RCC 8 – YMCA Community Games
Proposer: John Manton
Funding allocated: £8,774
The Proposal:
The programme was intended to provide affordable physical activity from a range of different venues and events across the North East Lincolnshire area. The funding was used to purchase equipment for youth games and local organisations to use. It created a bank of equipment that organisations can borrow to run their own community events; to be supported where necessary by apprentices. The project also needed a secure store for the equipment. It bought gazebos, a generator and compressor, sumo suits, tug of war rope, fridge, volleyball nets inflatables ( wrecking ball) etc.; and chains to cordon off areas: The YMCA also managed to secure a further £10kfunding pot to match the RCC grant.
“This would not have been possible without the RCC funding”.
Twenty different community events have been supported to date, with more booked – without the equipment being openly advertised yet. While in the early part of 2015 there were almost 4000 beneficiaries, the events have now been on such a scale that it is impossible to identify the total numbers of people who have benefitted. The organisations that have used the equipment for event support include, North East Lincolnshire Cycle Hub, Shalom, Grimsby Rugby Club, Sports Development, St John & St Stephen’s Church, local Scout groups, student groups and Union, just to name a few.
For example, The Tug of War event held at Weelsby Summer Fayre and set up by residents of the Weelsby Estate in 2015 was such a success that the resident group held a bigger event in 2016; Following requests from children from the area it included a tug of war for youngsters as well as adults.
The 2015 Beach Event in Cleethorpes 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. It also contributed to the successful establishment of the Big Local Project, and involved Change Champions from ENFUSE at Vanel. Traders and event organisers planned to build on the event in 2016 but it was postponed following an Armed Forces Day visit by the Prime Minister which impacted on planning. An even bigger event is now planned for 2017.
The YMCA is also using with the Youth Contract and with young apprentices which is providing additionality through a sustainability model. Volunteers are trained to set up and run their own groups in their own community, with access to the equipment (and professional support). They have quickly established three groups in. Immingham, Stallingborough and the Grange. They are running with extensive volunteers: the Grange is run entirely by volunteers supported by a worker, while the YMCA provides safeguarding training, insurance etc. The Grange also has its own Neets group who organise activities, linking in other orgs and using the equipment.
An Equipment Hire Service being developed. A charge is now being introduced for use of the equipment, set below market rates. This will ensure use of this equipment is sustainable, enabling broken or worn out equipment to be replaced and benefit more community members. The purchase of the equipment provided a storage security risk, and some of the funds have been used to develop a storage unit. This is a success and it provides more opportunities for volunteers and local organisations.
The Soup Kitchen Project – The soup kitchen project has been a revelation! In April 2015 £250 was provided to help a group from Shalom set up a food day on the East Marsh 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. The project has supported several hundred people.