Closing the Gap joins forces with Newford Residents Association

 

Closing the Gap (CtG) is a unique social inclusion programme based in Stoke-on-Trent. The programme's central theme is to improve health, well-being and quality of life for young people by facilitating increased involvement in sport and physical activity.

 

CtG formed a partnership with Newford Residents Association in March of this year with the intention of reducing anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood through the use of sport and physical activity.

 

Newford Residents Association holds a positive view of young people and is aware of the lack of facilities and activities in the area available to local residents. Both parties originally agreed upon an Action Plan that aimed to provide a sports programme within the New Ford area to the local young people. The idea is to offer support to the Residents Association by providing sports equipment, coaches and training of their staff in order to develop their organisations capacity to self sustain such a programme.

 

Since Closing the Gap has been working with Newford Residents Association, there have been many positives with the partnership moving in the right direction. This includes the recruitment of three new sports minded volunteers who have recently completed a Community Sports Leadership course. They are also due to take a National Governing Body Level 1 Award in a sport of their choice which will assist them in delivering sports sessions independently.

 

Additionally, the Residents Association has been successful in a funding bid to buy sports equipment, a storage container and training for volunteers.

 

 

Closing the Gap has also recently helped Newford Residents Association set up a Youth Committee which will shadow their regular committee. This will give the young people the opportunity to express their opinions and points of view. This has been hugely successful so far with 12 young people signing up to part of the committee and 5 of them taking on different job roles. These include a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sports Champion.

 

Both Closing the Gap and Newford Residents Association have developed a successful partnership with New Ford Primary School who have kindly offered their facility throughout the summer to allow the sports sessions to take place. The Head is extremely positive towards what the Residents Association is trying to achieve, many of her pupils are benefiting from the programme. Furthermore, a partnership with Norton Cricket Club has been established so that the sports sessions can continue throughout the winter on their flood lit 3g football pitch.

 

In the near future, Closing the Gap, along with Newford Residents Association plan to set up a football development centre aimed at 11-14 year olds as well as boxing and street dance sessions.

 

Ben Gibson
Programme Champion
T: 07920285984
E: Ben.gibson@stoke.gov.uk  

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Closing the Gap & Changes YP

Since November 2008 Closing the Gap have been working closely in partnership with Changes YP, a Stoke based charity aimed at providing support and advice to young people aged between 13- 25 who suffer from mental distress. The partnership aimed to develop sport and physical activity as a tool to improve the general wellbeing of staff, volunteers and young people. Physical and mental health is inextricably linked, however the barriers to participation that young people with mental health face are extensive.

 

Taster sessions were set up in March 09 with the aim of offering young people, volunteers and staff the chance to try new sports in a close, supportive environment. For ten weeks, the sessions were split into 45 minute halves. The first half of the session took place in the gym where a private session was set up. Members were supported by a qualified gym instructor and 10 week fitness plans were developed to track individual’s progress. The second half of the session was devoted to multi-sports in the sports hall. Young people participated in rounders, cricket, basketball, aerobics, dance and netball sessions. These sessions were aimed at breaking down psychological barriers to sport and increase the confidence of people who may not have done any physical activity since school.

 

Numbers were small to begin with, only 3 or 4 staff attending but as the weeks went on, the word spread and eventually 17 young people and staff were registered and attended regularly. Many of the members described how their fitness levels had increased over the ten weeks, and could see from their fitness plans how much of an improvement they had made. One young volunteer quotes that ‘since taking part in the sports project, I have carried on exercising at the gym and do a lot more walking. I felt a lot more motivated and also gained some confidence along the way’.

 

A ‘Festival of Fun’ was held at Northwood Stadium in August in partnership with Closing the Gap and Changes, and aimed to raise awareness of mental health and the benefits of being active. The event consisted of a range of activities including streetdance, disability sports, 5 a side football, art and crafts, and badminton. The day attracted members and volunteers from changes as well as young people from local disability organisations and partner organisations were invited to promote their projects. The day was also aimed at consulting with the young people and getting their views on sport to help develop future sporting projects. Almost 200 people attended and participated in activities, proving the event to be a huge success. Next year Changes have committed a budget to increasing the capacity of the day, ensuring the ‘Festival of Fun’ is an annual event in the Changes Calendar.

 

A CSLA Level 2 course has been held every Wednesday evening at the Hope Centre in Hanley over the last few months and was open to all members of Changes YP.  In November, 9 people comprising of staff, volunteers and young people completed the course enabling them to plan, lead and develop sports sessions safely. These qualified individuals are enthusiastic about using sport as a way of engaging differently with young people who access changes. Sport and physical activity is becoming more an accessible option for all members of Changes YP and there are more exciting developments on the horizon. A handball team has started to train every Wednesday for an hour, following on from the CSLA course and everyone over the age of 16 is encouraged to participate. Future CSLA courses will become a regular option of any new members of staff and volunteers, and can now be run by the lead of Changes YP who has completed the CSLA tutor’s course. Changes YP are also looking into the option of securing funding for a full-time sports development officer to take on and develop the work that has emerged from the partnership with Closing the Gap.

 

Richard Shenton
Operations Officer
Closing the Gap (Sports Development)
T: 01872 238871
E: Richard.Shenton@stoke.gov.uk