East Bergholt Youth Provision

Inspire:
Established in 2003 and rebranded to Inspire in 2013, our purpose is to improve the lives of under 25s in Suffolk (&
surrounding areas) facing challenges or disadvantage to realise their potential by providing opportunities, supporting
them in developing the skills, tools, behaviours and experiences to be able to progress positively and successfully in
their lives.
From our bases in Ipswich, Hadleigh and Lowestoft we run a range of youth work, education, mental and physical
wellbeing services and interventions which all work towards fulfilling our purpose by all young people being able to
have timely access to our services which:
• Build positive relationships and
support networks.
• Improve physical and mental
wellbeing.
• Make positive choices away from
harmful and risky behaviours and
practices.
• Improve confidence and self-esteem.
• Run social action projects.
• Gain work experience.
• Build practical and soft skills.
• Overcome difficulties and re-engage
with education.
• Move into or closer to employment.
• Access information and advice.

Experience:

Inspire merged with the Hadleigh Porch Project in March 2023. The Porch Project had been running since 2011,
delivering open access youth provision, outreach and in-school mentoring to around 300 young people a year.
Together we now deliver 132 hours of open access youth provision to 333 young people each month. This is set to
increase further in 2025, but today includes detached youth work, safe-space, youth club and drop-in provisions,
sports activities and crime/ASB prevention programmes.
We have just completed a £1.4m investment at our Lindbergh Road HQ which has seen creation of a new youth hub
which will open soon and house all our Ipswich & virtual youth services. A space designed by and used by young
people which will see significant increases in our youth offering across Suffolk.
“I have seen the positive impact of Inspire’s Porch Project within our community. Their Friday night drop-in youth club
and Tuesday night SEND-specific sessions offer vital safe spaces where young people can connect, grow, and thrive.
Outreach efforts in Hadleigh town, alongside their in-school support, ensure they reach and uplift even more young
people in need. By providing school holiday activities, they not only enrich the lives of children and young people but
also offer valuable support to local working families. Inspire has proven to be a trusted and invaluable provider of
youth activities in our town. Jane Carruthers (Cllr), Green Party, Babergh District Councillor – Hadleigh South.”
Proposal:
Our objective is to establish a vibrant Youth Club in East Bergholt aiming to create a supportive and inclusive safe
social space for local young people to grow, connect, and contribute positively to their community.
On a night and at a venue to be agreed with the YPC and local young people, Inspire will bring Youth Activities to
East Bergholt for young people from school years 7 to 11 (11-16 years) aiming to run 50 weeks of the year. Our
current preference is for a Tuesday evening 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Delivery timeline:

The proposed timeline is planned to coincide with
when the evenings start to get lighter and young
people start to congregate outside.

Young people must be given a voice in decision-
making processes. Empowering young individuals
to actively participate in shaping their
environment and addressing issues important to
them is a fundamental aspect of our work. (See
more information in Initial Outreach and
Relationship Building below.) We believe young
people will value the provision more if they are
involved in decision making of their club.
Behavioural codes of conduct will be agreed in
collaboration with young people and they will be
expected to adhere to this to ensure the safety of
everyone who attends.

We have made some assumptions around the
available venue, i.e. internet access, permanent
equipment storage space, a confidential area for 1-
2-1 / safeguarding conversations and basic kitchen
facilities.

The purpose of the youth club is to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for young people to
socialise, learn, and participate in various activities with trusted adults. Designed to meet the developmental needs
of adolescents, we will offer a range of opportunities that contribute to personal, social, and educational growth
which meet the National Youth Work Curriculum.

Depending on any obvious venue limitations this would include sports, board/card games, Xbox/PlayStation gaming,
cooking, arts and crafts, music, trips out and, small social action projects.
It’s important to know that successful youth work comes from young people having influence on these activities,
so the activities we deliver will grow from the preference of young people and will develop as delivery continues.

Unlike other clubs, the young people do not need to pre-book or pay to attend. We have found that pre-booking and
subs create a barrier to some young people, particularly those facing greater disadvantage. The club must be
inclusive and open access for all.

The Youth club would be used as a platform for young people to engage with other groups and activities in the local
community. We would work closely with these other groups and providers in the area to ensure young people are
aware of additional activities and inviting them into the youth club to showcase their group. We often invite guests
to sessions to deliver activities, for example we have a local bakery owner who volunteered her time to do a cup-
cake making and decorating session in Hadleigh.

Initial Outreach and Relationship Building:
We have found that the best way to engage young people is to create a relationship with familiar faces and engage
them where they are.
Following 2 weeks of research observation in the area, we will focus our initial outreach in key gathering spots, such
as the playing fields, park areas, local shop, and spaces around the high school. Youth workers will engage informally
with young people in these settings, fostering natural conversations to hear their ideas, aspirations, and concerns.
Flyers and posters will be distributed at local schools, shops, and community spaces. We will work with East Bergholt
High School to connect with students directly during school hours. This will include lunchtime drop-ins, after-school
engagement sessions, and working alongside school staff to understand the unique challenges and preferences of
local young people.
Our youth van will initially act as a mobile engagement hub to provide small activities, information, and an
introduction to what the youth club will offer. This mobile youth unit is heated, has facilities to make hot drinks and
supply snacks and comes filled with games and a gaming console. For warmer months it is equipped with outdoor
games, bean bag seats and a weather awning.
By maintaining consistent with the same youth workers, we will create a sense of familiarity and trust. Young people
in East Bergholt will get to know the team, making it easier for them to transition into the youth club when it

launches in April. This approach ensures that the youth club feels like an extension of the relationships already built
during the outreach phase.

Added Value: Choosing to work with Inspire brings access to additional services for young people which include:
Fast and free psychotherapist counselling for young people from 11 years. Through our existing similar work, we
have found levels of safeguarding concerns high and many young people with poor mental health either unsure how
to or unwilling to ask for help or are affected by the 18month+ waiting list for NHS services. We carefully manage our
waiting lists; no young person waits more than 4 weeks for counselling to start and receives their initial assessment
within 48 hours of referral. “Every morning when I opened his bedroom door, I honestly didn’t know whether I’d
find him alive.”
Emergency food, supplies and hygiene packages: Code name “Patrick” enables young people to access equipment
such as stationery supplies for school/homework, food and personal hygiene in an emergency without the limiting
requirements (such as memberships / waiting lists etc.) of foodbanks. We have supported 125 young people this way
in our current drop-in and outreach provisions. “Can I take one for my sister too, she doesn’t have her own
toothbrush?”
C-Card & Sexual Health: We are members of the C-Card Scheme which promotes reproductive and sexual health by
giving information and advice, supplying condoms and helps young people to access local services.
Hey Girls: We partner with Hey Girls CIC, who supply us with free feminine hygiene products for our sites and
activities to help combat period poverty.

Additional points for YPC to consider:
– Additional provision during holiday periods. This could include the Mobile Youth Unit visiting a central area or
hotspot weekly, or additional day-time sessions for activities. There would be an additional funding
requirement for this unless the proposed delivery is reduced.
(At our Hadleigh centre, the youth club runs every Friday throughout the year, with additional bookable activities on
certain days in the holidays – this was funded through the council HAF programme).

Benefits to Young People:
“At our drop-in session, one young person disclosed to a youth worker that they had been self-harming and had
feelings of suicide because of bullying at school. We administered first aid, listened and made a safeguarding referral.
Since then they have had a really good relationship with the Porch and our staff and attend other activities and also
accessed the hygiene scheme. They feel they can talk to staff when needed and are in a much better place.”

1. Improved Emotional Wellbeing:
Young people we work with in these targeted areas often face various emotional challenges. Our youth activities
provide opportunities for social interaction, making friends, and building a sense of belonging. This can alleviate
feelings of loneliness, isolation, and depression.
Youth workers in drop-in services create a safe and trusted space for young people to express their thoughts and
emotions. They do this through discussions, art projects, or other therapeutic activities that encourage self-
expression.
2. Improved Life and Practical Skills:
Learning and using effective communication is crucial at this age, when transitioning to teen hood / adult hood
presents many emotional and developmental challenges. Young people will learn to communicate with their peers,
and youth workers, improving their people skills.
Through team and group activities, young people can develop leadership and teamwork skills. They learn to
collaborate with others and take on responsibilities.
3. Access to Trusted Relationships with Adults and Feeling Safer:
Youth workers will act as mentors and positive role models. They provide guidance, support, and a listening ear. This
trusted relationship can help young people feel safer and more secure. Drop-in services are safe and supervised
environments. This reduces exposure to potential risks and dangers, contributing to a sense of physical safety. The
consistent presence of caring adults in the lives of young people fosters trust. When young people have a trusted
support system, they are more likely to confide in these adults when they face challenges or need help.

(https://schoolsweek.co.uk/youth-club-closures-affected-gcse-results-warns-ifs-report/)
Evidencing the benefits:
To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our work and demonstrate the benefits mentioned above, we will use:
Ongoing Data Collection: Throughout the programme, we will regularly collect quantitative and qualitative data. This
would include tracking attendance, performance in structured activities, and observations of peer interactions and
communication.
Feedback Surveys: We will collect feedback from participants, focusing on their perceived changes in confidence,
feelings of safety, wellbeing, life skills and opinions on our services. This feedback will provide valuable insights into
the program’s impact and create opportunities for using youth voice as a development tool.

Case Studies: In-depth case studies will be conducted to highlight individual success stories, highlighting how the
programme has specifically benefited participants.
Programme Reviews: Monthly programme reviews will assess the effectiveness of the activities, content, and overall
structure. We will continuously refine and improve our programmes to better meet the needs of the young people
we work with.
The biggest indicators to success are positive feedback from young people and continued attendance. Impact is
monitored monthly during project review meetings and formal performance reviews will be produced quarterly or
half-yearly as required by the YPC. We can provide detailed demographic data as required.
S – When we first met, they were ‘hiding in the corner,’ but can now make conversation with staff and other young
people. S is picked on at school as he has ‘unusual’ music tastes. We have provided a space to be themselves,
judgment free. They now engage in games and are open and confident in themselves with great resilience.
R – joined as when they heard through their young brother. They were quiet and unwilling to be involved in
anything. This person grew to represent themselves brilliantly as a volunteer at the supporter’s reception.
We have created an environment where young people are learning to accept differences and be aware of other
people’s needs: At a drop-in session, we developed concentration skills by playing uno in silence and a timed version.
Other young people with social anxiety and neurodiversity joined in and interacted with others where they would not
normally feel able to.

Safeguarding & Risk:
Youth work provision, by design, comes across many safeguarding concerns ranging from minor to major. It’s
imperative that providers are experienced, properly governed and have the knowledge and external relationships
in place to properly manage and act on concerns quickly and effectively.
Inspire holds extremely robust safeguarding processes, health and safety procedures and all activities are frequently
risk assessed. All staff and volunteers are enhanced DBS checked on recruitment and every 3 years and annually
trained.
We aim to provide an inclusive environment where everyone can work safely. It is the policy of Inspire to take
responsibility and promote the welfare of all children, young people, and adults at risk and to keep them safe from
abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
We are committed to practice in a way that protects them and to ensure no child, young person or adult at risk will
experience abuse of any kind. It is also Inspires’ policy to provide those working for or with the charity, a framework
to operate within to keep everyone who is engaged in the Charity’s activities safe. This policy applies to all staff,
including senior managers and the board of trustees, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, or anyone working
on behalf of Inspire. Full policies are available on request.

Staffing:
The youth service will be run by an experienced Lead Youth Worker and a sessional youth worker, overseen by a
project manager who is a qualified youth worker. Local volunteers are vital to delivery and with the assistance of the
YPC, these should be sourced from local community, i.e. Council staff, local church members.
Staff are annually trained in safeguarding, risk and health & safety, as well as programme specific needs such as first
aid, mental health awareness or mental health first aid, information and guidance, and conflict resolution.

Budget:
Initial set up costs:
Marketing* £665
Equipment Purchase* £1575
Uniforms & training* £100
Total £2,340

Full Budget:
Item 2025 2026 2027 Notes
Direct Project Costs
– Materials &
Supplies
– Marketing &
promotion
– Staff Travel
– Staff
Uniforms
– DBS &
Training

£1,000

£665*

£264
£50*

£50*

£1,040

£608

£275
£52

£52

£1,082

£630

£286
£54

£54

£20 per session with inflationary increases

Literature, design, production and social
media sites
0.44pm

Staffing (inc new NI
rate & pension)
– Lead youth
worker
– Sessional
youth worker
– Project
Manager

£2,713.42

£2,400.12

£1,122.89

£2,821.38

£2,495.70

£1,167.68

£2,934.66

£2,594.82

£1,214.31
*(includes delivery and set up / take down
time)
*3 hours a week @ £15.33

*3 hours a week @ £13.56

1 hour a week @ £18.30
Central Service Costs £2,926 £2,563 £2,663 Safeguarding, governance, finance, admin,
evaluation & insurance
Capital £1,575* £110 £110 Initial purchase of equipment and
replacement of some items in subsequent
years as required.
Folding pool table £ 240.00
Bean Bags x 6 £ 180.00
Play station £ 480.00
Play station games £ 150.00
Board & card games £ 50.00
TV £ 430.00
Sandwich toaster/grill £ 45.00

Total

£12,766 £11,184 £11,622

Sustainability and future strategic direction:
Expanding our geographic reach across Suffolk is in line with our growth strategy. This expansion would mean we
could bring to the area:
– Holiday club activities. Both paid for clubs and funded spaces through HAF funding are available across our
venues and at local primary schools, we offer dance, sports, cooking art & craft days during the school
holidays.
– Safe Social Spaces – in addition to youth club evenings, this is generally for young adults, the majority of
whom are from LBTQI+ communities and offers informal youth work, information and guidance.
– Inspired – in-school personal development programme, for young people struggling to engage with learning
and at risk of having no post-16 destination.
– Personal Development and Educational opportunities for NEET young people 16-25years through our
Personal Development, Youth Employment Services.