LIFE CHANGING PROJECTS

Youth Diversion - Reducing Crime & Substance Misuse Projects

Moonlight Sports projects for young people aged 11-25 at risk of offending at a diversionary activity every Friday night in multiple sites such as Borehamwood and Luton. Whilst, upskilling young people to become local ambassadors to help them give back to their local community. This has been achieved by working in partnership with Herts Sports Partnership, Catalyst Housing Group, Clarion Housing Group and local authorities. These sessions offer far more to the local community than purely physical activity. The benefits of being involved in sport are widely documented; discipline, teamwork, leadership, morale, confidence and productivity are just some of the positive outcomes. Also, given the appeal of sport for so many young people, it presents a great opportunity to tackle the social issues some of these young people may be experiencing to aid the development of the individuals and the community as a whole. As a result, we provide these young people with a positive way to socialise and get active at the same time, whilst diverting them from ASB. Our consistent team often builds a positive rapport with young people that helps to integrate a very inclusive community.

Employability Projects

By working with housing associations and local residents accessing physical well-being and health related services and often exceeding targets of participation, this type of project is supported with the provision of training such as Mental Health First Aid, Safeguarding and Emergency First Aid. Recently, we exceeded our targets with the example of one site creating 16 volunteers that completed the training. This led to the positive outcome of providing the following 16 employment outcomes through traineeships offered by the Green Skills Partnership that the young people enrolled on to including: Construction, Scaffolding, Hospitality Services, Business Administration, Personal Fitness Instructors and Health & Safety. The majority of young people were NEETs, ages 16-25, with complex issues such as learning difficulties, substance misuse and previously involved in youth related crime, 65% male, 55% female, with an ethnic mix of approximately 60% white and the rest BAME, including black African, black Caribbean, eastern European and refugees.

Homeless Projects

Our Satellite Clubs successfully delivered boxercise and personal fitness training with mentoring support to an inclusive group of homeless young adults and people with complex issues in Hertfordshire. Upskilling our participants to become volunteers and guiding them on their personal journey to improve their physical and mental well-being. This has proven to be a positive transformational activity programme to homeless shelter residents and through outreach work that involved partners, including Herts Sports Partnership, The Haven Stevenage, Archers Health & Fitness Club, Pro-Action Herts, North Herts Sanctuary and Herts Young Homeless. This project developed into becoming intergenerational by including all ages which was an unexpected bonus with younger participants sharing digital skills and older participants sharing life experiences. The Princes’ Trust are another key partner who are eager to support such projects due to the increase in homeless and lack of provision to cope with demand.

Projects are often backed up with the following:

•           Providing Motivational Talks from speakers sharing valuable life experiences including ex-offenders who have transformed their lives, plus social and business entrepreneurs.

•           Careers signposting and support with our network of training providers.

•           Offering mentoring support when required for both male and female.

•           Training available such as Safeguarding and Mental Health First Aid.

•           Advice on programme development.

Play Rangers

This consists of free inclusive outdoor fun activities for ages 8-11 and 12-16. An exciting variety of Street Games Style multi-sports activities during the school holidays that everyone can join in. Our experienced, locally based and highly motivated team of sports coaches provide children and young people the opportunity to participate in an informal scheme with a huge variety of sports activities, adapted to suit the age groups, such as rounders, dodgeball, cricket, space hoppers, skittles, football, boules, Street Golf, Pop-Up Tennis and Badminton Smash Up.

Themed Youth Projects in Hertfordshire

Stevenage Stoney Hall – Inclusive Youth Club & EmpowHER (Girls only)

Music Sound Creators with UK Youth in Watford & Stevenage

Services For Young People (1) – weekly sessions in Waltham Cross, Welwyn Garden City & Sawbridgeworth.

Services For Young people (2) – supporting school holiday across Hertfordshire.

Schools – working closely with CDA Herts and Family Lives to increase the aspirations of children and young people of all ages, in particular with a focus on their personal development by working in London and Hertfordshire, including Pupil Referral Units.