From my North Norfolk News column of 3 December 2007. Lightly edited from my original copy; the activities and funding figures are from 2007.
This week I was given the chance to see what happens when adults and young people work together in the community, and there is no finer example of that than Holt Youth Project.
After years of fundraising, project managers Julie and David Alford saw the building devoted to the youth project come together in 2004. They had achieved everything they wanted, and more. Now in 2007 they’ve seen this building evolve thanks to ‘Project Butterfly’ – an initiative from the EDP, Norfolk police and Virgin Money. This saw a real community spirit with everyone chipping in to make use of the £10,000 they were donated.
As a former member of the youth club it is nothing like the days we spent using the Holt Day Centre facilities, and I was thrilled to see how much work had gone into this building. It boasts a sports hall, a room for technology, and a television room to name a few. On viewing a slideshow that the organisation had put together, I realised just how prominent the project was in playing a role in the children’s lives. The photographs show just how far the building has progressed, and embarrassingly features plenty of me from many years ago.
Julie explained that since gaining their own building there is so much work involved that she has had to give up her job, but the enthusiasm and respect she gets from young people is what spurs her on. Whilst those involved in overseeing the project have given up endless amounts of time to help get where they are now, they couldn’t have done it without the community and the willingness of the children. Many of those involved in the construction of the building, and those that give up their time each week, are former members of the youth project.
What the Holt Youth Project has done is not only give young people in the town somewhere to go throughout the week, but it’s also knocked stereotypes on the head that so many have about teenagers living in towns. Julie says she’s never witnessed any anti-social behaviour in the building, members are treated with respect, and everyone chips in and helps out. Young people regularly drop in to not only have a night out, but to discuss any problems that are bothering them too, courtesy of ‘Blush’ the new room for girls which also acts as a beauty treatment room.
Meanwhile the members believe firmly that they should give back to the community what they have had given to them. They had already been involved in projects with the elderly, conservation schemes at the Holt Country Park and the project’s house band will play at a Christmas show this month.
But Julie recognises that she cannot go on forever running the organisation, and hopes that her and her team have laid the foundation for others to take over the organisation in years to come. The youth project now hopes they will be able to meet with youth workers from other towns and villages in Norfolk to help start their own projects.
This week, following much hard work on his behalf, a teenage member had managed to secure a £30,000 grant through an application to the council, allowing the project to build a gym to house the equipment they had recently bought.
The project is not only a huge credit to Julie and David, but also to their team and those that have helped out over the years. I have no doubt that it will continue to succeed and grow, and I too hope that it will pave the way for similar projects across Norfolk.