Howden Action Group CIC has been set up to raise funds and give support to fulfil our stated aim of ‘Making Howden an even better place to live’.
Our first aim is to improve provision for our younger residents with the development of a Youth Hub.
Howden has an ever-growing population and, with the exception of the excellent work done by the Scouts, Guides and Howden AFC, we have virtually no dedicated facilities and organised activities for young people outside of school hours.
A recent Department of Education report states:
‘There is a clear association between participation in youth provision and positive short-term outcomes relating to physical health and wellbeing, pro-social behaviours and education. There is also strong evidence that these short-term outcomes are sustained over decades and, compared with non-participants, people who attended youth clubs continue to score more highly for several of these indicators of wellbeing.’
Our aim is to create a safe space for children and young people in Howden to meet friends, participate in activities, get advice and counselling and, most of all, have fun!
Our second ambition is to build a ‘Community Shed’ which will create a communal space for people to connect, converse and create.
The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men (and women) to enjoy together.
What do we need to do to make this work?
We need to engage the whole town to make this work - individuals, organisations, groups and businesses.
We need to recruit directors to help oversee and manage the organisation and to undertake scrutiny and statutory responsibilities.
We also would like to recruit members from throughout the community to promote and grow the company and its aims.
We are particularly interested in talking to anyone who has experience in youth work and might be interested in helping build the Youth Hub from the ground up.
Similarly we would welcome anyone who is interested in the concept of the Community Shed, and would like to take up the challenge of joining a working group to help us deliver this project.
Finally, we would like to invite all businesses, voluntary groups and charities operating in our town to join the group, as directors or as individual members, to establish a ‘big tent’ of caring, all working together for the benefit of the town.
We are running a launch event at the Shire Hall on Thursday April 25th!
This will be a very informal event starting with a brief outline of the CIC structure and aims, and what becoming a director or member will entail.
This will be followed by a short presentation about the plans we have in place so far for a Youth Engagement project, the establishment of a Youth Hub and the development of a Community Shed initiative.
The rest of the evening will be a ‘big circle’ discussion where people are invited to talk about their own organisations and projects, share their thoughts about what we could all be doing, or doing better, and seek out other projects and initiatives that Howden Action Group could undertake or support with the aim of ‘Making Howden an even better place to live’
If you are interested in joining us please come along to the Shire Hall on the 25th of April - or if you want to know more please drop me a direct message, email me at howdenactiongroup@gmail.com or give me a call on 07774 729096.
Thanks
David Howard
Howden Action Group
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