Project Overview:
The ‘Reach Into Bedfordshire’ (RIB) programme has inspired and enthused females across Bedfordshire and Luton to become upskilled and deliver activity back into their local community. The project targeted females from disengaged communities and from BAME backgrounds. RIB has successfully upskilled a workforce ready to deliver activities targeted for their community needs. £9,700 was secured through a local grant in Bedfordshire in order to deliver the project.
Project Impact:
RIB’s successes have developed wider than just project outputs. The women have gained qualifications (in some cases leading to employment), led sessions tailored to their community and gained much needed confidence and support to deliver individually. RIB as also united groups, encouraging communities to socialise, have fun and it has also improved their health and wellbeing along the way.
In Bedford 58 females attend courses and qualifications in:
- Badminton
- Walking for Health
- Cycling
- Leadership in Running Fitness
One female said:
“I have fibromyalgia. These sessions have definitely helped a lot. I feel better.”
14 Asian ladies from a low socio economic background in Bedford embarked on a ‘Learn to Cycle’ course at Allen Park. Here are some of their comments after the first week:
‘It was the first time in my life doing something like that in the rain. Loved it!! Buzzing now’
‘The rain didn’t stop us’
In Luton we have seen wellbeing increase (using WEMWBS) from week one to week ten through the netball course, delivered by females qualified through the programme.
One quote from the Luton session reads:
“Thank you for the amazing opportunity you provided for me as a female.”
See infographic for more details.
Individual Development:
RIB has harnessed the individuals desire to develop their own community, by giving them the flexibility to become upskilled in an activity of their choice. Grants have been awarded to individuals who have evidenced that they are able to provide regular activity to those who need it most in their community. Given the nature of the target audiences, these are typical communities where prescribed programmes have minimal impact. Therefore the RIB programme, empowering females from within these communities, has been a huge success and achieved sustainable change.
One of the projects greatest achievements is the knock on effect for the wider community these individuals have made. It has provided us with valuable insight and enabled us to access the community influencers, who have then been able to create the best offer for their community. As the project has been designed locally by those in the community, participants have been fully engaged and we believe this is the reason for its success.
Video Links:
Volunteer run leader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPFPT6cDDa0
Community deliverers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyXkSsL7dos