The Game Change Project -not for profit organisation

16/04/2025

The Advanced Mechanics group recently enjoyed a visit to David Jones Motorcycles, Newtown. Our thanks to Ralph Jones and Lee (stores/parts manager) for organising and allowing our young people a 'behind the scenes' insight into the operations of a successful dealership. We appreciate your time in showing us around and giving us such an interesting and informative morning😊
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11/04/2025

Wishing every success to Alicia 🤗 who is moving on from the project to complete her GCSE's before going on to study Media at college in September.
Alicia first joined The Game Change Project in September 2023. After completing the Animal Care course, she progressed to Advanced Land based and then became a Peer Mentor. Her achievements have included First Aid, LANTRA ATV driver certificate, and Safeguarding training.

Alicia is kind and cheerful, creative, trustworthy, and conscientious. Attributes that will put her in good stead for the future.

Thanks for all your support, Alicia and good luck for the future 👍 😀

11/04/2025

We had a fantastic night at The Celebration of Newtown Awards 🤩 hearing about all the fantastic work of individuals, groups and organisations who do so much for our community.
.....and we were honoured to scoop the Business of the Year Award, Third Sector 😁

The highlight of the evening for us, was seeing one of our past participants doing an amazing job as part of the team at Themes Catering Grŵp Colegau NPTC Group of Colleges We were so proud to see Clark excelling in his role. The food and service was👌

Thanks to Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council for organising such a lovely event, and congratulations to all the finalists 👏👏👏

09/04/2025

📢 We Need You! (Yes, You!)
Are you aged 16-25 and living in Mid Wales or the Shropshire Borders?

We want to hear your voice to help shape what Rekindle offers to young people in our community.

We’re planning to expand our services (think more groups, counselling options, activities, life skills workshops... even go-karting got a mention 👀) — but we need your input to make sure we’re getting it right.

Take our quick survey and tell us what you’d like to see:
👉https://bit.ly/4jiDeQ2

It only takes a few minutes, and your answers could help us bring in new services that make a real difference.

Not aged 16-25?
No worries — you still have a mission! 🕵️‍♀️
Please share this post far and wide so the young people in your life can have their say.

Together we can help shape better mental health and wellbeing support for young people across our area.

Diolch!
Thank you for being part of our community 💛

09/04/2025

Today, we are celebrating the amazing news from The National Lottery Community Fund that we have been awarded almost £489K in new funding to launch a 3 year project called 'I Can/ Rwy'n Gallu' 🥳 😃🥳

Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding will enable us to broaden the range of opportunities available for young teens who are experiencing difficulties accessing education on a full-time basis.

Designed around the wishes of young people, practical outdoor activities will form the basis for confidence building, enabling more than 300 young people to develop the foundations of good mental health.

Get in touch if you would like more information on the new project or how you can refer a young person in need of support.

08/04/2025

08/04/2025

Anyone need a 34' x 10' mobile unit? Ideal home office, customer waiting room, workers rest room, art and craft space etc???? This is available for removal, possible local delivery....reasonable offers. No longer needed as we are reconfiguring our facilities. 🤳07966 370293 for details

01/04/2025

Wow 😮 blown away by the progress these lads made today. Working brilliantly as a team, they are constructing a wooden shelter (or 'shack' as they've christened it!) From scratch using natural materials.
The shack, when completed, will serve as a woodworking area for future participants.
Great work Landbased crew 👏 👍

01/04/2025

Huge thanks to the Rees family for inviting our young people to experience a taste of farming life.

This is our second visit this spring and such a wonderful opportunity for our young people to learn about all the hard work farmers put in to produce our food.

Huge thanks to Danielle, Drew and James Rees for allowing us to visit at such a busy time of year 😊

31/03/2025

As part of a new project commissioned by Open Newtown, the sculptor John Merrill is working with the local community to develop a sculpture for Trehafren Fields Woodland Wander Trail. John will be creating an exciting new artwork made from oak informed by the community and natural heritage of the area.

We are very proud that our students have been involved with the creative process during a workshop with John last week. Hope you like the photos........

25/03/2025

We have had the best two days with 5 candidates completing the LANTRA Tractor Driving for 13-15 yrs, designed to instill expertise in the next generation of the land based sector. 🚜

It has been an uphill stuggle to find accredited training for our young people, and still many doors are being closed, but, hey we're not ones to give-up at The Game Change Project -not for profit organisation ‼️

This course was made possible with a donation from EvaBuild Ltd and with the amazing continued support from several local businesses, we plan to offer more accredited training in the near future.

I was super impressed with the lads on this course 👏 👌 not only for their driving skills, but for their conduct and focus - they even sat an exam and I've never seen them so quiet 😉

Some kids are not made for a classroom, but give them real life experience and they come into their own!

Huge thanks to instructor Steve Lawton and JHS Training, Assessment, Contracting and Tree work for providing the course.

Da iawn pawb 👏👏👏

24/03/2025

We will be at Ysgol Robert Owen tomorrow. Why not call and see us between 10.30 - 11.30 😊

It is with great pleasure that in connection with the Department for Work and Pensions – Ysgol Robert Owen will be providing a Careers Fair/ Post Ysgol Robert Owen information event here at school on the 25th March 2025. The first hour from 9:30-10:30am will be for the learners to access with their class teacher/ support staff.

There will be an opportunity from 10:30-11:30am for parents/ carers to come into school and gain an insight into opportunities/ information available to support your learner once they leave Ysgol Robert Owen.

20/03/2025

As six months has flown by since we were awarded a grant from The Arnold Clark Community Fund, we would like to acknowledge the amazing impact the grant has had on our organisation - and the young people we support.

The money has helped towards the cost of keeping our animals throughout the year, so they can work their magic and help young people regain their confidence and thrive!

Working with the animals helps young people build their self-esteem, social skills, and confidence. Handling and caring for our horses and other animals’ teaches young people many things; responsibility, structure, organisation and also, how to be calm. The benefits of Equine and Animal Assisted Learning are many and transformative. We see young people change from anxious to confident, learn to relate, and communicate better with themselves and others. They take away many skills and attributes which enhance their everyday lives.

A big thank you to our animals for their priceless contribution and to for helping us look after them 😄

18/03/2025

Fave photo of the day 😊


❤️

06/03/2025

Can you guess what the Land based crew is up to here??

04/03/2025

Pancakes and pulling power at GameChange today 🥞

Pancakes made with our very own duck eggs 🥚🦆
And Jimmy in harness for the first time! 🐎

Well done everyone 👏

03/03/2025

Look who's gone and won an award 🏆🤩 One of our GameChangers Cain Abraham. Congratulations, very well deserved 👏 ❤️

So I got runner up in the Lantra Cymru Awards!😊

Lantra is a leading awarding body offering courses & qualifications in the land-based sector, thanks to Lantra they have helped me grow my business and gain certificates.

I started this business because I've always loved being outdoors and getting abit dirty😆 and at first it was quite scary and gut wrenching to me because there isn't a lot of young people my age starting up there own ventures but I am happy I did and the results are showing! I wouldn't of been able to get to where I am without all of my lovely customers and all of the great advice from local contractors who have helped me along the way , this is just the beginning!😊

28/02/2025

The physical and mental benefits of being around horses explained perfectly 👌

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal