12 Jul YMCA SOUTHEND GAINS SUPPORT FROM VVU TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE IN CITY
YMCA Southend has received £18,830 from the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU) to provide support to young people in the city.
A recent report commissioned through Essex Council of Voluntary Youth Services (ECVYS) by the VVU, spoke to more than 1500 young people about what their biggest fears are and what makes them feel safe. Of these 1500 young people more than 130 of them were from Southend and they identified that having trusted adults in accessible spaces such as youth clubs would help them feel safe in their community.
Helping to provide a safe place for young people to go, YMCA Southend is delivering a range of services from its youth clubs. The youth support provider is offering free places at its youth club at the community centre in Leigh-on-Sea on Thursday nights from 5-8pm. The youth club offers pool tables, table tennis plus music workshops as well as support and advice to young people on a wide range of issues.
YMCA Southend will also be launching a new music club, which will take place on Wednesdays from 12 July (4.30-6pm 10–13-year-olds; 6.30-8pm 14–16-year-olds) at their Ambleside Drive branch in Southend. This will offer young people, even absolute beginners, the chance to learn a new instrument, such as drums, guitar or keyboard etc. Youth group leaders will also help young people start up their own band, learn how to write songs and record all genres of music from rock to hip hop.
Commenting on the opportunities being offered by YMCA Southend is Roger Hirst, Chair of Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex. He says: “Working in partnership with communities is the best way to deliver highly targeted support to the people that need it most. YMCA Southend are very experienced at providing safe spaces with trusted adults as well as innovative solutions that help give young people a better chance in life.”
YMCA Southend’s outreach team are also giving support on the streets of Southend, through detached youth work, providing assistance to young people, signposting them to services and also helping with any safeguarding issues.
YMCA Southend also runs the Youth Independent Advisory Group (YIAG) which meets quarterly at YMCA Eco Hub, 2a St John’s Road, with Essex Police to help improve relations between young people and the local police force. The youth service provider is keen to gain new members for this group, particularly those that have had experience with the police. Thanks to the YIAG, Essex Police has recently amended its training procedures on how to engage with young people with mental health issues.
Susan Roach, Youth Participation Officer, YMCA Southend, says: “We’re passionate about the work we do, we want to reach out into our communities, listen to our young people and deliver engaging activities that help them. Funding from the VVU will really help us deliver innovative projects and give young people the opportunity to expand their interests and have a positive focus.”
To discover more about the support on offer at YMCA Southend, visit www.southendymca.org.uk to book activities www.bookwhen.com/southendymca. To find out more about The Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit, visit www.essexvvu.co.uk
