Introducing FULL THROTTLE - Youthwork in Motion:

Full Throttle is a challenging and dynamic programme that is designed to help secondary schools, and other educational agencies, to enhance their Citizenship provision for young people in Kent (and further afield).

The programme aims to meet the QCA’s definition of “knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens” (National Curriculum Online).

Full Throttle aims to tackle many aspects of wider key skills and challenge young people regarding:

Ø Rights and responsibilities;

Ø Self esteem;

Ø Conflict and confrontation;

Ø Inequality;

Ø Volunteer work;

Ø Social, political, cultural and religious awareness;

Ø Personal reflective practise;

What makes this programme unique is its use of motorbikes as a vehicle (if you pardon the pun) to explore wider issues in life. Many young people struggle with rebellion against authority. Thus, using the iconic imagery of motorcycling to explore these issues in depth, young people have the opportunity to come to a fuller understanding of their place in the wider world.

The academic Erich Fromm once wrote: “We are not like people in freefall in outer space where up and down have no meaning, but (are) like astronauts whose directional reference point is … planet Earth which by providing a datum, gives significance to the idea of direction and makes possible decisions about where to move next.”

This quotation sums up the philosophy behind Full Throttle, giving young people the opportunity to realise that they are connected to a wider community, and giving them the opportunity to critically evaluate their lives and decision making processes.

Full Throttle is a Christian-based project that has come out of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, a national charity sharing the Gospel with bikers of all types and persuasions. (Please note: Full Throttle is not part of the official work of the CMA, although I have contacts with them.) As well as formal and informal youthwork, seeking to share the Gospel within the boundaries set by state education, it is also available to churches and youth ministries as an overt evangelistic tool.

The current programme includes:

The Community Motorcycle Course

A 12 week citizenship project introducing young people to motorcycling, including the Compulsory Basic Test.

The Junior Community Motorcycle Course

A shortened version of the “senior” course for under 16s, including introduction to riding mopeds.

Religious Education

Exploring key aspects of the Christian faith using the Biker’s Bible, The Manual for Life

Citizenship

A variety of issues encouraging debate and thinking, promoting communication, problem solving and empathy.

The Motorbike/Survival Course.

This is a project currently being developed combining survival skills and motorbike riding, inspired by the Charlie Boorman/Ewan McGregor documentary Long Way Round.

Team Building:

Communication skills, problem solving and outdoor pursuits for small and large groups.

For more information, call Dan Harris on 0773 990 2695. A full programme can be emailed by replying to ragingfool@hotmail.com. A website will be operating shortly www.fullthrottleuk.co.uk.