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Community projects led by and for young people in Stockport have received £27,927 in Special Projects from R Time.
The funding supports young people to make decisions and take action, which positively affects their communities and the people who live in them, resulting in reduced anti-social behaviour. The R Time Special projects funding is jointly managed by Life Leisure, the Stockport Youth Justice and Targeted Youth Support Services and Stockport Homes Group.
Cllr Amanda Peers said:
The projects that have been funded are borough-wide and cover a broad range of fun and engaging activities led by young people for young people. We wish all eleven projects every success and can’t wait to see the difference they make in their communities.”
Many sporting activities have received funding; these include several football projects; St4ND and Stockport Homes, Foundations group will use the funding to set up football leagues. The grant will also enable Stockport Youth Justice and Targeted Youth Support to offer more of the young people they support the opportunity to access their commissioned football programmes. Helping even more disenfranchised young people to connect with others in their community.
A group of young people in Bridgehall and Cheadle Heath have identified the need for basketball sessions. Allowing them the opportunity to learn new skills from a qualified coach, take ownership of the project and pass on their knowledge to younger generations, making it a sustainable provision in that area.
Zestus Amateur boxing will be funding free boxing and fitness classes; working with R Time’s detached youth work team, they will signpost young people to the sessions. Community Active Stockport will provide a taster programme of recreational sports activities, delivered over 12 weeks, including squash, table tennis, Boxercise, fitness, street dance and esports.
Other activities funded cover a broad spectrum of social benefits. Lucy Harris, Assistant Head in charge of Personal Development at St Anne’s school, Heaton Chapel, said:
“The funding will make such a difference to a group of our year ten boys. They will benefit from a ‘Future Ready’ programme, delivered by expert providers Pursuing Individual Excellence (PIE). The project will include completing personality tests and vision boards to help consider strengths and future goals, workshops with a local poet, a six-week social action project, digital skills development, and the opportunity to visit two workplaces and learn about careers in the creative digital sector, and construction.”
Beth Nunn, Founder of PIE, added:
“It is so important to allow young people to work on projects to support their communities. So, they develop vital life skills such as project management, teamwork and budgeting but also to help them realise the power of their work and actions.”
The Cherry Tree Project will fund a Duke of Edinburgh Award, benefitting a further 30 young people in the Romiley community (pictured). Autisk will create a social group that SEND young adults from Adswood can access, providing a safe and supportive environment.
For Lancashire Hill Youth Group, the funding will help them establish and sustain cooking workshops to develop essential life skills, promote healthy eating, and reduce food poverty in the wider family.
Finally, Green Thumbs will fund a project that engages and inspires the young people of Brinnington to get involved in gardening and growing their own food, with a friendly competition to spice things up.
The R Time Special projects funding inspires a creative, youth-led approach to the provision in the borough. The next round of funding is expected to be announced in December 2021.