As we’re all diving head first into a new year, Team Youthwork decided to give you the heads-up on what to look out for in 2012...Olympics The Olympics are the biggest thing that will happen to this country in 2012. While the majority of the action will take place in London, expect Olympic themed events up and down the country. Happening alongside the sport will be a huge cultural festival, taking in music, art, drama and anything else you can think of. Check out the ‘More than Gold’ website www.morethangold.org.uk for ideas about how to engage with young people through the Olympics. Diamond Jubilee The Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend is set to be an exciting one: the Queen will be riding at the helm of one of the largest flotillas ever seen on the Thames, thousands of beacons across the world will be lit in honour of this great occasion, and a nation-wide community lunch will be held on the Sunday. Plus, we all get an extra two days off work. That, if nothing else, is worth getting excited about. Euro 2012 For three and a half weeks this summer, or at least until England lose on penalties, football will once again dominate both the front and back pages. There will inevitably be excitement, scandal, hyperbole, but ultimate disappointment for Our Brave Boys™. With the possibility that some young people may not turn up to events that clash with big games, why not seek to show the games somehow, inviting those that may not turn up to a regular youth session? Films The big blockbusters next year are full of familiar faces. Christian Bale returns as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, while Andrew Garfield takes over the face under the mask in The Amazing Spider-Man as the franchise is rebooted. Men in Black is back for a third edition while Bilbo Baggins returns to our screens in the much anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. New Wii console April sees the launch of Nintendo’s Wii U console, the follow-up to the Wii. As well as producing full HD graphics, the console comes with an iPad-esque controllor which enables the gaming to continue even when the TV is off. Rather than the family-based fun of Wii, the ‘U’ (if that is how it ends up being known) is aimed at the more traditional ‘gamer.’ Expect an initial buzz and a few teenagers disappearing for a few weeks, before they start moaning that you haven’t bought one for the youth club yet. Music Kanye West has announced on Twitter his plans for a Spring 2012 release of new album G.O.O.D, stating simply ‘GOODMUSIC.THE ALBUM.SPRING2012’. If that doesn’t excite you – Madonna and Paramore are also releasing albums, and, of course, Steps are reuniting for a one-time only tour. Our advice: book your tickets now to avoid disappointment. Death of Reality TV- Rise of ‘Dramality’ Is reality TV dead? With plummeting Big Brother figures and lower than expected X Factor ratings across the series, there seems to be an ever-increasing lack of interest in the reality contest. However, ‘dramality’ series such as The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) and Made in Chelsea are continuing to captivate audiences. Probably coming to a town near you in 2012. Urban Dictionary Definition of ‘Dramality’: an evolution of the ‘reality series’ television genre that blends realistic and fictional elements together.Tuition fees Next autumn will see the first set of students entering university paying the new, higher tuition fees. For some young people this will mean there is a need to work and earn prior to attending higher education. For others, they may have been put off the concept all together and will be seeking alternatives. Either way, we will be presented with the opportunity to explore young people’s motives in their decision making, and support them in whichever route they decide to take. At a time where they may feel alienated by those in power, our message of inclusion is a powerful one. Politicisation of young people One of the things the riots taught us last summer is that young people are far from disengaged with what goes on in the world around them. With the economic crisis continuing to impact people across the country, unrest may not be over. While in London, the epicentre of the riots, many expect young people to be at the forefront of where the mayoral campaign is targeted. For youth workers, it is vital that we enable young people to engage in a healthy manner, without imparting our oftenpartisan views on them. The Apocalypse The film ‘2012’ predicted that the world as we know it would end on December 21st 2012. As such, we probably ought to get ready for that. Or at least not plan our youth events in too much detail for the Christmas period. Alternatively, it may be a load of rubbish. Still, something to keep an eye out for.
