YMCA Activate England Activating the Hard to Reach

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YMCA Activate England Activating the Hard to
Reach

• Mark Harrod Public Policy Director Central
  YMCA
• Robin Gargrave Executive Director YMCAfit

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Childrens Interactive Programme Sutton
Coldfield YMCA
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July 2004

• 918,000 Big Lottery funding via Sport England
• Three Year Programme to-
• Widen access, promote health, increase
  participation in physical activity targeting
  those least likely to engage in physical activity

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Why the Y?

• History and heritage in tackling disadvantage and
  social exclusion since 1844
• 148 YMCAs in England meeting the needs of local
  communities
• SHEF (500,000 participants per annum)
• Youth Work (260,000 young people)
• Supported Housing (7,600 beds)
• YMCAfit National Training Provider Exercise
  and Activity for Health
• 4,000 days of training delivered per year

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YMCA Activate England Programme

• YMCA England Appoint Implementation Team
• Project Manager
• Two Implementation Managers
• Administration Support
• Marketing PR Support
• YMCA England Programme Development
• Pathway to Activity
• The Challenge
• Childrens Interactive Programme
• YMCAfit Programme Development
• Physical Activity in Mental Health

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• Engage sign up 56 local associations
• YMCAfit Training Programme Development
• Activator Training (three days)
• Childrens Activator Training (one day)
• Mental Health Activator (three days)
• 5. Training delivered
• 6. Programmes supported and delivered
• 7. Training and Programmes monitored and
  evaluated
• 8. Findings published

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Outcomes

• Training
• 112 Activators trained
• 23 Childrens Activators trained
• 65 Mental Health Activators trained
• Training Evaluation Commissioned Published

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Outcomes

• Programmes
• 8050 beneficiaries participated in the programmes
• 46 were previously inactive
• 80 were below the Sport England/CMO guidelines
  for sport/activity participation
• 27 were from socially deprived communities (56
  - The Challenge!)
• 14 were from black and minority ethnic
  backgrounds
• 11 were disabled

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The Challenges/Learning

• Training was the key component imparted skills,
  knowledge and confidence
• Training too academic flexible learning
  formats needed
• It takes time to gear up be realistic
• Dont make delivery funding dependant. Our
  meanness meant sustainability!
• Dont underestimate support for sharp end
  delivery team. Mentoring is an essential
  component. Chase and drive
• Senior management buy in essential
• Review, share models of good practice. Celebrate
  success

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Future Development

• Activate London (Well London) Peer Activators!
• Activity and Mental Health (MIND)
• Westminster May 2009
• Street Dance Activators - Barking Dagenham
• - Camden Strictly Street Dance
• - Big Dance Project
• - CYQ Kids Qualification

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Qualitative Stuff!!

• Pathway to Activity Id been indoors for the
  previous ten years after having a strokeNow I
  am getting out. Its very helpful. I can walk
  straight. I can climb stairs. I used to fall over
  now I dont
• Pathway to Activity beneficiary Wimbledon YMCA

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Pathway to Activity Stoke on Trent YMCA
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• The Challenge I used to sleep a lot more. I
  would stay up most of the night and then sleep
  all day. I never really wanted to do anything.
  This has changed that!
• Challenge beneficiary Tyne Wear YMCA

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The Challenge Nottinghamshire YMCA
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And finally.
Childrens Interactive Programme Hornsey YMCA