Agenda item

(A)  NG7 TEA

Bill Husband, NG7 Training and Employment Advice, delivered a brief presentation, a copy of which was included in the online agenda following the meeting.

The presentation outlined the following points:

(a)  NG7 provides support to existing community associations, including partnership working with City Council Nottingham Community Voluntary Services (NCVS) towards implementing the Community Centre Improvement Plan 2013-19;

(b)  the 2014/15 funding allocations were provided as follows:

of the £103,930.60 Area Based Grant, community associations were allocated £19,243, employment and skills focused work £39,000, youth activity £43,403.22, and NG7 management and administration £5196.53. In addition to this other funding of £21, £428 was available for digital inclusion, and £140,000 provided further ‘Step In To Work’ programmes;

(c)  the presentation outlined the activities and achievements of the work undertaken by NG7 with regard to employment and skills, and youth activities and provision including diversionary and targeted support, including working with community partners such as KK, AWP Asian Women’s Project, Sumac, in addition to City Council organised programmes;

(d)  many of the supported and provided projects and services have successfully engaged young people in a range of activities from hair and beauty, to sports and community focused events;

(e)  DarynaGrech of KK Sports and Leisure Centre, outlined how providing a variety of activities for young people, including dance, boxing and football, had positively impacted on the area with a reduction in antisocial nuisance behaviour. In addition, where project workers, who are often able to build relationships with young people, identify there are issues, guidance and support is available.

(B)  The Pythian Club

Benjamin Rosser, founder of the Pythian Club, informed the committee that while the Pythian Club was originally an organisation providing diversionary activities, its success has enabled it to now also provide targeted activities, often in partnership with the City Council, Nottinghamshire Police and Lead Organisations.

The majority of activities are based at the New Basford Community Centre and currently includes football sessions hosted by qualified coaches every Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm, with the young people then taken into other areas of the City to play against other community teams. In addition boxing sessions, American football coaching is also available alongside a mentoring programme for drugs and alcohol and family support.

While sports teach young people discipline, the club has broader aims to encourage young people’s confidence and skills for the best outcomes, including young people to progress and gain sport focused accreditations.

The club currently has 250 young people registered, 83 of whom are from the New Basford Area, the club now operates, or has some involvement in Wollaton, Lenton Abbey, Beeston, Brinsley and Eastwood areas as the success of youth engagement is enabling the club to expand.

(C)  Hyson Green Youth Club

In addition to the report submitted to the Agenda, Maxine Davis, Manager of the Hyson Green Youth Club, along with Shantay, Ezerien and Kamiya, members of the Youth Club, delivered a brief presentation on the success and popularity of the Youth Club and how Hyson Green Youth Club benefited the greater community. The presentation also outlined young people’s aspirations for the future of the youth club as the building was in need of updating and modernisation.

Members of the committee:

(i)  welcomed the reporting of the ventures and organisations;

(ii)  applauded young people from Hyson Green Community Centre for their professional presentation to the committee and dedication to the youth club;

(iii)  suggested that Maxine Davis liaise with community focused representatives of Castle Cavendish and Experian which, as large companies, encouraged and coordinated employee volunteering, such as painting and decorating, for community benefit;

(iv)  suggested that, in addition to the support of the Central Locality Manager, Dorothy Holmes, and with the assistance offered from Bill Husband, a business plan and strategy be developed to support the rejuvenation of the Hyson Green Youth Club, possibly from external funding;

(v)  noted that new and emerging communities, such as the Roma community, were engaging with the local community via the youth club which proved it to be a community asset.

RESOLVED for the appreciation of the committee to the presenting organisations and individuals to be noted.