The Key Project recently received funding from Rise as part of the Young People Forward Project (YPF). The funding has helped bring about positive change in the well-being of the vulnerable young people the project supports. The case study below is written by one of the workers at the Key Project.
Young People Forward- South Tyneside Churches KEY Project
I am a progression coach for the Key Project. I have worked at Key since October 2020. The work that is carried out throughout the whole charity is incredible and I feel incredibly proud and grateful to work for such an amazing charity. Due to being a charity, we do depend significantly on funding and external organisations to provide financial support for us to continue to support young people and their families.
The funding from RISE, has meant that myself and two other progression coaches were given the opportunity to progress and enrol on a Level 3 Sports Coaching qualification. However, the biggest and most transformation aspect the funding from Rise has allowed, is the opportunities for the young people.
Prior to being given this funding the young people were involved in providing feedback around what they felt was important and could really make a difference. The feedback provided us with an idea of what else we could provide to enhance their experience in our support accommodations and move on properties, sports equipment and outdoor activities were highlighted by almost all the young people.
After being granted this funding, the young people were involved with every step, from looking at what sports equipment they would like, to giving us ideas of what they envisaged regarding the gardening project. The young people and I sat and created an itemised list of what we would need for the physical activities/classes. Since receiving the equipment, it has changed the whole dynamics of our supported accommodations, the young people now spend their time more meaningfully with activities which promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
The sports equipment has brought the young people together, providing them with further opportunities to develop social skills, teamwork, physical health, mental and emotional health, as well as being able to find new hobbies which they have stated they would like to maintain once they continue their journey when they move onto independent living. The sports equipment has also had a massive impact on how other coaches, and I are able to complete our weekly supports with the young people, some young people have found that they are a lot more comfortable in expressing how their feeling etc when they are preoccupied playing a sport, in comparison to supports carried out while sat chatting.
Seeing their ideas and feedback come to fruition has empowered the young people and allowed for them to influence their own experiences while at The Key Project. This will continue to impact many young people in the future, which is incredible. I have been passionate about positive mental health throughout my whole career and this opportunity to enhance our ability to promote a healthy body and health mind is something in which I am personally incredibly grateful for.
I have noticed a significant difference in the use of meaningful time being spent by the residents, the level of socialising which occurs and the level of engagement with the equipment in support sessions. Overall, the sports equipment has already proven to bring about such positive and invaluable opportunities and change within the charity.
Accommodations Progression coach:
“Having the sports equipment has made such a significant difference in our supported accommodation as it is keeping our residents active and motivated to lead a healthier, fitter lifestyle.”
Participant 3:
Accommodation’s night shift worker.
“Its nice to have sports equipment to use it brings everyone close together when playing football and stuff”
Participant 4:
“I think sports equipment and the gym motivates the residents to stay fit and healthy, the gardening area promotes being self-sufficient and a healthy lifestyle”
Participant 5:
“I think because whenever people are bored there is always sports equipment in the garden to do which also helps with working out”
Participant 6:
“I feel the training equipment helps because it brings everyone out making it a friendlier environment and helps keep everyone busy”
Young People Forward project
The Young People Forward Project aims to use sport to improve the physical and mental health, self-efficacy and resilience of young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across the North of England and Scotland.
6 Active Partnerships and Street Soccer Scotland are working directly with 570 young people and with 42 specialist community organisations to embed sport and physical activity sessions into their programmes. Additional support will also be given to help some of the young embark on a journey out of homelessness.
The London Marathon Charitable Trust awarded a £600,000 grant to Active Partnerships which was made possible from money donated by Virgin Money.