West Hendon Youth Club
2
The Pitch
Problem statement
Our aim as a service provider is to work with children and young people (CYP) living in social housing and/or from low-income families. Supporting them by providing local safe spaces for them to meet with their friends. Giving them the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities and sports. Our team has worked with families in West Hendon (WH) since January 2020. WH sits in the 30% most deprived areas in the country. Making it difficult for families in the area to be able to afford extracurricular activity for their children. Regular exercise can improve children’s mental and physical health. This is why we want to use this funding to provide weekly multi-sports sessions for CYP in WH
Solution
The sessions will be open to all local residents aged 8 - 16 for 3 hours in the evening once a week. This project will run for 38 weeks in the term time and we will break for half terms and holidays. The sessions will take place in the Parkfield children’s centre, a secured venue. Each week CYP will be able to engage in different sports and activities appropriate for all abilities such as; hockey, badminton, rounders, tug of war, football, dodgeball and volleyball. The session will be complete free of charge to all registered CYP. This project will give young people the opportunity to feel part of a collective, develop social skills, self-esteem and encourage pro-social behaviour.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Our team has successfully worked with families on the Grahame Park, West Hendon and Stonegrove estate in Barnet. In addition to this we have delivered school assemblies in the borough and workshops for children in the new Claremont Park in Brent Cross. Since 2019 we have provided weekly activities for over 500 unique CYP. Since 2020 we have been able to build trusted relationships with CYP and families in the WH area. The CYP and families know our staff and enjoy the service we deliver, and they continue to come back. We also have established partnerships with other local organisations that offer mental health support, financial advice, and foodbank vouchers, that we can refer families to.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| sports coach @ £30 p/hr X 2 hours X 38 weeks | £2,280 |
| Sports Equipment | £1,000 |
| refreshments £20 p/w X 38 week | £760 |
| Project co ordination @ £200 per term | £600 |
| venue hire (In Kind) | £0 |
| Volunteer Expenses | £360 |
Beneficiaries
30 people
Expected impact
The project aims to have a positive impact on CYP living in WH, by providing increased access to safe spaces, and improved physical and mental health. The project will provide opportunities for CYP to interact with their peers from diverse backgrounds. By participating in team sports and activities, they can develop social skills, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging within their community. The sessions will encourage prosocial behaviour. The measurable targets will include: *30 - 40 unique individuals to engage in the programme *Participant satisfaction rate of 80% or higher, evaluated through member surveys *Increased physical activity amongst participants, evaluated through member surveys *Participant retention, CYP should want to come back and individual attendance should be over 60 % over the 38 week period
Track record
Our organisation has worked in the West Hendon area with families for three and a half years. Since this time we now have a database of families with whom we have a trusted relationship to engage with and support. In the past we have successfully delivered Homework club, sports sessions, parent and carer workshops, dance classes, football tournaments, and offsite trips with groups of CYP in WH. in 2022 our service delivered 750 hours of Term time support to children and young people living in Barnet. And 390 hours of support in the half term and school holidays period. The CYP have told us that they enjoy the variety of offsite trips the youth club provides, and the youth club is a place where they have been able to “make new friends”.