Introduction:
We want to develop a structured programme of regular and seasonal activities that take place at a range of external agencies and bring our local communities together. A Community Youth Worker engages with our young people through opportunities to work with other organisations and jointly develops activities to include and engage their own young clients. The programme will help us to increase awareness about support available for young people and provide opportunities for improved social integration, skills, fitness, health and wellbeing.
When our young people become involved, it can lead to recognised training courses with such organisations as Franklin College and GHoPA, which enables them to gain qualifications that can assist them in their search for future employment or education. A full programme of engagement with younger persons agencies will help us to engage more young people, and provide greater opportunities for them to increase opportunities to their skills, confidence and employability.
Agencies and other projects have contacted us with a view to working together, and we have now consulted with many organisations regarding the type of support required to put on community events has lead us to develop a list of equipment that has been identified as something that would be of great support. This equipment includes gazebos, gas berco boiler and fridge to support events out in the open when other facilities not available, Pig posts and change to divide areas up and act as safety barriers.
The organisations that have approached us for event support in 2015 include, North East Lincolnshire Cycle Hub, Shalom, Grimsby Rugby Club, Sports Development , St John & St Stephens Church, local Scout groups, student groups and Union, just to name a few.
What we spent the money on!
- Equipment for outdoor games
- Equipment for indoor games
- Safety Equipment
- Beach Event
- Halloween Event
- The Soup Kitchen Equipment
- Printing posters and leaflets
- Support Worker
What we achieved!
Total number of beneficiaries from our activities in following so far in 2015 = 3850!
This year has seen the YMCA Humber play a core role in our local North East Lincolnshire calendar of events for young people, engaging 1000s of people and helping us to raise awareness of our project. The funding has enabled us to develop a bank of games and activity equipment to help us to develop a year of exciting activity and to develop our young volunteers skills in delivering activities together with key local projects. The multiple seasonal fun and educational events we have supported and organised with funding from the Change Programme has led to our mass integration and joint working with other local organisations and hundreds of local people coming together, culminating in 2,600 people to celebrate the Multi-cultural fun day . This showcase event was set-up by communities together in Association with a range of multi-agency partners. The event partners made use of our space hoppers and air compressor (part of our bank of equipment) in addition to being supported by our volunteers. The space hoppers proved a great success with the children who attended the day.
Community Games: Over the course of this year YMCA has continued to support a number of Community Games activities, through lending out equipment, providing volunteer support and providing small grants of funding. In addition to the fact there is still some monies left in the budget the following will ensure sustainability into next year and beyond.
Since 1st January 2015 the following events have been supported;
- Grimsby & Cleethorpes Scouts received funding to hold two events, an Emergency day and a Community Event – these events were really well attended and attracted in the region of 250 people to them.
- Soup Kitchen – 300 attendees – In April £250 was provided to help a group from Shalom set up a food day once a week for homeless people and residents struggling to get by.
- Tug of War Event 200 attendees – The Tug of War event held at Weelsby Summer Fayre and set up by residents of the Weelsby Estate in August saw teams from all over the area attend. The group were provided free of charge the tug of war rope, chain link fencing and a flip chart holder (part of our equipment bank) to help them run there event, in addition to a YMCA volunteer to support them on the day.
- Beach Event – 500 attendees. The Big Local Project, which is run by residents from Sidney Sussex and Croft baker wards held a community beach day which included sports and music event. The event organisers requested the use of gazebo’s, chain link fencing, space hoppers, air compressor, generator, bunting and banners (part of our bank of equipment),
- Cycle Hub event – upwards of 200 people attended a Halloween themed bicycle safety event. The local authority provided free bike lights while the cycle hub provided free bike safety checks.. YMCA supported production of poster and publicity and a range of other activities were put in place including Halloween helmet competition, a cycle smoothie maker, pedal-powered scalextrix, pumpkin competition, recycle arts and crafts. In addition a Fire Engine was planned to provide additional interest and safety advice. It is estimated that upwards of 200 people attended this fun event. The event ran out of safety lights as a result of the demand.
- Publicity – as well as achieving local press publicity, our events have been regularly published on social media by ourselves, VANEL and the agencies and organisations we have been working with.
Sustainability
Over the course of this year YMCA has continued to support a number of Community Games activities, through lending out equipment, providing volunteer support and providing small grants of funding. In addition to the fact there is still some monies left in the budget the following will ensure sustainability into next year and beyond.
* The Tug of War event held at Weelsby Summer Fayre and set up by residents of the Weelsby Estate was such a success that the resident group is planning to hold a bigger event next year, which following requests from children from the area will include a tug of war for youngsters as well as adults.
* An Equipment Hire Service is to be developed . In 2016 more advertising will be done to promote use of equipment. Up to now equipment has been lent out to community groups without without charge. This will ensure use of this equipment continues and benefit more community members.
* The Soup Kitchen is continuing, although this was set up to occur once a week it has been so popular that now it continues with 2 days for food each week and 2 days where coffee mornings are held. 40 people in need of support attend these events and this project to date will have supported in the region of 300 different people and will continue into the future
* The Beach Event was attended by 500 people and the businesses from the North promenade end of Cleethorpes commented on how much trade they had done as a result of the event. Traders have therefore agreed to work with event organisers to build on this year’s event in 2016.
Things that didn’t go to plan:
The purchase of the equipment provided a storage security risk, therefore we asked if some of the Change Programme funds could be used to develop a storage unit. This ensures that the investment will be protected and gives us an opportunity to maintain the equipment in good condition and order for future hiring. We are delighted with this and it provides more opportunities for volunteers and local organiations.
The Soup Kitchen Project – The soup kitchen project has been a revelation!. In April £250 was provided to help a group from Shalom set up a food day once a week for homeless people and residents struggling to get by. Although this was set up to occur once a week it has been so popular that now it continues with 2 days for food each week and 2 days where coffee mornings are held. 40 people in need of support attend these events and this project to date will have supported in the region of 300 different people and will continue into the future.