UPDATES Using Football as a cohesive tool
July 2009
Fit2live – Free Fun Football for young people in Tottenham, Edmonton & EnfieldFunded by Kick Racism out of Football (Football Foundation) Delivered by Rap-Aid Project Summary
Fit2Live was a weekly football training and coaching session for young people in Tottenham, Edmonton & Enfield in North London, benefiting the less advantaged young people with mixed ability, regardless of their gender, BMI (body max index), backgrounds and religion. The project catered for the diverse north London, specifically Edmonton region that has a large population of deprived young people, and desperately seeking for any form of organised sporting or social activities.
Azzis saying goodbye to the boys... It was the 1st phase of 3 phase project, in which participants trained learnt different football skills, had a kick-about in a fun, friendly and family oriented environment, and learnt the benefits of exercise and stretching. Participants were taught about the social aspect and the long term benefits of playing football or sports in general.
Our focus was on accessibility, inclusion and community cohesion as well as breaking down the barriers and racial tensions that existed locally between young people from different racial backgrounds living in close proximity to each another.
The project was more pro-active and was specifically aimed towards refocusing of young people’s energy positively by occupying their time, and also kept them from developing a ‘street-gang-lifestyle’, i.e. away from guns/knives and drugs. The long term effect of the project is anticipated to reduce the burden on our community as a whole i.e. promoting healthy, sociable and safe environment.http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/4469940.Plan_to_unite_races_through_football_this_summer/
New Cybercafe & Music Studio
At our young people purpose equipped and furnished Head office premises in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire we provide young people with a variety of services.
They have opportunities to
- Go online on our Net aware young peoples’ cybercafé
- Compose and record music in the Apple Mac and Logic based music studio
- Engage in youth advocacy through a variety of established mechanisms
- Participate in projects
- Participate in sports activities e.g. football
- Participate in games e.g. Chess, Snooker
- Socialise
- Seek advice
- Get involved in community based activities
Rap-Aid New Offices, Haringey
We have recently opened up an office in Haringey. Based at The Selby Centre in Haringey, we will be consulting with young people, young parents, children and stakeholder groups to see what gaps in provision exist and how we can help to plug such gaps. The focus for Rap-Aid in Haringey at the moment is establishing a core group of volunteers, carrying out necessary checks, volunteer induction, establishing youth groups and initiatives as well as young parent initiatives. Consulting with young people and supporting youth advocacy in the borough as well as empowering young people positively are all part of our organisational vision for Haringey in 2011, and we cannot be better placed in a more adaptive and supportive environment than the Selby Centre. We are proud to be given an opportunity to contribute to the improvement of facilities and opportunities for young people in Haringey.
Youth Advocacy
As an organisation involved in youth advocacy Rap-Aid has helped develop a series of initiatives to enable young people to air their views. A notable example is partnering NHDC in developing The Royston Youth Council which gives young people in Royston a voice and arms them with decision making tools that can impact their area. Linking into the Youth charter and the Every Child Matters agenda, the youth council feeds into the local authority NHDC, the local council and other arms of decision making to champion youth ideas and concerns.
