Gladstone Community Space Challenge (GCSC)
The Gladstone Community Space Challenge works with young people aged 8-17 living in an area with a diverse cultural mix including Pakistani, Kurdish, Portuguese and, more recently, Eastern European communities.
The main aim of the Project is to empower and engage young people in these communities to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and to increase their sense of ownership and pride in the area by rejuvenating neglected open spaces. The project also provides volunteering and training opportunities for young people, supporting them into employment and education.
Young people are referred by the Youth Inclusion Programme, schools and other agencies. The project is also open to any young person with a genuine interest in wildlife, nature and preserving the environment.
We have seen great success in engaging young people, many of whom have progressed into training, employment, volunteering and some back into education.
A young person’s comments about our project:
“I have been attending the CSC Project for a long time. I first heard about the project from my youth project worker, she made it sound so cool that I had to come and check it out. I didn’t think it would be but I still came.
Sometimes I get stressed and I can’t cope with things so I get angry and do silly things without thinking. I have been in trouble in school and with the police.
Since I joined the project I have made lots of new friends who really understand me and help me stay out of trouble. I now have something to look forward to every week. My project worker has really helped me to control my anger by explaining a lot of things I didn’t think about before. I still get angry, not as much as before, but I can control it.
We do lots of fun environmental and nature activities, I never thought learning about the environment could be so much fun. It has also helped me to improve my behaviour in school. I want to work hard now and make the people who have helped me feel proud. I have really enjoyed being a part of the YMCA CSC Project and would recommend other young people to attend.” (A.K)
Contact and further information
For more information about the Community Space Challenge project, please contact Candise Day, Project Worker on 07976-295535, email candise.day@theymca.org.uk
More about the Project and a photo gallery of activities can be seen on the Catch22 website, please click here
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