Youth Team’s First Birthday

Young people in the borough paid tribute to Trafford Housing Trust’s Youth Team – set to celebrate its first birthday this week.

The housing association took the innovative move of setting up the special team a year ago - to offer a range of activities to help keep young people off the streets and out of trouble.

Urban dance, drama, graffiti art, cheerleading, DJ ing and MC ing, gardening and sport projects have all been born from the work of the team which have engaged with hundreds of children and young people in Trafford to date.

David Esdaille, the Trust’s Youth Team Leader, said: “Our focus has been to create practical and sustainable solutions to the problems of youth boredom, nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

“The team has devised a host of diversionary activities for children and young people in the borough, children of both Trust tenants and private residents, during school holidays and after school.

“It’s really making a difference out on estates, so far we have created 20 projects and put on numerous activities where attendance has been excellent as has the feedback we’ve had from children, young people and parents.”

Agencies in the borough such as the Police and the Youth Offending Service have praised the work of the Trust’s Youth Team and other housing associations have expressed an interested in setting up a similar team too.

G-Force, the charity specifically set up to provide support, services and development opportunities to young people and adults living on the Broomwood estate in Altrincham also praised the project.

The Trust team of three is jointly funded by each of the housing association’s Community Panels for Sale, Altrincham, Stretford, Urmston and Old Trafford and has made a real difference at the grass roots on estates. It focuses on 13 to19 year olds but will work on projects for any young person up to the age of 25.

Callum Scott, aged 16, from Bowden Vale, Altrincham, said: “We were really bored with nothing to do before the youth team came around our way, now we go on trips, play football or get involved in improving our estate.”

Detroit Wain, aged 15, from the Lakes estate, Stretford, said: “Since the youth workers have come into our area, there’s loads more to do.”

Olivia Corris, aged 15, from Bowdon Vale, Altrincham, said “Nobody realizes that there is nothing for us to do around here, so it is great that the Trust puts on trips and activities for us.”

Farida Biney, aged nine, from Old Trafford, said: “We always look forward to every Tuesday evening where we do loads of arts and crafts at the youth centre that the youth team started.”

Chantelle Collier, aged 11, from Broomwood, Altrincham, said: “I loved making gingerbread houses at Christmas.”

Daryl Garwood, aged 15, from Urmston said: “I love MC ing, Trafford Housing Trust fund activities around our way that give us the chance to do what we want to do.”

Simeon Macintosh, aged 17, from Broomwood, Altrincham, said: “Loads of kids around here wanted to start a football team and the Trust is helping us to this, so that’s cool.”

Marvyn English, aged 25, from Old Trafford, said: “The activities that the Trust are putting on are really cool, DJ skills, urban dance and MC ing…these are activities that kids want.”

Some of the Youth Team’s projects have even become a permanent fixture. Drama sessions resulted in the creation of the Lostock Stars group and the Trafford NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) football project in Old Trafford.