A Summer of Fun at Our Holiday Club
WearethrilledtosharethewonderfulnewsofthesuccessfulcompletionofourSummer HolidayClub,whichwasmadepossiblethroughthegeneroussupportandfunding providedbyUKGovernment,specificallythroughtheDepartmentforEducation(DfE), SpringNorthandBlackburnwithDarwenCouncil.
Overanamazingfour-weekperiod,wehadtheprivilegeofofferingadelightfuland enrichingexperienceatbothofourlocations.OurcollaborationwithBCHSHighSchooland QEGSallowedustoworkinpartnershipwithIMOtoprovidespecialisedsupportforchildren withspecialeducationalneedsanddisabilities(SEND) Thankstotheinvaluablefunding, wewereabletoextendfreemembership,freeentry,andprovide3,114freemeals, ensuringthateverychildhadequalopportunitiestoparticipateintheexcitingactivities, tripsandcompetitionswehadtooffer
Throughouttheprogramme,ouryoungpeoplehadthechancetopartakeinvarious excitingactivitiesandcompetitionscarriedoutbyourdedicatedteamandenthusiastic corporatevolunteers Thesevolunteersplayedanessentialroleindeliveringawiderange ofdiverseandinnovativeactivities,whichcaptivatedandengagedouryoungattendees throughouttheprogramme.
Thefeedbackwe'vereceivedfromboththeyoungparticipantsandtheirparentshasbeen overwhelminglypositive,withmanyofthemexpressingthatthiswasthebestsummerclub experienceyet Oneparentcapturedthespiritoftheclubperfectly,saying,
"Ican'tpraisetheorganisationenough;mychildwouldspendalldayhere
ifhecould Helovesallthestaff,andeverytimeIdrophimoff,everyoneis happyandhavingfun."
27 Unforgettable summer Trips
FridayswereahighlightforourSummerHoliday Club,aswewrappedupeachweekwithexciting tripsforouryoungpeople.Thissummer,wehadan incredibleline-upofoutdooractivities,andover fouraction-packedweeks,theygottogoon27 amazingtrips,exploringandlearninginnature's beautifulsetting.
OuryoungpeoplevisitedHollingsworthLake OutdoorAdventureCentre,LythamStAnnesBeach, PlanetIceSkating,BlackpoolPleasureBeach, AndertonCentre,enjoyedoutdoorlifeskills workshopsinthestunningLancashireDalesand muchmore.
Thesmilesandstoriesfromthissummer's adventurestrulyreflecttheimportanceofyoung peoplegettingopportunitiestoexploretheworld aroundthem.
Lookingahead,wearecommittedtoproviding morelife-changingopportunitiesforouryoung people,ensuringthateverysummerisjustas memorableandimpactfulasthelast.
Wellbeing Champions
Graduation
Wewouldliketosayamassive congratulationstoall96 youngpeoplewhograduatedfromChildActionNorth West’sWellbeingChampion programme.Whatabrilliant waytoempoweryoungpeopletolookaftertheirownand othersmentalhealth
Wehadablastcelebratingthemallwithagraduationin recognitionoftheirhardwork,determinationand commitmenttosupport. Welldoneguys!
Football champions
OurJunior&YouthfootballteamsabsolutelysmasheditrecentlyandwontheManchester Unitedtournamentattheiracademytrainingground!
Blackburn&DarwenYouthZonearepassionateaboutgivingyoungpeopleofBlackburnand Darwen,theopportunitytoplaycompetitivesportsandlearnthevaluablelifeskillsthatcome withplayingandcompetinginSports.
Allofourcompetitivesportsteamsarefreeofcharge,duetothegenerosityofGordonTaylor. Thisprovideseveryyoungpersonthefreedomcanparticipatewithoutfacingsomeofthe barriersthatwouldotherwise
Whatanamazingtalentedgroupofyo
DR. BIKE VISITS
youth zone
OurDarwenyoungpeoplehada lovelyvisitfromLeefromCotton TownBikeswhoofferedtorepairour youngpeoplesbikesfreeofcharge.
ThankyouLee!
Wanttogetyourbikerepairedand learntolookafteryourbike?Cotton TownBikesrunDrBikeworkshops
Thank you corporate Volunteers!
Thissummer,ourcorporatevolunteersfromthePatronnetworkplayedavitalroleinthe successofourHAFprogrammeforthesecondconsecutiveyear.Overfourweeks,we weredelightedtowelcome10differentPatrons,eachcontributingthroughgeneral volunteersupportorbydeliveringwell-preparedworkshopsthatalignedwiththeir expertise.
21
Workshops Delivered
94
Corporate Volunteers Participating
Corporate Spotlight
526.5
Total Volunteering Hours
AMSGroupofferedtwoworkshops tailoredtodifferentagegroups Juniorscollaboratedtodesignashop, exploringvariousaspectsofenterprise, whileolderyouthmembersengaged inbusinesscasestudies,encouraging abusiness-orientedmindset.
BBF,backforanotheryear,elevated theircontributionbyinvolvingdifferent departments,includingpackaging, baking,andHR.Theydeliveredfour comprehensiveworkshops,offering youngpeopleinsightsintovarious aspectsofBBF'soperations,alongwith plentyofdeliciouscake.
Forbesinjectedexcitementintothe summerwithacricketcoaching workshopthatwasinhighdemand This workshopwassosuccessfulthatithas beenrequestedtoreturnaspartofour NextLevelSportsinitiative
HerbertParkinsonfocusedontextiles withourDarwenjuniors,providing materialsfortheyoungpeopletocreate fabriccrowns-ahighlypopularactivity amongourmembers
Mergonbroughtadynamicgroupof volunteersduringthefinalweekofHoliday Club, infusingenergyandfunintoevery activitytheyparticipatedin
Multevoledtwocompetitiveworkshops inDarwen,whereparticipantsdesigned teatowelsinspiredbyMultevo'sroad machinery Winningdesignsaresetto beprintedanddistributedacrosstheUK, givingyoungpeopleahugesenseof achievement
Alsointheirsecondyear,TheSenator Groupledmessyplayworkshopsacross BlackburnandDarwen Theyguided youngpeopleindesigningand sculptingfurniturefortheYouthZone usingclay Anotherworkshophad participantscraftingboatsfromtinfoil, withprizesof£50vouchersawardedto themostsuccessfuldesigns.
Wellocksreturnedwithtwoprofessional chefswhotaughtessentialcookingskills Participantshadtheopportunitytomake pestopastaandsweettreatstotake home,thankstotheguidanceofboththe chefsandgeneralvolunteers
ThededicationandexpertisebroughtbyourPatronnetworknotonlyenrichedtheHAF programme,butalsoprovidedouryoungmemberswithunforgettablelearning experiences Weareincrediblygratefulfortheircontinuedsupportandlookforwardto buildingonthissuccessinthefuture
AMS Group & Panaz Take On The Tough Mudder Challenge
WewanttosayamassiveTHANKYOUtoourincrediblepatrons,AMSGroupandPanaz, fortheirdedicationandenthusiasminparticipatingintheToughMudderchallengein July YoureffortshavehelpedraisevitalfundsforBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone
YoursupportasPatronsmeansalottous,andyourcontinuedeffortstogoaboveand beyondfortheyoungpeopleintheborougharedeeplyappreciated
Upcoming events
TheTownLeagueGolfDay -20thSeptember2024
JoinusatClitheroeGolfClubforanunforgettableTown LeagueGolfDay!Theeventkicksoffwithcoffeeand baconrollsonarrival,followedbyafantasticdayofgolf Enjoyapresentationofprizes,takepartinanexciting raffle,andsavoradelicioustwo-coursecarverytowrap uptheday.Don’tmissoutonafantasticdayofgolf, greatfood,andfriendlycompetition!
B&DYZSupportersLunch-26thSeptember2024
HostedexclusivelyforPatronsandSupportersofBlackburn &DarwenYouthZone Keyspeakersgiveinsightandsupport tolocalbusinessesontopicalissuesandalsoreceive updatesonhowyourinvestmentisshapingtheYouthZone NetworkingandQ&Aopportunitiesarealsoavailable
PaintTheTownOrange-October
ThroughoutOctoberweneedyoutohelpusPainttheTown Orange!Businessesareencouragedtofundraiseinanyway theycan.Perhapsyoucouldlightupyourbuildinginorange, haveadress-downdayorevencreateyourownunique windowdisplay Justafewideasthereforyoutoponderbut weknowyou'llhaveplentymore!
Formoreinformationonhowtogetinvolvedwiththeseupcoming events,pleasecontactTamara.hitchen@blackburnyz.org
Exciting New Burberry Partnership
Wearedelightedtosharethesuccessofour recentproject,madepossiblebyBurberry's generoussupport
Thisinitiativeprovidedthemwiththe opportunitytounleashtheircreativityandcraft theirownuniqueartpieces.WithBurberry’s contribution,wehostedaseriesofworkshops whereourJuniormembersdesignedand createdagraffitiwallthatspotlightedaspecific theme.Ourprojectgroupalsoattendedthefirst BurberryInspireshowcasehostedbyThe BurberryFoundation,bringingtogetheryoung peoplefromacrossthenetworkincelebration ofcollaborationandcreativity.
Readmoreabouttheshowcasebyscanning theQRCode
Buildingonthissuccess,wearenowexpanding theprojecttoincludenewventuresinmusic andfashion.Ifyouoryourcompanyare interestedindonatingmaterialsforouryoung peopletoupcycleaspartofthisinitiative, pleasereachouttoAlexNewmanat Alex.newman@blackburnyz.org.
Careers Roadshow
The5-dayYoungAdultsCareer RoadshowinBlackburnwithDarwen wasofficiallylaunchedatBlackburn YouthZoneinmid-July.Thisfreeevent wasdesignedtoprovideadviceand supportforindividualswhoare decidingontheircareerpaths. TheCareerRoadshowswereaimedat helpingyoungpeoplewiththeirfuture aspirationsandwereopentoanyone betweentheagesof16and25who wereseekinginformationoncareer developmentinBlackburnandDarwen. Itwasafantasticeventfortheyoung peopleinBlackburnwithDarwen.
Anthony Nolan Stem Cell Recruitment Drive
Wearepleasedtosharethatourpartners,OneVoice Blackburn,successfullyhostedaStemCellrecruitment driveattheBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone.
Thedriveaimedtoraiseawarenessandencourage communitymemberstojointhestemcellregister, potentiallysavinglivesinthefuture Theturnoutwas encouraging,withmanyyoungpeopleeagerto contributetothisvitalcause Thankyoutoeveryonewho supportedthedriveandmadeitasuccess!
Festival of Making: A Day of Fun and Creativity!
OnSaturday,July6th,wecelebrated theFestivalofMakingwithafantastic FamilyFunDay!Theeventwasagreat successwith492youngpeopleand familiesjoiningusthroughouttheday. Wewanttoextendaheartfeltthank youtoeveryonewhojoinedus,aswell asouramazingpartnersand volunteerswhomadeitallpossible.
Familiesenjoyedawidearrayof excitingactivities,includingpendulum painting,assemblingaquirkyjunkgolf course,creativeclayworkshopswith FiredUp4Clay,makingpixelnecklaces, andanexhilaratingswordfightgame withManchesterYouthZone.Theday wasfilledwithlaughter,creativity,and communityspirit!
Wealsohandedout150FREECarbon Monoxidealarmsandgaveouthandy energy-savingadvicetothelocal communitythankstoourpartnership withCadent.
Wewerealsohonouredtohaveour mayor,BrianTaylor,joininonthe festivities Amassivethankyoutoall ourpartnersfortheirsupportand participation,whichmadethedaytruly unforgettable!
SignuptotheThePriorityServices Register(PSR)forfree:
School Uniform Exchange
Werecognisethatpreparingforthe startoftheschoolyearcanbedifficult forsomefamiliesandyoungpeople Therefore,inJuly,wecollaboratedwith BlackburnwithDarwen’sFamilyHubto hostaFREEUniformPopUpshop.We supported126familiesatbothour pop-upshopsacrossBlackburnand Darwen
Westillhaveplentyofuniforms available.Ifyoufeelthatyouneed assistance,pleasedon'thesitateto speaktoourreceptionteam,andthey willbemorethanhappytohelp
School Pick-ups
Ages8-12
Years
Juniors
Ages8-12
12pm2pm
12pm1:30pm 12pm1:30pm
12pm1:30pm 12pm1:30pm 12pm1:30pm 12pm1:30pm 12pm1:30pm
OurProjectZonesessionsare tailoredanddesigned aroundour‘Try,Train, Team’modelandtherefore, anyyoungpeoplesignedup toaclubmustbecommitted tocompletinga6-week block
ScanQRcodeto bookyourplace!
Formoreinformation,pleaseemail Olivia.dunne@blackburnyz.orgorcall 01254292000 POWERED BY
The making of a medallist
Boxer Cindy Ngamba, from Cameroon via Bolton, won the Refugee Team’s first medal thanksinparttothevalueofyouthworkersandyouthzones.
CindyNgambaisaCameroonianboxerandYouthWorkeratBlackburn&DarwenYouth Zone,whocompetedfortheEOCRefugeeTeamatthe2023EuropeanGames Sheisthe first-evermedalistfortheRefugeeOlympicTeamattheOlympics,havingwonbronzein women 's75kgboxingatthe2024SummerOlympics.
''When I first saw Cindy Ngamba she was a nervous teenager, hovering about on the pavement outside Bolton Lads and Girls Club,wonderingwhethertocomein Iwasa youth worker there and when I spotted her, hesitant and a little anxious, I invited her in and reassured her that this was a place whereallyoungpeoplewerewelcome.
This week, 12 years later, I watched Cindy become the first-ever member of the Refugee Team to win an Olympic medal She will be returning home to North West England with a bronze from the women’s 75kg.
I couldn’t be more proud of her journey and what she’s achieved, and I also couldn’t be prouder of how youth clubs and youth workershavesupportedheralongtheway.''
-LeonCrosby,DirectorofOperationsatB&DYZ
Construction Begins…
Constructionhasofficiallybegunonthe£3.1 milliontransformationofBlackburnandDarwen YouthZone!
ThehistoricFuseboxbuilding,acherished landmarksince1818,isbeingredeveloped intoadynamicnewspaceforyouthemployment andskills.
Thisrenovationwillbringnewopportunities, includingatrainingkitchen,arevamped gamingzone,andanenhancedhealthand well-beingspace.
We'rethrilledtoseethepositiveimpactthis willhaveonourcommunity!
Exciting Funding Success for Heritage and Youth Projects!
Wearethrilledtoannouncethatourrecent applicationtoTheNationalLotteryHeritage Fundhasbeensuccessful!Thisgrantwill supportauniqueartinstallationattheFusebox, featuring40stunningstained-glasspanelsand apermanentceiling-basedprojectionartwork Theseinstallationswillbeautifullyillustratethe building'srichhistory,incorporatingimages fromoriginalfilmarchives Thisprojectaimsto connectthestate-of-the-artrenovationofthe FuseboxwithBlackburn'shistoricalsignificance We'reexcitedtocollaboratewithyoungpeople, localartists,architects,andfilmmakerstobring thisvisiontolife
Inaddition,weareproudtohavereceivedthe Joanie’sFundgrant,whichwilldirectlybenefit NEET(NotinEducation,Employment,or Training)maleswithinDarwen.Thisfundingwill empower50youngmenontheirjourney towardsAspirations,Skills,andProgression, helpingthemtobuildbrighterfutures. Thesegrantsmarkasignificantstepforwardin ourmissiontopreserveheritagewhilefostering communitydevelopment.Welookforwardto sharingmoreupdatesastheseprojectsunfold!
