Groups to bring positive change to young people’s lives

Published16th March 2020

The Seeds for Change Fund was established in July 2019 to finance community-based projects which will bring about a positive change.

The Fund focuses on projects which;

  • Improve life chances of young people in the town;
  • Deter young people from life in gangs, drugs and crime;
  • Improve young people’s resilience and life choices (opportunities).

The Fund was established with contributions of £120,000 from Ipswich Borough Council and £20,000 from Suffolk County Council.

After receiving a wide range of applications, seven have been approved and will receive a total of £71,027 (just over 50% of the total fund). They are:

Ipswich Kickboxing Academy – Jab Not Stab

Ipswich Kickboxing Academy is offering free martial arts sessions to young people from their gym based in the town centre. Funding is requested to deliver 12 sessions that will run once weekly with the aim of teaching attendee’s self-discipline, self-awareness, confidence and steering young people towards sport and engagement to support them on their journey to becoming a better person.

Denise Gibbons – New Beginnings

New Beginnings is a self-esteem course is aimed at teenage females run across two-hour sessions that will run for six weeks. Its purpose is to support young females to consider how life choices are influenced by how they feel about themselves. The course aims to support young women to respect themselves, raise confidence and make choices to improve their life chances.

African Caribbean Youth Creative Learning Experience (ACYCLE) – Make a Connection

This project offers an education and cultural programme for young people aged 5-12 years old of African, Caribbean and dual heritage backgrounds living in Ipswich. The project will deliver regular, developmental, cultural and educational sessions to motivate, inspire and promote positive citizenship amongst young people. Sessions such as music, creative arts, writing, song, drama, creative media and history will be designed and delivered with young people in order to build inner reliance and confidence, instil a positive self-image, raise aspirations, increase motivation and improve attainment.

Future Female Society – Girls Where You At?

Girls Where You At? aims to work with a diverse range of girls who are vulnerable and at risk of exploitation. The project will run regular sessions engaging 10-12 young girls at risk on a weekly basis. The project will create a safe, engaging and fun environment that will develop increased confidence, self-esteem, self-awareness and team working skills. The Sessions will run weekly for one year, from South Street Studios and will incorporate some weekend and holiday activities.

Positive Futures – Fund, Fitness and Food Project

The project aims to run a holiday hunger project for young people in areas of disadvantage in Ipswich. The project will co-ordinate a programme of free, referral-based activity sessions supplemented by a nutritious meal for each participant during the Easter, May and October (2020) and February (2021) school holidays. The programme will provide activity opportunities in 3 locations for 15-25 young people a day (two-hour sessions) during the school holidays.

BSC Multicultural Services (BSCMS) – Sporting Citizenship Project

This project is aimed at engaging young people of BME backgrounds who live in and around Norwich Road area of Ipswich. The project mixes sports with ESOL, citizenship classes, advice and guidance. The project will plan and deliver 30 Sporting and Recreational sessions (incorporating citizenship classes) and organise three tailor-made workshops on cultural awareness and understanding to overcome barriers and reduce misunderstandings and community tensions. It will also deliver six additional support sessions (e.g. ESOL, IT and advice and guidance). This is a one-year project.

Suffolk New College – Stepping Up

This project is designed to support 18 x vulnerable BME males (16-19 years displaying disruptive and anti-social behaviours in College and on the periphery of gang culture) who are at risk of exclusion. The project aims to support these young people to improve learner behaviour, learner engagement, attendance and reduce the risk of participation in criminal activity. Suffolk New College aims to bring in creative agencies and professional practitioners with expertise with disengaged learners to help create a supportive, engaging programme that will improve attendance and lead to the attendees accessing ongoing learning. This is a 12-week project. 

Seeds for Change is a joint project between Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council.

 

Caption: Borough Councillor Alasdair Ross and County Councillor Paul West with representatives of the seven community groups at today’s launch