This week is Youth Work Week (1-7 November) – the annual week-long celebration organised by the National Youth Agency (NYA).
And this year the NYA is celebrating ‘champions of youth work’ – youth workers around the country and young champions who have inspired youth workers too.
In Solihull, staff in the Council’s Community Development Team work with grass roots groups across the borough to nurture, advise and develop opportunities for our young people. This varies from supporting youngsters who qualify for free school meals with school holiday programmes to helping existing groups to expand their offer or even change their direction.
The team were recently approached by Sunny Gill who runs Crossover Basketball sessions in the borough. Sunny wanted to take the groups in a slightly different direction by expanding the offer so that they could support young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and he needed some advice. Community Development worker Jade Reddie put together a package of support including mentoring and bespoke training for volunteers and coaches plus guidance on funding opportunities. Despite the pandemic, they kept in regular contact to transform Sunny’s idea into reality.
Sunny Gill from Crossover Basketball said: “I can’t think of anyone else who’s been more helpful and reliable in this journey so far. The support Jade was able to give me under quite difficult circumstances means that I can help even more local young people through our basketball sessions.”
Crossover Basketball has sessions to suit all ages, boys and girls, from reception class through to year 11. To find out more visit - https://xoball.co.uk/
To find out how Solihull Council’s Community Development Team can help you develop youth opportunities in your area contact – CDT@solihull.gov.uk
You can also nominate a Youth Work Champion at - https://nya.org.uk/skills/yww/