Blend
How has the Blend Youth Project come about?
The Blend Youth Project is an attempt to address a gap in service provision for young people in the Ripley and Heanor areas of Derbyshire. The Blend Youth Project is based in both Ripley and Heanor. They have come about through consultation with 300+ young people in the area and have been designed with their opinions/suggestions in mind.
In particular the young people placed a high priority on having a safe place to meet/socialize with friends, access activities, and access info, advice and support from youth workers.
The Blend Youth Project has therefore been driven and shaped by the participation and views of young people together with extensive support from other key agencies in the area and will continue to evolve and develop on this basis.
In addition an analysis of local:
- Socio-economic statistics
- Policy and strategy context
- Health statistics
- Crime statistics
Also demonstrates the strategic importance of the Blend Youth Project.
What is the Blend Youth Project trying to achieve?
The ethos of the project is best captured in the tag line, "Raising Aspirations, Releasing Potential". We want to provide space in which young people can feel safe and supported to aspire to achieve in their lives and to provide activities and programmes which are designed to capture and release this potential. The activities and programmes provided through the Youth Project will be based around four core youth work curriculum areas:
- Leisure and Recreational Needs
- Social Issues faced by young people
- Developmental Needs and Tasks in Adolescence
- Complementing formal education (working with young people at risk of exclusion to provide alternative education routes to accreditation)
The aim of the project is therefore to enable young people to undertake a range of activities that will improve their health, quality of life, reduce the risk of young people getting involved in alcohol misuse, crime and antisocial behaviour and to address the lack of facilities for young people in the locality.
The outcomes that Valley CIDS is seeking to help achieve through this project are fivefold:
- Young people will have the opportunity to try new activities and improve their aspirations and will develop self confidence, improve their self-esteem and gain new practical and social skills.
- Young people will become more involved in the community
- Young people will be more aware of the risks of drug and alcohol misuse and will be better equipped to look after their health and that of their families
- Young people will have a better awareness of advice, benefits and support that is available
- Young people will be less likely to become involved in criminal and anti-social behaviour
How is the physical space used?
The building is equipped to address the stated needs of young people for leisure and learning activities. Downstairs provides an area in which young people can safely and comfortably socialize with friends or discreetly access information/advice. There is also be a fully equipped coffee bar serving drinks/snacks, an internet café and games area. In addition there is also office space to accommodate the Youth Work team. Upstairs provides , a meeting room, IT Suite, counselling/mentoring room, multi-purpose room and storage space.
How is the project staffed?
The Project is staffed by Valley CIDS Youth Work staff together with input at present from the Youth Service. We do also need to continue to recruit and train a volunteer base.
How is the project funded?
The project's core funding has come through the Big Lottery's Young People's Fund. This in turn is match funded by Valley CIDS. Some additional funding for particular elements of the project has also been secured through Amber Valley Community Safety Partnership, the Youth Capital Fund and the local Police.
Contact
The Blend Youth Project
38 Nottingham Road
Ripley
Derbyshire
DE5 3DJ
Tel: 01773 749975
Email: info@blendyouthproject.co.uk
The Blend Youth Project
15 Mundy Street
Heanor
Derbyshire
DE75 7EB
Tel: 01773 769980