
Both have been regular attendees of the Get On Track Employability programme in Ramsgate, funded by Peter Harrison Foundation, Southeastern Railway and Virtual Schools Kent – working alongside athlete mentors, Commonwealth Gold medallist fencer, Claire Bennett and former GB champion boxer, Hannah Beharry. The pair have come a long way since the beginning of the programme. The culmination of their hard work on the programme was a project, designed and planned by them at a local care home delivering a session designed to engage the centre’s residents.
Get On Track is a wellbeing programme for young people aged 16-25 delivered in a community setting, where they need it most. Working with a diverse range of young people, the programme is designed to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem, as well as focusing on becoming physically and mentally healthier. Dame Kelly Holmes Trust has been working with local delivery partner, Swale Community Leisure to access and engage local young people.
Ruby delivers a workout session for the group
Adaptability key for success
A key learning from the programme, is the ability to adapt in changing circumstances, and feeling confident to cope with setbacks, and Ruby and Owen showed they have developed this skill.
The pair were all ready with their plan to engage a group of residents at the care home with an interactive session playing on their own personal strengths. But a call from the care home a couple of days before the session saying there had been an outbreak of norovirus meant a last-minute change.
They kept calm under the pressure, and with the support of their athlete mentors, found another care home where they could deliver their session - and it went brilliantly! Owen sang a range of songs to the residents while Ruby led an active workout session specifically adapted for older people.
Athlete mentor, Claire Bennett said:
“It went so well and it was really good for their confidence - I’m really proud of them. They really stepped up and engaged everybody.
They showed their adaptability and flexibility in working at a different place, different layout and still delivered a great session. ”
There was also high praise for Ruby and Owen from the care home manager who said:
“It was the most animated we’ve seen the residents for a long time and that was down to Ruby and Owen”
The social action project is a major milestone on the Get On Track programmes, and a culmination of the group’s work together. Ruby and Owen will complete their programme this week with a celebration activity with athlete mentors Claire and Hannah.