Essential Life Skills Project to change the lives of the young people of Derby City
Derby County Community Trust, in partnership with Derby Cultural Education Partnership and Derby Sport Forum, have been awarded £1,000,000 through the Essential Life Skills Fund via Derby City Council to change the lives of the young people of Derby City.
The exciting new partnership is a collaboration between sport, the arts, culture and heritage to create ten hubs for young people across parts of Derby City which lie within areas of deprivation. They will be focused in nine specific wards, with an additional hub targeted at children and young people who attend special schools. The organisations involved include Artcore, Baby People, Derby Theatre, Déda, Derby Museums, EMCAN, Sinfonia Viva, Derby QUAD, Cycle Derby and clubs from Derby City Sport Forum.
Claire Limb, Head of Dance Development and Learning at Déda said: “We are very excited to be a partner in this amazing initiative and really looking forward to meeting the young people of Derby for whom this project is designed.
“Déda will be co-ordinating activities in the Derwent and Chaddesden area and delivering our unique blend of Dance and Contemporary Circus there alongside sport and cultural organisations such as Derby Athletic Club, QUAD, Sinfonia Viva, as well as Derby County in the Community.
“In addition to this we are looking forward to working with young people in other areas of the city throughout 2018 and 2019 as part of This is Derby.”
The project aims to provide a range of extra-curricular activities that develop non-cognitive abilities, collectively named ‘essential life skills’, delivered directly in the hearts of communities. The activities will be open to all young people but specifically targeted at children from vulnerable groups including those receiving Free School Meals, children in alternative provision, looked after children, SEND and young carers.
The innovative and exciting collaboration is being led by Derby County Community Trust, Checkatrade Community Club of the Year 2018. Simon Carnall, Head of Community at DCCT, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for the young people of Derby. We want to engage those young people who are most in need in our city, connect with them, their families and their communities and provide opportunities for them to improve their life skills.
“The power of the collaboration between the range of organisations will allow us to reach more young people, using our brands, experience and varied expertise to really make a difference.”
The series of hubs will be delivered from September 2018 to August 2019. There will be a minimum of 12 hours of direct delivery in each community as well as a range of additional workshops that will develop young people into better citizens. Young people will be supported to make a difference in their own communities, learning vital skills to allow them to take ownership of their own futures.
The “hubs” will be vibrant, varied and visible places that come alive with the energy and enthusiasm of young people.
Each hub is based within a community, which will be a combination of people and places; such as local schools, community groups, organisations, local businesses and individuals who want to have a positive impact in their community.
The hubs will support young people in disadvantaged communities to close the gap between themselves and their more affluent peers by providing them with an equal opportunity to access activities which they otherwise miss out on.
To learn more about the fund and the partnership, please contact c.limb@deda.uk.com and if you are a community club, local community organisation or active community volunteer – please get in touch as we would love for you to be a part of the project.