This two-year project in Hebburn, South Tyneside, offers a programme of challenging and fun indoor and outdoor activities for local people. People can meet up regularly, make friends and enjoy planning and being involved in community activities.
Who
Young people of all ages. 10 volunteers aged 17 – 18 designed the programme and completed a leadership qualification. The project was designed by Off the Grid Adventures CIC.
What
Outdoor activities led by and for young people including bushcraft, archery, and tomahawks throwing.
Where
Hebburn
When
2020-2022
In Hebburn, there is a lack of community activities to keep young people busy and socially connected. A local resident used their background in outdoor activities to design a programme of engaging events for young people. The idea developed in consultation with the local community and participants are encouraged to become volunteers and to plan and develop activities based on the feedback from the community.
The Project Lead contacted a local school to find volunteers and partnered with 10 young people who co-designed and delivered the programme. Whilst doing this they completed an AQA Level 2 Youth Leadership Award. Seven of them have gone on to be employed by the project and deliver more activities to young people.
The project ran throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and many activities were street based to try and engage people who had become socially isolated. Many residents expressed concern with isolation and health following UK lockdowns and so the project aimed to help people get active again.
Community Activators, the project hosted by Off the Grid Adventures CIC, engaged 70 young people in activities ranging from camping and outdoor cooking, to hiking and archery.
Working with this project has been a great experience, you feel like you make a real difference when you’re out there delivering activity sessions.
Aaron Singh
Volunteer
