Annual Review 2013-14 Essex Boys & Girls
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ANNUAL REVIEW 2013-14 ESSEX BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS working with voluntary youth clubs to support young people to realise their potential Chairman’s The year has been Essex County Council has been forced Report full of challenges to make substantial economies in their brought about by our expenditure and this has resulted in a decision to deliver the drastic reduction in their provision of Government's National youth services. It is our intention Citizen Service (NCS) programme to to fill the gap by providing additional over 600 young people aged 16-17yrs youth services where they are needed. in the school holidays. This required We will make every effort to ensure that the recruitment of both paid staff young people do not suffer as a result of and volunteers. We successfully those cuts. With that in mind, we have delivered the scheme without too made a successful bid for the County's many problems and we are now adventure centre in Wales which we committed to the scheme for 2014 intend to re-open for the benefit of with even more participants. Essex youngsters later in 2014. We have all been insistent that our Finally, I would like to thank all of basic work of helping and advising our supporters, volunteers and staff. affiliated clubs, including providing I hope they feel their efforts have been training, promoting new clubs and worthwhile and that our success will organising events and competitions inspire them to further efforts this of every imaginable kind, should not coming year. suffer as a result of our rapid expansion. Jonathan Douglas-Hughes OBE DL Our focus remains with our core activities and will remain so, despite the pressures of NCS. 2 | Essex Boys & Girls Clubs Review 2013-2014 Director’s 2013 saw a strong performance by EBGC Championship, a decision Report in providing activities and events for our clubs and which, considering our young people as well as in terms of our own finance. history and the long association that we have with th As EBGC moves into its 75 year of operation youth boxing, is most unfortunate. th and I move into my 25 Year as County Director, I am hopeful that the new NABGC will be able to fill the organisation has made some huge leaps forward. this activity void and ensure that these programmes As you will see throughout this review we are busier continue into the future. I am so convinced of this than we have ever been, working primarily with that I cycled from Manchester to London with a young people in our clubs and also running some group of like-minded county staff and volunteers school-based programmes to complement our in 16 hours to launch the charity and raise money normal club work. I hope that clubs and your young for the cause! members are getting a better service as a result. If there is something that we don’t do that you would A further highlight of the last 12 months is that we like us to provide then let me know and we will do had an offer accepted by Essex County Council for our best to lay it on. their outdoor centre, Maes y Lade, in South Wales and in the coming year we intend to open this to 2013 was an interesting year for the youth service complement the programmes that we offer at High locally and nationally. Our relationship with Essex Row in the Lake District and at Stubbers Adventure County Council is very strong and we host their Centre in Upminster. David Hassard is likely to take recruitment staff for the National Citizen Service on the role of running this centre, which will be programme and work across the whole of Essex in operational by the Summer of 2014. tandem with their staff to support the growth and development of new and existing Clubs. It was a shock to everyone when a £3m cut was suggested late in 2013, reducing their £5m budget to just £2m. “The future, despite the Thankfully ECC have had a rethink however, they are still moving to a more commissioning style role and negative influences on our the future is still uncertain. What I can be certain sector, is bright” about is that we will still be here delivering programmes and activities and so will our clubs. Rather than sitting on our hands waiting for things The future, despite the negative influences on our to develop around us we will be proactive, sector, is bright. The core of the staff team has developing programmes to meet the needs remained constant with very few changes and we of our membership. now have a really good mix of staff with a breadth of Similarly to ECC, nationally it has been an equally experience. I hope their knowledge and skills are turbulent time. News at the back end of 2013 that filtering out to clubs and making your job easier, our national organisation Ambition will be dropping creating a better network and a broader approach. the 100 Mile Canoe Test from their programme was Finally a big thank you to our Executive Committee, a real blow to us as this is a cornerstone in our who are instrumental in providing the support, annual programme. With an ever diminishing stability and direction that has enabled us to grow, national programme it was clear that the counties and to all the volunteers in clubs doing the day to that valued this type of work would have to do day work with young people. Without your support, something about it and so the National Association EBGC, the members of clubs and society in general of Boys and Girls Clubs was born. At the time of would be very much the poorer. writing the organisation is in the process of being registered with the Charity Commission, which is Martin Solder, B. Ed great timing as Ambition have now announced that they will not be running a National Boxing www.essexboysandgirlsclubs.org | 3 Award Winning Boys & Girls Clubs... By promoting best practice in youth work we can confidently claim to work with some of the best clubs for young people in the country, offering diversionary and “4 Youth has been affiliated to Essex Boys & Girls developmental activities Clubs for 12 years, in which time we have had their for young people across help, advice and support in so many issues that we our whole region. have experienced in setting up a successful club. In 2013 we were able to provide a range of club “We have always known we can contact improvement and new EBGC if we have a problem.” club generation programs, thanks to funding from a number of sources, They have given us their professional advice on including: the many policies & procedures we needed to put in place to run a youth club. Also the necessary training required for volunteers in Child Protection, First Aid, Drug Awareness etc. EBGC have also provided many activities for our members at very reduced prices giving them experiences in different sports and activities. i.e. Fishing, Dodge ball, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Archery, Go-Karting, Pool Competitions, days at Stubbers and many, many more. We have always known we can contact EBGC if we have a problem. A big thank you to Essex Boys & Girls Clubs from all at 4 Youth Brightlingsea.” Margaret Tay, Club Leader 4 Youth Brightlingsea The High Sheriffs’ Shield 2013 Winner (pictured above) 4 | Essex Boys & Girls Clubs Review 2013-2014 ...and Hundreds of Dedicated Volunteers Thaxted YC From Club Leader to Committee Member, to specialist coach or mentor to occasional helper, there are a huge number of roles to play in youth clubs. Across our region hundreds of 2013 saw the recognition people give up thousands of hours to work with of many volunteers for their young people and we do everything we can to outstanding contributions help them do it safely and effectively. to local life. In September 2013 we took on a Volunteer Sindy Overy (above) of Coordinator, Scott Dixon, to help recruit and Chadwell St Mary ABC was train volunteers of all ages. Honing his skills nominated for the Essex with our Young Leaders and NCS Graduates, Police Cup, which credits the 2014 will see the growth of our Club Volunteer exceptional contribution of Training opportunities. individuals to community safety in their locality. 2013 Keystone Awards Each recipient had been nominated by their club to receive recognition for their many years of service. Rebecca President’s Davies, Award for Shirley Abrey Ingatestone Boys’ 50 years service Own Club volunteer at Dave Patient Linford Wanderers Brentwood Gold Award for John Pegram ABC, won the 30 years service Blackwater Judo Club Sandra Walker Active Brentwood Silver Award for Roger Howes Linford Wanderers Unsung Hero Award for her 20 years service tireless contribution to Richard Hill 1163 Sqn ATC community sport in Luke Vincent the local area. Bronze Award Robert Vincent for 10 years Blackwater service Jane Vincent Judo Club Geoffrey Skewes Keith Parrott www.essexboysandgirlsclubs.org | 5 134 Affiliated Clubs in 2013 MULTI-ACTIVITY YOUTH CLUBS 8 Ash Green YG FOOTBALL CLUBS Alresford Youth Projects The Ashdon Hang Out Ashingdon YFC Bergholt YG BARCA FC Blackmore Friday Club Basildon Boys’ Club Braintree Youth Project Charity Brentwood AFC Bromley & Downham YC Chelmsford City FC Broomfield YC Island Boys’ Club Bures YC Maldon & Tiptree YFC Carver Barracks YC Wickford Town FC Chelmer Village YC Wivenhoe YFC BOYS CLUBS Colne Engaine YC Woodham Radars FC Chelmsford Boys’ Club Crown & Manor Club Ingatestone Boys’ Own Club Da Latchingdon Club Lifstan Boys' Club Downside Fisher YC Where are our clubs? Dunmow YC Flitch Green YC Essex: Basildon, Braintree, Four Youth Brightlingsea Brentwood, Castle Point, Frenford Clubs Chelmsford, Colchester, Goldie Youth Group Epping, Harlow, Maldon, Gt Bardfield YC Gt Bentley YC Rochford, Southend, Tendring, Gt Chesterford YC Thurrock, Uttlesford.