Young people from Hawtonville in Newark have helped to launch a community scheme designed to promote social inclusion at the outset of a three year commitment to improve prospects and integration.
Entitled Positive Futures, the scheme is led by the Trent Bridge Community Trust, the charitable arm of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, and will offer free activities and support services for all young people in Hawtonville whilst working closely with a core group identified as being at risk of social exclusion.
“We are delighted to be working closely with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club on Positive Futures Newark.,” said Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council, key partners in the scheme.
“Our mission is to maintain exceptional community programmes for the benefit of young people in need of opportunities.” Tracey Francis
“A similar project at Cotgrave led by the Cricket Club to address social exclusion has been a great success and demonstrates the benefits that this kind of scheme can bring to local communities.”
Mandy Wright, the Project Co-Ordinator, has been working in Hawtonville since April in order to familiarise herself with the area in an effort to unite the partners that will deliver the scheme.
“There are already a number of projects in place to engage young people but there are some gaps in the provision and that’s what we want to address,” said Mandy.
“The Positive Futures method is tried and tested so we can hit the ground running but some of the external factors are markedly different here so we will need to continually adapt.
“The Cotgrave scheme continues to produce great results and the statistical evidence of a downturn in youth crime was a great endorsement for our work."
The Trent Bridge Community Trust launched Positive Futures Cotgrave in 2008 and it gained plaudits for contributing to a stark downturn in youth crime and anti-social behaviour. It has since been extended to Rushcliffe Borough with a presence in Keyworth and Radcliffe on Trent.
The Trust is also a key member of the Ashes Legacy Partnership and will deploy a team of volunteers to enhance spectator experience at the Investec Ashes test at Trent Bridge in July.
“We want to be known as an organisation that can affect change in challenging circumstances and local authorities have recognised that we are by supporting us in delivering these schemes,” said Tracey Francis, the Club’s Head of Community Sport.
“Our mission is to maintain exceptional community programmes for the benefit of young people in need of opportunities.”
Learn more about the Trent Bridge Community Trust by visiting our microsite.
Learn more about our partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council by visiting Notts Extras.