YOUTH PROVISION
Cath Mercer
looks at the
work of new
charity OnSide
to create youth provision in
the North West of England
that is sustainable and
engaging
HIS WEEK Jeremy Glover MBE steps
T
down from a 31-year career at the
Bolton Lads and Girls Club (BLGC)
to take the helm of new youth charity
OnSide. Staying OnSide
Mr Glover will lead a team that has
been recruited to replicate the success
of BLGC across the North West (in Oldham, Blackburn,
Manchester, Wigan and Carlisle).
The success of BLGC (open seven-nights-a-week, North West Regional Development Agency, matched by representatives from the public sector, who will work “The one-to-one dimension of mentoring the key,”
at weekends and during holidays) remains undisputed £300,000 from the private sector. It has also received £25 closely with local authorities and education. Also, a sense explained Mr Glover. “It makes all the difference in
among the 3,000 young people who pour through its million of the government’s MyPlace funding, which of ownership among the young people who will use the the world for a young person to know there is someone
doors each week to take part in activities in state-of-the- will enable it to build four new youth zones (with a fifth facility is crucial. dedicated to them and it gives them the chance to
art facilities, including a sports hall, gyms, dance studio, funded by private sector investment). Jodie Barber, empowerment and participation officer progress for the first time in years.
all-weather football pitch, and café. “The most important and pressing task,” Mr Glover at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, explained: “For me, the jewel in the crown of the BLGC is
Under Mr Glover’s leadership, the club established explained, “is to get young people off the streets and “At the start of the project we put together a Young the mentoring programme which has been developed
a reputation as a model of best practice cited in the engage them in constructive activities in the company of People’s Development Group. They have put their heart over 13 years and tailored specifically for this type of
government’s Aiming High for Young People strategy positive people. and soul into contributing their own ideas to the design of environment – for kids from all different backgrounds, of
and provided inspiration for the government’s MyPlace “Having a good youth club gives them a real chance the building, its function, purpose, content and identity. all abilities, with all different kinds of needs. For some,
programme, which aims to “deliver world class places at stability, routine, activity and positive engagement. If “Many members of the group also quickly realised just getting back a sense of stability is enough to engage
for young people to go”. you can keep young people off the streets – feeling safe the opportunities a project like this brings and have them back into the world.
OnSide has been founded by former chairman at and engaged – then they’ll be much more likely to feel run with them – they have been really inspired by the “Funding a Youth Zone is complicated but it is
BLGC, Bill Holroyd, who was becoming increasingly positive about other things in their lives, including the architects, designers and professionals they’ve had the achievable. However, to be successful and sustainable,
aware of a lack of provision for young people in the crucial world of education.” chance to work alongside and many are now looking into the local community must take ownership and then
UK. He explained: “Every week, BLGC would receive MyPlace has already funded 70 projects now in creative careers. It has taught them that young people’s develop key partnerships with the council and others. If
visitors from all corners of the country, wanting to set development, with the focus very much on infrastructure opinions count.” it works in Bolton, it can work anywhere.” SecEd
up something similar in their own towns. However, a development and long-term sustainability. Mentoring is a fundamental component of every new
successful youth club can’t just open on a Friday and If these youth zones are to successfully fast-track Youth Zone. Some young people’s lives are so chaotic • Cath Mercer is communications manager at OnSide
Saturday night – it needs to be open when the young what has happened in Bolton in just 12 months, then that they simply cannot benefit from an ordinary night Northwest. Email cath.mercer@onsidenorthwest.org
people need it, and that is any time the schools are closed the focus needs to be on quickly establishing local in a youth club. They first need the support of a caring,
– after school, every evening, every weekend.” ownership, recruiting strong teams of local volunteers, consistent adult who can help them to address the issues
Further information
OnSide was founded with a £300,000 grant from the and appointing passionate board members, including that are dragging them down. www.onsidenorthwest.org
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SecEd • February 11 2010 15
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