XS is an exciting new sports and social inclusion project in the borough of Broxbourne.
Run by Nacro, it provides a wide range of estate-based activities aimed at improving the lives of under 18s in antisocial behaviour hotspots.
What We Do
XS provides football, futsal, urban sports, art and cultural activities designed to engage young people and encourage them to work towards new skills and qualifications. Through the activities we help build young people's confidence in themselves and their future. We also provide the opportunity for participants to train as volunteers, enabling them to give something back to the project while learning a new skill.
Impact
The XS project:
• increases young people's self-esteem and encourages them to move on to more structured activities afterwards, such as learning and skills development programmes
• helps reduce antisocial and offending behaviour locally
• works in partnership with local organisations to build stronger safer communities.
Case Study 1
Mike is 15 years old and lives on the Canada Fields estate. He was encouraged, along with his friends, to attend the XS project pilot programme hosted by the estate. He had recently been arrested for stealing small items from a local shop; he later admitted that he had not even wanted the items he took, he was just bored. Initially he was not keen to get involved in any of the sport on offer but after talking to the project manager, he decided to have a go at Moto X racing and to get involved with designing the logo for the project. He produced drawings and worked with a local designer to put these on to a computer and finalise the design. If you look closely at the official logo, you will see his signature! In return for all his help, XS was happy to pay for Mark's time on the track Moto X racing.
Case Study 2
Daniel, Brandon, Ellie and Danielle, who are aged between 11 and 14, attended the project pilot programme. They were initially disruptive during rugby, futsal and street dance sessions and difficult to engage. Each of them, however, also showed talent, especially when dancing.
When XS was invited to attend the 'Try Day 2’ at Cheshunt Rugby Club – a very popular event with shows and demos throughout the day – Daniel, Brandon, Ellie and Danielle were very keen to get involved, so they were set the challenge of representing XS through street dance. The four worked extremely hard to prepare a dance routine to 'FloRida-Low' in their own time, having only had initial guidance from a community dance coach and, due to a dance session having to be cancelled, just two hours of tuition.
On 21 September 2008, the four performed their impressive routine to extensive applause from a crowd of over 200 people. Thanks to Hertford Regional College facilities, these four and others like them have been able to continue improving their dance skills even further since.
Who We Work With
We work with a range of statutory and voluntary organisations including:
- The Hertfordshire Football Association
- Hertfordshire Constabulary
- Rugby Football Union
- The Borough of Broxbourne
- Active Broxbourne
- Aldwyck Housing Group
- Broxbourne Housing Association
- Paradigm Housing
- Metropolitan Housing Trust
- Hertfordshire Sports Partnership
- Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue
- V
For more information, contact the Project Manager, Alex Hepton.
Tel: 01992 78555/07920 571 605
Ah3.leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk
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