Summer Round Up B&DYZ

SUMMER ROUND-UP

Blackburn&DarwenYouthZone WHATS

OurYoungPeople

Pages2,3&4

OurPatrons

Pages5,6&7

OurPartners

Pages8&9

OurPeople

Page10&11

Summer Holiday Club is a smash hit!

ThroughoutAugustwedeliveredourfamoussummerholidayclubbothinBlackburnand Darwen.For4weeksweslipped,slid,baked,laughed,cried,giggledandhadanallround blast!Everydayouryoungpeoplehadachoiceofatleastsixactivitiestotryincludingsports, allmannerofarts,music,danceandmuchmuchmore.

Thisyearweintroducedafullprogrammeforouryoungpeoplewithspecialeducational needsordisabilitiesanddedicatedanentirefloorofourJubileestreetsitefortheirexclusive use.Thisservicewasmassivelyover-subscribedbutwemanagedtofiteveryonein!

Another1stforthisyearwasanew‘StayandPlay’optiontosupportparentswhowork remotelybuthadnochildcare.Parentswereappreciativeoftheoptiontoworkinoneofour areas(relatively)quietlywhiletheirchildrenwereinthesamebuildingbutuptonogood!

Near500youngpeoplejoinedoursummerfunandwecan’tquitebelievethatwedelivered 450hoursofplay,playplay!Oneofourproudestachievementswastobeabletoprovide everyyoungpersonwithafreehotandnutritiousmealwithabrilliantrangeofchoices,all developedaheadoftimewithourYouthVoicegroup.Thisensuredthatthefoodweservedup wasthefoodyoungpeoplelikedtoeat.Thehighlightofourfoodestravaganzawasour businesspatronsrunningvariouscakedecoratingworkshopswhereouryoungpeoplegotto takethecakesandpastrieshome.(ThankyouBBF,Wellocks,SenatorGroupandStaciforyour brilliantsupport!)

Asifthatwasn’tenough,wealsotook thechancetogetoutonthestreets comerainorcomeshine(mostly rain ),andspeakwithyoungpeopleon theirtermsintheplaceswherethey choosetohangaroundandchill.

Wemetover600youngpeopleoveran extendedperiodof5weeks(weadded aweekjustbecauseitwasfunandthe youngpeopleaskedustocomeback!) Thisdetachedyouthworkwasarealhit withlocalyoungpeopleandweplana moredetailedprogrammelaterinthe year.Watchthisspace…

Capital Radio and Lancashire & Cumbria Foundation Trust - Healthy Young Minds Campaign

Aswe’vepreviouslyreported,fourofour youngpeopleauditionedtostarina seriesofvideossupportingtheHealthy YoungMindscampaign ThisNHSinitiative focussedonprovidingsupport,advice andguidanceforyoungpeoplesuffering fromarangeofemotionalhealthissues.

Oursuperstarswereinterviewedthis monthbyCapitalradioandblewusaway withtheirunderstandingoftheissuesand theirdesiretohelpotheryoungpeople.

Wearesoproudofthisfabulousgroupof youngpeople.Rhianna,Musa,Jamesand Alysha.Goyou!

Diversity/Ignite Group Take 3rd place!

Overafullweekend,ouramazinglytalentedspecialeducationalneedsanddisabilityclub members,(AKADiversity&Ignite!),enteredacricketcompetitionheldatBoltonArena.Our youngpeoplehadtrialsforafewweeksbeforeandthenthefinalteampracticedtheirsocks offuntiltheycouldbat,catchandfieldlikepros!

Theyenteredthecompetitionfullofhoperatherthanexpectationasthisisthefirstevercomp they’veentered.Despitethis,ouryoungpeopletookthingstotheNextLevel(abitofathing hereatB&DYZ)andmanagedtolandthemselvesa3rdplacefinish!Welldonetoallinvolved Particularthanksgotoourpartnersincrime,IMO,whohavereallyhelpedusigniteournew groupsincetheyjoinedusonthisadventureinMayofthisyear.

Our Patrons

Corperate Volunteering- summer fun!

Our Corporate volunteering programme has been gathering pace for some time now and many of our business patrons support us with creative and innovative initiatives which bring something fresh and new for our young people

Our summer holiday club was no exception! Four of our finest companies, Staci, Wellocks, BBF and Senator Group put on various creative challenges over the summer with each bringing something different at every visit After four weeks and more cake than you should comfortably consume in a year, this challenge is a ‘must do’ for the future.

What was really great to see was the interaction between the company employees and our young people. It can be a bit overwhelming for visitors dealing with so many young people at one time but the patron teams rose magnificantly to the occasion.

There is something we often discuss locally about youth work, the Locard Principle (Every contact leaves a trace.) The enthusiasm of our patron teams certainly left a lasting memory and we do hope that they all take something worthwhile back to their respective workplaces

Gold Patron alert - new investment on the Menu

Wellocks, a food supplier based in Burnley and owned by the William Jackson Food Group, haspledgeditssupporttoBlackburn&DarwenYouthZonebybecomingaGoldPatron.

LeighMyers,ChefDirectorofWellocks,said:

“WeareproudtosupportBlackburn&DarwenYouthZoneandtheirimportantwork inthecommunity.Asafoodbusiness,werecognisethevitalrolethataccessto nutritiousfoodplaysinsupportingthehealthandwell-beingofyoungpeople.We lookforwardtoworkingwithYouthZone,andinadditiontobecomingaGold Patron,we’rekeentosupportwithfooddonationsandvolunteering,ensuringour partnershipisbuiltonrealconnectionswithourlocalcommunity.”

Ethical Lender, Cubefunder, commits to supporting Blackburn and Darwen Young people

CubefunderisaleadingUK-basedethical alternativelender,providingflexible businessloanstosmallandmedium-sized enterprises Foundedin2017,Cubefunder hashelpedbusinessesacrossawiderange ofindustriessecurethefundingtheyneed togrowandsucceed.

GaryMiller-Cheevers,founderandCEOof Cubefunder,said:

“AtCubefunder,ourMissionistoassistour customersinturningtheirambitionsinto realityandplansintoactionbysupporting themfinancially.Thisiscentraltoourbelief thatambitionandplansneedmoneyto getthemofftheground.

Clicktoreadmore!

Clicktoreadmore!

DATES for your diary

Napthens Annual Charity Clay Shoot just around the Corner

Napthens charity clay shoot is back, proudly supporting Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone on Thursday 12th October.WiththepicturesqueConistonshootingground as our backdrop, its the perfect setting for a day away fromthedesk.

All patrons are invited to enter a team of four where you’ll travel to the Coniston Hotel and Country Estate to meet other patrons within our network You’ll be shown howtoshootsonovicesarealsowelcomeandfollowing the shoot you will be treated to a delightful two-course lunchfollowedbyacharityraffle

There are a few team places remaining so if you would like more information or to book, please contact katelan.smith@napthens.co.uk

This ‘must do’ event on the B&DYZ calendar is one of our most popular patron engagement opportunities It is great for patron bragging rights for a whole year and is loads of fun for all involved

Date: 23rd November 2023 Location: Accrington Stanley Cost: £150 entry per team (4 per team)

Last year we raised over £20,000, and with your help we want to try and raise even more.

Scan here to register your team

To find out more about becoming a patron for Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, please email: melanie.thomas@blackburnyz.org

Child Action North West Young Carers

Catch a Break

Thismonthoneofourclosepartners,Child ActionNorthWest(CANW),usedourJubilee Streetvenuetohosttheirteenagecarer group.Theyhadtheopportunitytoletoff steamwithafewdynamicgamesof dodgeball,recreationgamesandfootball beforechillingoutoverslimemaking, gaming,arts&craftsandnailart

Thiswassosuccessfulthattheirjunior carersgroupwantedinontheaction.The followingweektheylandedwithusand wentcrazyslimingeachother(andour teammembers)andgenerallyhavinga greattimewiththeirfriends

CANWaresuchaspecialpartnertousand dosomuchforlocalyoungpeoplethatwe haveagreedanopeninvitationtothese twogroupswhenevertheyfeellikethey needit.Wedoourbesttoworkthroughthe PowerofPartnershipandthisisagreat exampleofwhatyoucandowhenyoujoin forcesforthecommongood.

Peter Jackson the Jewellers Donate Rovers

Tickets for the benefit of Local Young People

Oneofourfantasticsupporters,Peter JacksontheJewellers,againdonated30 tickets,thistimefortheWomen’sBlackburn RoversgameagainstBirminghamCity

Ouryoungpeopleattended,somewith familymembers,andenjoyedanailbiting gamewhereRoversfinishedupontopwith anarrow1-0victory.ThanksagaintoPeter JacksontheJewellerswhoalwaysputlocal youngpeoplefirst.

Youth Hub on Tour (again…)

Agroupofouryoungpeople,supportedbyYouth Hubattendeda‘YouthHubonTour’eventatatS.T MurphyTransportthismonth Thesevisitsarepart ofYouthHubsverypopularinitiativetointroduce youngpeopletotherealitiesoftheworldofwork Eachtoursetsouttobustthemythsofworking acrossarangeofindustries Youngpeoplegaina greatinsightintotheday-to-dayrunningofthe organisationtheyvisit.Thisvisitwasnodifferent.

S.TMurphyTransportwentoutoftheirwayto welcomeouryoungpeopleandhelpedthem exploretheemploymentandcareeroptionsinthe transportationsector Anumberofouryoung peoplenowintendtofurtherdevelopheirinterest byapplyingforworkexperiencewiththecompany

IfyouwouldliketogetintouchwithourYouthHub team,pleasecall01254292000oremail Laura.billington@blackburnyz.org

#Employment#TheJourneyStartsHere#BwD

Exciting team updates!

AlexNewman:AlexhasjoinedusasournewProjectsand ImpactManagerandhashitthegroundrunning.Alex picksupeverynewprogrammeandinitiativeandmakes ithappen Shehasexperienceinaschoolssettingand alsovolunteershertimeformanylocalgoodcauses. SinceAlexhasbeenwithuswecanhonestlysaythat we’veneverseenherwithoutasmile Fabtohaveyouon boardAlex.(You’reakeeper…)

UmmaihShah:Ummaih,oneofourhomegrownyouth workers,hasrecentlysecuredtheroleofYouthTeam Lead,overseeingthedeliveryofour13+serviceandteam ofamazingyouthworkers.Shehasalwaysbeensuper creativeandisnowputtingtheseskillstogooduse Our Youthclubofferisbuildingeverydaywithnewprojects, ideasandinitiatives.Ummaihhasalsocommittedtoa degreeapprenticeshipwithUCLanoverthenextthree yearsandwearedelightedthatshehasmadethisleap.

NathanSaint: NathanhasjoinedusasournewSports TeamLeadandbringswithhimawealthofexperience fromBurnleyfootballclub.Nathanwillbebuildingour sportsofferandworkingcloselywithpartnersand communitygroupsaswellasdrivingournew‘NextLevel’ sportsacademyaspirations.Nathanhasanewbabydue onChrismasEveandwearealllookingforwardto meetingthenext‘Saint’