The young Peoples project successfully used physical activity to engage and connected with young people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Young People Forward was funded by the London Marathon Charitable Trust. It provided 6 Active Partnerships and Street Soccer Scotland with funding to work with young people who were homeless or those at risk of homelessness. The work focused on offering opportunities the opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity. It also provided progression activities for young people and funded equipment and training that could leave a lasting legacy in the 49 delivery organisations involved.
Achievements
The delivery of Young People Forward has:
- Engaged 722 young people
- Created progression opportunities for 60% of the young people engaged
- Delivered 294 physical activity sessions
- Worked with 49 delivery organisations or partners involved in working with homeless young people or young people at risk of homelessness
Impact
Young People Forward has created opportunities for young people to take part in sport and physical activity. For the young people who took part in Young People Forward:
- 51% showed an increase in personal wellbeing indicators around happiness
- 58% showed an improvement in their levels of anxiety
- 39% showed an increase in the number of days when they completed more than 30 minutes of physical activity
It takes my mind off all the stuff I am dealing with it helps me feel something instead of feeling numb’ Young Person
Benefits of keeping active are endless I can find myself, my mental health is not great, if I sit about the house and let myself dwell into that not really doing anything instead
of coming out and being active I find my confidence and my positivity and my general levels of depression are much worse. If I come along to a session and feel good, get sweaty it makes you feel good for the rest of the day’ Young Person
It definitely improves my mental health for sure, when I go home I feel positive about my day, I feel better for coming out in general you don’t feel so grim, so it it’s something that I need for my mental health you know’ Young Person
The key leanings were;
- The insight gained from the evaluation adds to the evidence base that sport and physical activity can be a hugely valuable tool to engage young people who are at risk or who are experiencing homelessness
- Alongside the mental and physical benefits to a young person of being active, taking part in activities together can help build a different relationship between the young person and their support worker
- More opportunities should be created to raise awareness of the value of sport and physical activity among partner organisations and to equip them with the skills they need to embed it in their delivery
- Active Partnerships are a good conduit to local organisations supporting young people, but these partnerships take time to build
The project has now been completed and a short report and full report are now available.
Personal Stories
The individual and organisations impact stories from the programme reiterate how being physically active has helped changed these vulnerable young people’s lives. Read more about some of the individuals who lives have been transformed.
Badr Alanizay, a refugee from Bidoon in Kuwait, completed the Virgin Money London Marathon earlier this month. Badr (20) arrived in England in 2018 unable to speak English and with no family or friends to support him. However, after receiving life-changing assistance from the Lancashire-based Young People Forward project, Badr was able to upskill, make friends and embrace his passion and natural ability for sport.
Jennifer and David were supported to improve their mental and physical wellbeing by being active
Ryan was homeless and in a very vulnerable situation. Through support and mentoring from the YPF project, Ryan has got involved in activities and improved his skills to live independently and apply for the Army
The YPF project helped fund a diverse range of physical activity opportunities for their young people.
The two organisations came together through the YPF project which has resulted in numerous positive impacts
Read how a worker at the project has seen how new activity equipment and training 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.
Additional Information
The Young People Forward Project aimed 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.
The funding was distributed by Active Partnerships to seven delivery partners in the North of England and Scotland who provided physical activity sessions in 11 areas: Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Humber, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, Edinburgh, West Lothian and Glasgow.
The London Marathon Charitable Trust awarded a £600,000 grant to Active Partnerships which was made possible from money donated by Virgin Money.
For more information on YPF click here