Moss Side represents the microcosm of the hopes and fears of Manchester in one geographical area; disadvantaged areas demonstrating what can be achieved. A youth strategy for Manchester must begin by tackling exclusion and developing a cohesive society. Exclusion, inclusion and cohesion are often used terms although it is sometimes questionable whether these are truly understood. To remove any doubt as to how these terms are used here, the following definitions are offered.
The project has attracted further support from community programmes, from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Bellway Homes and Amec Plc.
Social exclusion: The process whereby certain groups are pushed to the margins of society and prevented from participating fully by virtue of their poverty, low education or inadequate life skills. This distances them from job, income and education opportunities as well as social and community networks. They have little access to power and decision-making bodies and little chance of influencing decisions or policies that affect them, and little chance of bettering their standard of living.
Social inclusion: Ensuring the marginalised and those living in poverty have greater participation in decision making which affects their lives, allowing them to improve their living standards and their overall well-being.
Social cohesion: Bringing together, in an integrated way, economic, social, health and educational policies to facilitate the participation of citizens in societal life.
The Youth Charter has simplified these to: Fig. 2.6 Policy Evaluation Model
3. Social Inclusion/Exclusion: Role of Sport and the Arts…
The Youth Charter’s philosophy and mission utilises the Olympic ideals of language and culture as the social vehicle of engaging young people and communities. The term sport (see glossary) is therefore seen and employed in its widest possible social and cultural context; sporting participation in competitive, non-competitive and leisure recreational context. The Youth Charter approach also recognises in order not to exclude young people through non participation, lack of confidence and self esteem would need other engagement interests that would realise as well as identify what the Youth Charter terms ‘every child’s gift’. As a result, artistic inclusion has always featured as part of the Youth Charter’s approach. The opening of the Agoraspace at the Procter Youth Centre exemplifies this approach. Over the last 13 years of working with young people locally, nationally and internationally the Youth Charter has adapted to the consistent change and innovation of youth cultural activity and interest.
Case Study 1 - Agoraspace
In 1994 young members of the Procter Youth Centre in Hulme, Manchester wanted to improve a run-down kick about area next to their club. The Youth Charter helped Hulme Regeneration create a project raising £100,000 from both the public and private sectors. Kennedy Engineering built a £60,000 outdoor multi-sports arena catering for 37 different sporting activities. This also attracted additional funds from Sports Match, the Sports Aid Foundation Trust and Hulme Regeneration. New and second hand sports and gym equipment costing £17,000 were provided by Forza UK and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts improved the choice of activities for users as well as built up their confidence. Additional funding of £8,000 was raised locally to train 100 Community Sports Leaders through the Central Council of Physical Recreation’s Community Sports Leaders Award. This provided trained volunteers to work with the community.
The project attracted much attention. It was officially opened by Susan Hampshire OBE and attracted personal support from former Sports Minister Iain Sproat and YCS vice-presidents, Sir Eddie Kulukundis OBE, Clive Lloyd CBE and Sir Bobby Charlton CBE.
The overall financial impact YCS helped create has been estimated to be approximately £1 million and is an excellent example of a Sports Social Impact Model. The centre has attracted not only visiting youth groups and teams from the Greater Manchester area, but has been replicated by other local authorities and youth related organisations nationally.
I can’t Fig. 3.1 Exclusion - Inclusion - Cohesion 3.1 Sporting Ambassadors
The Role of Sports Men and Women have played a vital role in the work of the Youth Charter. Developed as part of the social engagement of young people in Moss Side and Hulme, they provided the credible link in attracting the attention as well as ongoing interest that young people have in sporting achievers. Young people are attracted to sportsmen and women not only because they market the very brands and lifestyle accessories that they seek, but because they relate to them, both in the aspired image and status that they bring.
Sportsmen and women are heroes and heroines, not role models or else they would not have the appeal that is both rebellious to the over 16’s and motivating to the under 16’s. Sportspeople are heroes and heroines because they are capable of great stupidity as well as brilliance. They are capable of behaviour and performance that is both inspiring and uninspiring in the competitive arena of sport and in life. 80% of Britain’s post war achievers have come from socially excluded and economically deprived backgrounds, 20% could have been at Her Majesty’s Pleasure rather than at Her Leisure! It is also worth noting that music/rap stars have equal if not greater influence on our young.
I can We can Exclusion Inclusion Cohesion
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The references underlined in this report can be hyperlinked on the electronic version via the Youth Charter website:
www.youthcharter.co.uk
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