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Spring 2012

news update All the latest on

Step up

Catalyst

Upcoming activities

Job opportunities...

£50,000 grant awarded for new

schools worker

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2012. We started the year full of enthusiasm for all we hope to achieve. Even in the first couple of weeks we have heard some encouraging stories about young lives being changed and impacted for the better. This includes one young lad who teachers are openly acknowledging has changed his attitude since he started sessions with N-Gage. I am often asked what the point of N-Gage is and why we bother. I hope N-Gage covers some of these key themes in the varied work we are now privileged to be involved in: Intentional - Being deliberate about what we do and where we go and why we do things the way we do. Relational - Coming back to young people time and again, even when behaviour would dictate it is easier to leave.

Motivational - Getting strong Christian role models alongside young people to spur them on in their life’s journey and helping them to be the best they can. Sometimes it takes literally weeks to see a breakthrough but when we do we can see the knock on effect it can have on wider communities. My hope for this year is that we have a year of expanding opportunities and changing futures. Through all the different areas we work in including the school and detached side of things I hope we really change loads of young peoples futures for the better. I hope you also look forward to seeing the next phase of N-Gage’s development as we start this new year. Christie Spurling, CEO

2012: Expanding opportunities,

Changing Futures

On our last working day of 2011 we received the fantastic news that we had been awarded a three year grant from The Peter Kershaw Memorial Bursary for a new schools worker. This will assist Christie in developing the ‘Step-Up’ programme in additional schools and of course will cover him during his impending Paternity leave!! We will be recruiting for this post soon so please contact Sarah in the office on admin@n-gage.org.uk and she will contact you when more details are available. The first day back in January also saw us receive a much smaller grant, but any amount is welcome, from Skipton Building Society. This is to purchase an ‘Instant Marquee’ to help the Catalyst Programme when more young people

attend than the Police Resource Vehicle can cope with. This has already happened during the cold winter months so we are sure this marquee will be greatly used during the summer. The marquee will have our logo on so it will be another visual sign of our work and positive involvement in the community. The process of applying for funds continues to be challenging however we continue to be motivated by our conviction that we are making a huge difference in the lives of young people. Rodger Spurling Development Co-ordinator

Over 400 young people have connected

with the youth bus since Oct 2011

Since the start of Catalyst (formerly Shift) in October we have had the opportunity to expand our detached youth work programme working alongside Greater Manchester Police and I have had the privilege of being able to oversee it all. With our new Catalyst team made up of employees, volunteers, and students we have managed to get the police bus going out 5 nights a week every week rain or shine (I have to admit we have seen a lot more rain!) Within the 5 subdivisions we cover there are 7 regular spots where the bus is positioned: Gladeside Rd, Royal Oak Rd, Sale Circle, Fog Lane Park, Burnage Lane, Old Moat Park, and Nell Lane Estate. We are building up really good connections with the young people in these areas as we see them from week to week, and have had contact with over 400 young people since October. It has been a really good way of impacting not only the young people, many of who are involved in Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) and other crimes in their area, but also their communities. The police are already seeing a decline in ASB in the areas that we are taking the bus to, and we are receiving lots of positive

feedback from local residents. In February half term I will be taking a group of young people who we have met whilst on the bus on a residential weekend to an outdoor adventure centre, this will be an amazing opportunity to deepen our relationships, whilst seeing them learn new skills and have the opportunity to experience new things for the first time. A PCSO is also hoping to come along with us as a leader to join in with the activities, another example of how barriers are being broken down between the young people and the police. The plan is also to link in the Young Leaders' Programme with Catalyst with the vision to put some of the young people we meet through this, again encouraging them to make an impact on their own community. I have had a really encouraging couple of months seeing these things develop and am looking forward to seeing some of the young people getting their hands dirty in the Transform projects we have planned for this year. Rachel Strafford, Manager of Community Partnerships

Other news

Christmas Quiz and Awards Night (see above) We were able to award 4 groups of young people for their fantastic achievements over the past year. This was a really positive way to celebrate the young people and acknowledge all their hard work. Cinderella Trip (see right) Thanks to some funding received from The Happy Days Charity we were able to treat a group of 18 young people from Newall Green Primary School to a trip to the panto!

N-Gage is a registered charity number 1117843. N-Gage. Benchill Community Centre, Benchill Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 8EJ admin@n-gage.org.uk 0161 637 1302 www.n-gage.org.uk

We are looking for more IT equipment that we can use in schools - if you are replacing your laptop or perhaps your office is having a clear out please get in touch with us!

Fancy a challenge this new year?

We've got a number of opportunities for you to push yourself in 2012! If your New Year's resolution is to get fit, or to try something you've never

done before then we have some great options for you!

Contact admin@n-gage.org.uk for more info

RUN - The Great Manchester 10k on Sunday 20th May.

JUMP- Leap out of a plane at 14,000 ft

WALK - 27 miles up and down the Yorkshire 3 Peaks

Having a clear out?

In the next few months we will be looking to recruit a new schools worker to help expand the work that we currently do in schools. If you or anyone you know might be interested please contact admin@n-gage.org.uk We are also looking to extend our bank of sessional workers who help to deliver the Catalyst detached your work project. If you are interested in applying for any of these roles you can request an application pack from our office. The deadline for applications is Monday 13th Feb at 12noon.

Job opportunities

N-Gage is an award winning, innovative

and rapidly expanding Christian charity, seeking to

enable young people to reach their full potential, attain

full benefit from their education, take responsibility for

their behaviour and develop positive

citizenship.