2011 Aberdeen Challenge
After a long and at times difficult start the Community Challenge in Aberdeen is now making progress.
We have chosen to work with the Fersands and Fountain Youth Project, a local voluntary project run by a Management Committee made up of local residents, that has been in existence for over 30 years.
The project provides a range of vital free services to children, young people, and families living in the Ferriers and Sandilands area of Woodside (one of Aberdeen’s 6 regeneration areas). The area is recognised as an area of multiple deprivations and appears within the poorest 10% area of Scotland. Through its wide range of services the project aims to reduce the effects of poverty, provide new opportunities and enhance the lives of local residents living in an area of multiple deprivations.
To support the work of the Youth Team there is a Youth Flat at which regularly hosts education sessions, leisure activities, a young mothers group meets as well as a job club.
Securing the youth flat, (in Woodside) was a difficult time and process but the group have realised it has been well worth the struggle. They have an average attendance of 12 youths (which is maximum) for closed group sessions, with 50 youngsters participating throughout the week. Drop in and lunch clubs range from 10-25 youths within a 2 hour session which is fantastic. The feedback from the youths has been extremely positive, they feel like it’s their home from home, helping themselves to drinks, fruit and toast. All the youths take part in cleaning and maintaining the property and seem very proud of it.However, due to a various bureaucratic decisions the group are now in a new flat - just next door which is in need of some work. (Flat located at 22B Sandilands Drive - This flat is in desperate need of a makeover.)
The Youth Team are also keen to look at the possibility of establishing a social enterprise to provide training options for the youngsters, funding for their project and opening up new possibilities.
The youngsters are to help us makeover the flat and working together we hope that we can discover other ways in which we, our clients and our wider network can perhaps add to their programme.
The main part of this makeover is the replacement of the kitchen and boiler to enable the kitchen to be planned in a way to support the Youth Club activities, Lunch Club and possible development of a business.
To date the following businesses and organisations have offered their support:
- AB-Elec
- John G Matthews Plumbing and Heating
- Westdyke Joinery
- CC Joinery
- John Lewis (Aberdeen)
-
Contract Furnishing & Cammy Sim – met with some of the group to design a feature wall using
wall paper designed by the youngsters; and will also floor the flat - Andy Murray Painter and Decorator
- The Shade Card
- Grampian Police
- Aberdeen Airport – Donation from Community Fund to fund the new boiler
- And of course the Team at Enterprise North East Trust
You can view the Aberdeen Challenge Flickr gallery here.
