GCHR YMCA & Partners pilot the Nomad Football Cage
Year by year the period on the calendar between Halloween and Bonfire Night sees the greatest number of incidents of anti-social behaviour committed by young people. 'Trick or treating' can be used as a means to bully and intimidate, and fireworks ignited at inappropriate times and in inappropriate places can be a community menace. The dark nights of early winter, presenting fewer opportunities for safe and creative outdoor youth activity, quickly leads to boredom for many of our young people.
This year GCHR YMCA, in partnership with the Young People's Support Services (YPSS), Humberside Police, Youth for Christ, Willows Community Church, West Grimsby Team Ministry (The Parish of Great and Little Coates with Bradley) City Church, Oasis Church Wintringham, and Oasis Immingham Community Hub set about providing young people on our most disadvantaged housing estates with a distraction - the Nomad football cage experience.
Malcolm Smith, Deputy CEO at GCHR YMCA, explains "As part of the ONE project we wanted to work with the local churches to facilitate them engaging in the local community whilst at the same time meeting a real local need. Through our relationships with YPSS and Humberside Police, National Youth Work week was specifically highlighted as one in which the whole community could come together to provide positive activities for young people to engage in. The week was a great success with the team working in 3 schools and locating the cage in 4 areas in North East Lincolnshire but of greater achievement was the manner in which Churches, Community groups and Statutory services were able to work together for the community."
This year GCHR YMCA, in partnership with the Young People's Support Services (YPSS), Humberside Police, Youth for Christ, Willows Community Church, West Grimsby Team Ministry (The Parish of Great and Little Coates with Bradley) City Church, Oasis Church Wintringham, and Oasis Immingham Community Hub set about providing young people on our most disadvantaged housing estates with a distraction - the Nomad football cage experience.
Malcolm Smith, Deputy CEO at GCHR YMCA, explains "As part of the ONE project we wanted to work with the local churches to facilitate them engaging in the local community whilst at the same time meeting a real local need. Through our relationships with YPSS and Humberside Police, National Youth Work week was specifically highlighted as one in which the whole community could come together to provide positive activities for young people to engage in. The week was a great success with the team working in 3 schools and locating the cage in 4 areas in North East Lincolnshire but of greater achievement was the manner in which Churches, Community groups and Statutory services were able to work together for the community."
The pilot project is now being evaluated, and the findings will form the basis of some immediate funding bids which, if successful, will see this innovative crime reduction strategy made available throughout the year and at sites where it is most needed.
[07.11.2011]
[07.11.2011]