Parents reflect on "life changing" SEND summer club as the new School year begins

LIVINGSTONE Street Play and Community Centre, located in Wirral, were praised this week for their "life changing" summer club that provided free sessions for families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Due to cuts in funding, the community centre was forced to close its doors and families were left with nowhere to go, causing distress across many local people who relied on it.

Equilibrium North West, a Birkenhead based community interest company, recognised the need for the centre and applied for a grant to support its summer club from local housing association, One Vision Housing.

The grant from One Vision Housing's Community Development Fund, supported the 6 week summer holiday club which helped 450 residents access over 100 hours of support and provided 750 nutritious meals.

The club included a series of 4 hour sessions with arts and crafts, games, and story times. SEND families were also provided with exclusive access to the centre's on site sensory room.

A parent who accessed the free sessions said:- "I would have been lost without the holiday club; it has changed our lives. My son has autism and ADHD, and the supportive environment here has been instrumental to his development. The people here are amazing, attentive to his needs and know how to look after him in challenging moments."

Another parent added:- "We have never been able to come to a summer club like this before. My daughter loves coming here. It is great to be able to get out of the house and see her experience things that other children do."

Using the HACT Social Value Calculator, which was formed following extensive research to measure the positive impact of social initiatives, One Vision Housing were able to determine that over £898k of social value had been generated thanks to the project.

Sharon Munroe, from Equilibrium North West said:- "On behalf of our whole community, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to One Vision Housing. Parents really struggled when local SEND activities were cancelled, many who approached me in tears with nowhere else to go. Thanks to grant we received, we were able to support children with multiple difficulties and challenges, giving families a much needed break, and providing an opportunity to connect with others who have the same challenges as them."

Ian Mitchell, Managing Director at One Vision Housing said:- "We are thrilled that so many families, who would have otherwise faced severe hardship, were able to access a safe, fun, and tailored experience during the summer holidays through Equilibrium's club. As part of The Sovini Group, we are proud to create opportunities and change lives, and this project truly demonstrates the impact we can make across our thriving, inclusive communities."

A total of £10,000 is available each year for voluntary and community groups through the housing association's Community Development Fund. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

To learn more about the fund and how to apply for a grant, please visit:- OVH.Org.UK. 
 

Police Commissioner launches £50,000 Youth Diversion Fund for projects over Autumn Half Term

COMMUNITY groups which offer safe and engaging activities for young people are being invited to bid for grants for projects running during the Autumn Half Term, thanks to Merseyside's Police Commissioner.

Emily Spurrell has announced that she is releasing the grants from her Youth Diversion Fund, which diverts money raised from the sale of unclaimed stolen goods or property recovered by the Police which cannot be returned to its owners into worthwhile causes.

The Commissioner is encouraging community organisations, charities and groups to apply for a vital cash boost of up to £3,000 for grassroots initiatives which are working to divert young people away from anti-social behaviour and crime during a time when this traditionally spikes.

A total of £50,000 is available from the fund for 1 off grants for organisations which are committed to improving community safety, reducing crime or supporting victims.

The Commissioner said:- "I'm delighted to be able to open up my Youth Diversion Fund for the third time inviting bids of up to £3,000 from organisations which are working to make their communities safer and better places to live by engaging with young people, particularly over the autumn half term. Many communities across Merseyside traditionally see a rise in criminal and anti social behaviour around Bonfire and Mischief Night. Historically, it is also a particularly busy time for the Police and the fire service. Through these grants, I want to help alleviate these issues and provide safe and engaging activities for young people to make sure they don't become involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour. I want to see these grants used to support projects that complement the excellent diversionary work carried out by Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, ensuring that young people can enjoy the autumn festivities in a safe and enjoyable way which is properly supervised. Local people know their communities best. They know what works when engaging with their young people and I am looking forward to reviewing their ideas and initiatives for ensuring everyone can have a safe and fun Halloween."

The Youth Diversion Fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, (CFM) on behalf of the Commissioner. CFM holds funds from individuals and organisations as donors who wish to support deserving causes in Merseyside.

All applications must be submitted online via the Community Foundation for Merseyside by 4pm, on 23 September 2022. Please visit their website to apply.