Cottingley Hall as an estate has historically had a serious lack of provision when it comes to young people and this has resulted in a lot of anti-social behaviour.
As an estate there was a desire to add to the current youth provision by offering an extra session per week. A desire strongly called for by volunteer residents who approached the community centre, passionate about local young people and the area.
Christine the Community Development Manager for Cottingley explained:
“Parents approached me and asked what they could do to give the young people some focus and how to go about it and at almost the same time Re:establish approached me prepared to offer local people the skills and training that helped to create their successful youth provision in Beeston and Holbeck.”
The holistic approach and offer of collaboration was too good an opportunity to pass up and ‘Team Cottingley’ was born through the Friends of Cottingley Community Centre.
Just 6 short months has made such an impact on the young people, seeing a marked and noted improvement in anti-social behaviour. It has been a great example of how team work and working with the local community can enable the beginning of exciting opportunity.
Jo the Founder and Development manager for Re:establish said:
“As part of The Leeds Youth Work Alliance South (enhanced youth work contract) we agreed to look at how we could help expand provision for young people in Cottingley and I believe that grassroots, longterm provision is the most sustainable way to create opportunity, build healthy relationships and advocate for change.
“Working with Christine and her team is foundationally essential. You have to have people who are passionate about their area if you are ever going too see longterm transformative change. I am excited to see how the team and provison develop over the next couple of years.”
The young people attending have said that the presence of the youth team has made them feel safer playing out and that they are happy that they have other trusted adults they can go to if they ever need support.
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