Albion in the Community: Helping young people to develop skills

Young people have spent more than 4,800 volunteering hours helping an array of projects across the city as part of a National Citizen Service (NCS) programme run by Brighton and Hove Albion FC's official charity.

The NCS is a government-funded personal and social development programme -aimed at people aged 15 to 17 - which gives young people the chance to gain new skills for their future. It also encourages them to take a more active role in their local community; earlier this year, Albion in the Community (AITC) secured the exclusive rights to deliver the scheme in Brighton and Hove.

The charity began delivering the NCS scheme in 2012 '“ initially to 30 young people '“ but winning the exclusive contract for Brighton and Hove has allowed AITC to significantly expand its NCS programme.

Within two years, the number expected to take part will reach almost 600 for the summer programme alone. By 2018, that figure will rise to more than 800.

Shortly after AITC landed the £2.4 million three-year deal, 180 young people embarked on their own NCS adventure with the charity. Those teenagers have now graduated from the NCS, having made a genuine difference to their local community '“ clocking up the impressive 4,800 hours of volunteering time between them.

The young people were split into 12 groups of 15 and enjoyed an action-packed week of outward-bound activities in Wales before returning to Sussex for a week attending skills development workshops.

Each team then chose a local project to deliver as part of the volunteering phase of the NCS '“ project-managing, sourcing materials from generous local companies, and working alongside charities or community groups.

These projects varied from befriending events with local elderly people to revamping community gardens and holding fundraising events for Brighton and Hove charities.

And Dan Garrett, NCS programme manager at AITC, said all the young people who took part should be proud of their efforts.

He said: 'This summer's projects continued to raise the bar for the quality of the community work our NCS programme delivers.

'The level of engagement and commitment I saw from the young people involved was fantastic. Seeing the teams so dedicated to making a difference in our community made me very proud and I was hugely impressed with their enthusiasm to deliver successful projects.

'Each community group or charity we worked with really appreciated their efforts and were happy with the outcome. We even had several organisations write letters of commendation or issue certificates in acknowledgment of their hard work.

'I hope everyone involved is proud of their achievements.'

NCS is now recruiting people aged 15 to 17 for future programmes. Telephone 01233 600135 or email [email protected] to register.

If you know of any organisations that might benefit from future NCS projects, email [email protected].

The projects

Squid Squad

Dean's Youth Club, Woodingdean

Revamped the neglected rear garden, adding a colourful seagulls mosaic, painting a beach hut, creating a seating area, and weeding and tidying borders all around the site.

Ninjas

Down's View School, Woodingdean

Transformed several areas. Created a mural of all the class animals, renovated school's lavender maze, and gave overgrown gardens a much-needed facelift.

Team 404

Time to Talk Befriending, St Johns Day Centre and Jasmine Court Sheltered Housing scheme

Befriended elderly people at venues across the city - spending time talking to, playing games with, and listening to stories from local elderly people. Also designed a poster campaign to raise awareness about loneliness and urging people to make time for a chat that could make someone's day.

The Hive

Transpride    

The team built relationships with the Transpride committee, learning lots about the Trans community and got fully involved in raising awareness of - and planning - the annual event in Dorset Gardens. They supported a range of activities, making and sourcing decorations for the event, designing posters and signs, and helping out on the day. The NCS stand at the gardens sold home-baked cakes in aid of Transpride.

Squad Goals

Heads On Charity at Rutland Gardens

Made-over front and rear gardens. Laid Astroturf into back garden BBQ area and painted a colourful sunset scene of Brighton behind patio area. Made new flowerbeds from donated wood.

J H Gream Camels

Albion in the Community

Raised over £1,100 for Albion in the Community by baking cakes and rattling tins. The team ran events where local people tried their skills at blind football in Preston Park and at Hangleton Park Open Day.

Team PAV

Brighthelm Nursery

Spruced up the nursery garden by creating flowerbeds and planting new flowers. Painted walls and brightened up the learning environment in the children's play area.

Squad

Friends of Brighton and Hove Hospitals

Fully renovated several overgrown rose gardens in the grounds of St Mary's Hall. Dug, cleared, pruned, and completely restored a memorial garden planted in memory of Michael Donovan Martin, bursar of St Mary's Hall, who died in 1959.

MFF4

Time to Talk Befriending, Partridge House, Ireland Lodge Care Home

The team organised and ran a befriending afternoon at Ireland Lodge Day Centre - entertaining the guests with acoustic performances, pamper sessions, and chats over tea and homemade cakes.

All Rise

Friends of Hangleton Park

Transformed a neglected end of Hangleton Park by clearing overgrown beds and paths. Created a vibrant and dynamic mural featuring the words 'Community' and 'NCS' to brighten up the area. The team then ran a stall at a park open day - selling cakes to raise funds for the Friends of Hangleton Park.

Fabulous 15

Shoreham Cadets

Gave a massive facelift to the area surrounding the cadet huts by clearing a huge overgrown area and making space for BBQs and a patio area. Also painted the cadet emblem inside the huts.

The Supremez

CLIC Sargent

Raised money for children with cancer by enlisting support from local businesses for prizes, selling cakes at a market, holding a sponsored walk and putting on a day of fundraising activities in the park with lucky dip stalls, Kick for CLIC challenge and more.

Richard Morris is media officer for Albion in the Community