27 Feb 2019
A precious community asset for over 150 years, St Andrew's Club continues to strengthen its place in the local community through building relationships with external agencies.
The Club has connected with the team running Churchill Gardens Youth Group, a club staffed by youth workers from Working With Men. Both clubs are eager to work together as knowing about each other's provision doubles the choice for local young people.
Sarah, Deputy Club Manager, has also recently worked with The Metropolitan Police Youth Engagement and Diversions Team on a "walk around" with the team during their detached work, introducing the team to the area and engaging with young people. Since then, the team assisted with relocating homeless individuals sleeping near to St Andrew's Club, particularly as it was seen as a safeguarding risk to the Club and neighbouring St Matthew's School. There are future plans to work with the Youth Engagement and Diversions Team work as they want to get to know the local young people. A visit to the Club is being planned by the "StreetDoctors", working NHS doctors who deliver workshops designed to educate young people about knife crime.
Funding has also been secured from Octavia Foundation to reduce loneliness for vulnerable neighbours. The project will consist of team building and targeted fitness sessions at St Andrew's Club, delivered by a St Andrew's senior youth worker and fitness instructor, for 10-15 of Cardinal Hume’s homeless young people from the Cardinal Hume hostel accommodation. The project will aim to build self-confidence, respect and understanding of the importance of a well-balanced physical regime to help improve mental resilience. Since the connection has been formed with Cardinal Hume, St Andrew's has also gained 6 new members who have shown great interest in life at the Club and particularly in boxing!
Watch this space for further updates!
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