ARCH (Active Redditch Community Hub) accessed a Worcestershire County Council and West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Youth Innovation Grant to get more young people involved in sports, recognising that sport is a way to connect, develop personal skills, and stay active.
Nearly 100 children and young people took part weekly sporting activities including cricket, football, badminton, and hiking which ran from March 2024 to December 2024.
This attracted more attendees to form new friendships and get involved in sport, whilst engaging in positive personal development and enabling them to build greater respect for their community.
Further, a small number of volunteers and young people aged 17 and 18 were able to complete a Foundation Level 1 coaching course, allowing these participants to improve their CVs and opportunities for work!
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Here is what some of the young people attending ARCH had to say:
Abdullah Zaheer, 18 years old: “I have enjoyed attending ARCH activities, especially football and cricket. The activities have allowed me to develop my confidence, take on responsibility and learn new skills and meet new people and make new friends. I have also completed my coaching course through ARCH and have helped to organise football and cricket sessions for them”
Esa Khan, 17 years: “I have been attending ARCH sessions for 12 months now and it’s been amazing and so enjoyable. I got involved to become fitter and give myself something different to look forward to each week, I was involved in their cricket sessions and really enjoyed, winning an award too. Since then, I have helped to organise an indoor league for young people which was really fun and allowed me to understand what it takes to organise and develop new skills which will help me in the future, I am also currently undertaking a level 1 football coaching course too to help ARCH with football related activities.”
Thayub Abid, 18 years: “ARCH activities such as the weekly football training and games have allowed me to keep fit and healthy whilst also being able to socialise more and meet new people from different backgrounds. ARCH’s activities also allowed me to enjoy myself whilst juggling work and studies too”.
ARCH continue to work with young people to provide activities and social connections in Redditch. Visit their webpage to find out more about what they do and future plans: ARCH |
If you have a community initiative or project working with young people, aiming to support their mental wellbeing and in turn, prevent crime across our communities, you could access a grant from Worcestershire Public Health and the PCC: Public Health Youth Innovation Grant | Worcestershire County Council
