Youth

Project Leader: Gary Lockhart Project Team Members: Gary Lockhart (Youth Caseworker) Valeria Aquino (Youth Activities worker) Number of Volunteers: 4 Number of Clients served: 82 Number of New Cases: 25

Project Description

The Youth Project supports young asylum seekers aged 13-21. Our aim, by running a weekly youth club and other activities, is to help young people grow friendships and support networks, gain confidence with English, and develop a fulfilled life in the UK. This in turn helps young people navigate a complicated asylum system that often has a negative impact on their emotional well-being. The club initially ran from 5-8 pm and included food, group activities, and games. Each week, young people would be able to meet friends and socialise over food, pool, table tennis, then everyone would be brought together for a big activity to make it easier for new members to integrate. The volunteers provided specialist advice and the opportunity for young people to chat one-on-one about any issues they were struggling with. This support was beneficial to young people new to the city.

Project Successes

• Since the beginning of March 2022, attendance at the youth club has increased steadily • Notts County Foundation has agreed to fund 2 months’ free gym membership at the Portland

Centre • 13 young people attended our first group visit to the cinema • Valeria has been managing the youth group bookings with the Mansfield Road Methodist

Church Manager, Andrea • She has implemented upgrading of equipment and ensuring food and snacks are available • Valeria has also organised all the events held at the youth club as well as managing the funds appropriately, to meet the needs of the children • Events organised so far this year have been enjoyed and well attended

Project Targets/Outcomes

Increase attendance (pre-lockdown): restarting the connection with foster care and college networks helped us to establish contact with new groups of people

Provide workshops to improve young people’s safety, emotional wellbeing, and

employability: we are planning sessions about phone safety, creative workshops, and maths and English if support is requested Improve one to one casework and orientation: a youth caseworker has been in place since December 2021. Since then, it has been possible to follow up and resolve any issues or needs of the young people

Create feedback questionnaire for consultation around possible activities young people

would like to see: it is important to know what activities young people would like to do during the year. Creating a space where they can choose what to do will contribute to improving their confidence and self-esteem

Plans and hopes for the coming year

Implement a new client feedback, comments, and suggestion form. Plan specific events for females only. Ensure that young people understand what support can be offered and become empowered to participate and lead.

“Thank you Youth clubs is very good and give us opportunity to learn new things, as well they do different kind of activities as which is helpful thank you so much”

Youth club client

“Meeting with the youth club was a pleasant time for me. We had a lot of fun and we met with such a lovely people in there. We played games like basketball, bowling which was incredible. It is good opportunity for people like as to relax, to build confidence and to learn new things. You guys are doing best job keep it.” Youth club client “

Appreciation: we would like to thank…

• Nottingham Education Sanctuary Team (NEST) – Jude Clark (Head Teacher) Beth Hilditch (School counsellor) Charlotte Datjis (Admin Manager) • Sandy Redgate, Clinical Specialist Nurse, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) • Helen Lambert, Operations Manager, YMCA Greater Nottingham Unaccompanied Asylum-

Seeking Children (UASC) Project • Laura Nellums, Assistant Professor in Global Health, University of Nottingham • Lauren Cotton, Sports Inclusion Manager, Notts County Foundation • Tessa Hannigan, Employability Support Worker, BELONG • Jane Byrd, Nottingham City of Sanctuary • Andrea Dowdie, Mansfield Road Baptist Church • Ellie Winfield, St. Nic’s Church