NTCities - Challenge Network

The Challenge Network and NCS

National Trust/February 2012

National Trust/ Feb 2012

About The ChallengeThe Challenge Network is a charity with a mission

Why we existOver the last 50 years, the amount that we trust each other has declined rapidly. The UK now has the lowest levels of trust and belonging in Europe.

This collapse in trust damages our young the most. UNICEF found that young people in the UK have lower confidence, weaker relationships and less civic engagement than in all other developed countries.**

Children need a nurturing, trusting environment to develop as young adults. Without this, our young are struggling to mature into adults.

The Challenge Network believes we can rebuild trust in our society by helping young people to come of age.

Our mission is to inspire and connect Young People to strengthen their communities.


About The ChallengeSummer Programme

The Personal Challenge

• Participants bond in teams through a week of outdoor activities which build courage and personal responsibility.

The Team Challenge• Teams face a number of challenges that require them to

serve their community using skills they are passionate about.

The Real Challenge - Design• Teams explore their local community, then design a

service project to benefit that community.


About The ChallengeAutumn Delivery

The Real Challenge Action• Teams deliver the service project that they designed

during the summer.

Graduation & The Challenge Society• Successful teams graduate from The Challenge and are

signposted into new volunteering and employment opportunities.


delivery

• Nationally around 3000 places in 2011. 10,000 2012

• NW: 540 places across Preston, Wigan, Blackburn and Bury 2011. 1300 2012 across Lancs and GM

Marketing:

- Working with schools, councils and youth organisations

- The Challenge Brand

Programs:

- Setting up partnerships

- Recruitment and staff training


Experiences of first year deliveryDelivery

Partners

•Aberdovey, Loch Eil (Outward Bound), Stainton (Skillsforce)

•Liberty Living, UCLan, Bury College, Wigan College

•Guide dogs for the blind, RNIB, British Waterways

•Jinnah Centre, People First, Banskfield

•O2, Police

Curriculum

•TLC/TRUE

•Fundraising and Campaigning


Experiences of first year deliveryInitial Feedback from Young people

Faysal Hamzah. Rochdale, North West England. I didn’t really know what to expect of The Challenge at first. A leaflet came through our door and the outdoor stuff on it caught my attention. The best bit has been the whole thing, it has all been my favourite but maybe meeting new people has been the best, like Danni here (he is sat next to Danielle Scothern) because we didn’t know each other before but have got really close. Doing the Dragon’s Den was difficult, I have never done anything like that before and was pretty nervous. I think we have shown that teenagers aren’t all bad but that we can do positive things too.


engaging young people and local communities

Capturing and reflecting a community and cities sense of place

• Work across London, Birmingham and Manchester. England's three biggest Cities.

• We exist to connect and inspire people to strengthen their communities.

• Part of building stronger communities is connecting people to the places where they live.

How do we do this?

1)Through connecting people :

- Work with existing groups and charities, to link them up through young people- Mix of YP- Team Challenge: Community Surveys, Linking young people with community groups. Eg

Jinnah centre, Jigsaw, Banksfield, Showcase

2) Through connecting YP to a place

- Use of public buildings as venues – colleges, schools, community centres, green spaces


engaging young people and local communities

Capturing and reflecting a community and cities sense of place

3) Through curriculum

- Charity projects: Sunshine House community garden, ADAB, memory walk, Guide Dogs for The Blind hazard mapping, CLC, Bury Museum, BTCV, Groundwork

- Campaigns: Positive Blackburn, Make Preston Pretty, Litter picking, My Community Is, Dance out Racism, CommuniTEA.

- Big projects: British Waterways, Bury Rangers, Leigh Miners Rangers, Shadsworth

KEY: Linking to existing partners and places, but making the tasks FUN and INSPIRATIONAL

4) Through the Challenge Society

-Encouraging continued involvement in communities: events/signposting-Preston events: photography and art day. Asset mapping and CommunARTy

Reflecting the sense of the city in your Challenges


• Historically this has been as a bi-product of the programmes we run – gained though things like community survey, guiding YP through coming up with a campaign they would like to run.

• Focus more on individual and how they can create positive change – in any way. Sometimes YP choose local issues that reflect sense of city, sometimes not.


Inspiring people to get involved and reaching new audiences

Two main audiences: YP and community partners1) YP:Before programme-Strong Marketing-Brand-Links with schools-Focus on CV improvementDuring programme-Focus on reflection-Carefully planned curriculum-Inspirational partners – that young people can relate to. -Pushing boundariesAfter programme-Challenge with Distinction-Regular events with friends invited-Chance to be involved in designing the programme

2) Community partners-Importance of working in partnership – mutual gain-Chance to engage YP in your work


Some learnings: How can the National Trust…

Understand the 'sense of place' in cities and urban areas and reflect it in what we do - and develop offers that are engaging for young people who live in cities?

-Make it appealing to young people by relating it to their life and current needs-Most positive results were when YP could see clear impact. Least were when YP couldn’t see how their role was important or see a clear need (Haigh Hall)-People focused – main issues were community cohesion, racism, inclusion etc.-Fun -Passionate causes-Aid employability – offer skills-Ownership – ask young people what they want! What do they understand of ‘sense of place’? PPT mapping.

Supported BY

Barbara and Stanley Fink Foundation * Boltini Trust * Clore Duffield Foundation * First Group * Hammersmith and Fulham Council * John Hart * Martin and Judith Ainscough Charity Trust * McTaggart Third Fund * Rachel and Antony Williams * Ray Chamberlain * Shaftesbury Partnership * Telereal Trillium * The Rayne Foundation * Warburton Trust


Health & Medicine

NTCities - Challenge Network