News - Page 7 of 31 - Trust for Developing Communities

Craven Vale’s Annual Wassail Returns

The Craven Vale Community Centre were delighted to be able to hold their annual Wassail after last year's Covid-19 disruptions. They hosted their own version of this ancient tradition last Saturday to bless their orchard of 70 fruit trees scattered around the estate.

Wassaliling is a pagan ceremony where groups of people gather to bless trees in the hope of an abundant harvest this autumn. Craven Vale Estate's apple, pear and plum trees produce delicious fruit that anyone from the community can take and use, so a bumper harvest is especially welcome. The group sip hot mulled apple cider and sing to the health of the trees. So far the Wassailing seems to be working. The group have noticed plenty of apples on the trees that have been blessed!

Despite the bad weather, there was a terrific atmosphere at the event which included gorgeous headdresses made of natural foliage from Sarah's arts and crafts, song and, of course, mulled cider!

The event was filmed by Latest TV. You can see their report on the event here.

TDC Win Award for Partnership Working at Children and Young People Now Awards

TDC has won the Partnership Award at the Children and Young People Now Awards 2021 for our Project Brighton Streets.

Brighton Streets is a citywide, coordinated detached (street-based) youth work programme led by TDC and delivered by TDC, The Hangleton & Knoll Project and Tarner Community Project. The programme is funded by the Brighton & Hove Violence Reduction Partnership and it has aims to reduce youth violence in the city through early, relationship-based interventions with teenagers.

Our Director of Youth Work, Adam Muirhead said:

This is a reflection not just on those delivering the project but all the incredible people and organisations who have been involved in commissioning it, setting it up, delivering training, making our film, evaluating the project, and being open to working with Youth Work teams in new ways. We can all own this

We are delighted to be recognised for this crucial work supporting young people in the community. To find out some more about this project, you can watch the short film we made last year.

The Bevy Responds to Local Need with LGBTQ Events

The Bevy — a community run pub in East Brighton — door-knocked their neighbourhood in 2019 to identify gaps in their outreach in the community. One of these gaps was the lack of specific provision for LGBTQ residents. Subsequently, a Switchboard report on the impact of Covid-19 on LGBTQ communities highlighted that residents all over the city suffered from increased isolation and lack of safe spaces to be with other community members.

With these findings in mind, a first get-together in the summer was held at the Bevy with local LGBTQ people to develop a programme of inclusive activities at the Bevy. The aim was to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space and events where people can meet, develop peer-to-peer support, increase mental health and wellbeing and be signposted to LGBTQ affirmative services, such as Switchboard and MindOut.

“We used to go out more, see shows and meet others, but that wasn’t possible in the last years. To have something to do and a place to go to in Moulsecoomb would be great.”

LGBTQ resident attending planning group

In September, a community-run quiz night invited LGBTQ people into the Bevy to come together for the first time to socialise and have fun. Host Betty Swollocks, a well-known local drag queen, entertained the crowd of more than 60 people, amongst those regular Bevy customers, friends and allies from the area and – most importantly – new faces from the local and city-wide LGBTQ community.

The Bevy’s staff has seen an increase in younger LGBTQ people visiting the pub since displaying pride flags at the venue and advertising the quiz night. With support from the Bevy community’s team and TDC, LGBTQ residents successfully applied for funding to run further mental health and social events, bringing community members together to create cohesion and more understanding and awareness through Saturday brunch sessions and a Bingo night over the winter months.

Noor-ul Huda Adventure Into the Woods

After a long time of not seeing each other during the pandemic, Noor-ul Huda – Moulsecoomb’s Muslim women and children group – made plans to get back in action this year with activities, trips and their regular meet-ups. After successfully fundraising, the group put one of its aims in motion by liaising with TDC and Action in Rural Sussex’s Lost Woods programme to go out and experience woodland activities in nearby Lewes.

16 children and young people together with their mothers boarded a train from Moulsecoomb station on a sunny October morning. From Lewes station it was a short walk to the woodland between the railway and river that is managed by the Railway Land Wildlife Trust.

Lost Woods Village Agents had a lot of fun activities in store for the kids and parents including a walk around the heart of the Railway Land, tree identification, games, outdoor arts and crafts. Some of the young people showed off tree climbing skills, whilst the younger children earned explorer credit for displaying quiet fox walking, tree rubbing and coming up with their own games to experience the woods.

Everyone took a bit of learning away from the day about how to behave in and treat a woodland when you visit, but also how easy it is to be entertained in a woodland at any age.

“We were happy that the Lost Woods team invited the group along and planned the woodland activities, but I feel after being given a little support from TDC this time to plan the journey the group can now tackle other local and bigger trips themselves.”

Anke, TDC Community Development Worker

The group brought along lunch for a joint sit-down meal in the Pavilion building, which gave the adults a place to warm up, get comfortable, chat and pray, whilst little legs had energy left to investigate more of their wooded playground for the day.

Asking the kids for feedback after the activity, all voted that they would come back and rated their experience a 10 out of 10.

“I really had a lot of fun today, but next time I want to go to Disneyland.”

Ibrahim, 6 years.

Inspired by this trip, the group is now looking forward to planning other local adventures and excursions further afield, alongside their educational activities for kids and parents of the groups, as well as regular and planned joint meals and events.

Get in touch with Noor-ul Huda
More info on Lost Woods programme

Circus Fun at Preston Park for Migrant Families

During half term TDC’s Equalities team held a special free Flying Seagulls circus show in Preston Park. The event was for the children and families of women who attend our Multicultural Women’s Cycle Club during term time. We had beautiful weather and were delighted to have 70 parents and kids come along to join the circus, including refugees and vulnerable migrants from Syria, Iraq, Spain, and South America.

Organiser, TDC’s Cicely Lloyd described the event.

Beckie and Gozzy were absolutely brilliant and the children were captivated. They had an immediate rapport with the children, and a great balance of friendly, super-fun, and directive delivery.

It was an important opportunity for the adults to meet too, and to watch their children having a great time while they relaxed together (in the sun, hooray).

School holidays can be tough for isolated families on low incomes with EAL (English as an Additional language). Parents had invited others from their English class or from the school run and friendships were strengthened.

TDC heard about The Flying Seagull Project from Tania Skae who is on our Board of Trustees. We would definitely recommend them, and hope to host The Flying Seagull project for families we work with again soon.

TDC’s Curiosity Club Head to the Science Museum

A museum trip is a great way to spend a grey autumn half term day. Last week three TDC youth workers and nine young people headed off to see what they could discover at London Science Museum. Project leader Kate Barker describes the fantastic day out.

The first thing on the agenda was the Wonderlab! - where young people took part in the various activities. The slide in the Wonderlab was a particular hit! There was a sense of independence and exploration about the day as we inquisitively roamed the museum.

After a tasty lunch and a look around the gift shop, it was time for the IMAX. We watched Antarctica with our 3D glasses on and it was fantastic to see the animals come to life and out of the screen!

The bus journey home was filled with singing and laughter, talks about the day, and by the end, a little bit of snoozing! It was a really successful day that comprised of hands on fun, curiosity and learning.

15 Brilliant Students Graduate from our Finding Your Way Course

At the end of September, on the last sun-soaked day of the year, students from our Finding Your Way course had a well-deserved graduation picnic in Preston Park.

Finding Your Way was a short course delivered by TDC and funded by ESF ( the European Social Fund). The nine week course for unemployed adults with English as an additional language provided a framework to guide the students towards employment, volunteering or further learning.

We were delighted to see our dedicated students at the picnic and present each of them with a certificate for completing the course. In many cases it was our first opportunity to meet up face to face so the excited atmosphere matched the glorious weather.

We were amazed at the passion and motivation of the students. Two thirds of them went on to further training such as ESOL courses, accounting and social media use for small businesses. Brilliantly three went on to become employed at the end of the course.

We are so proud of these women and it was a pleasure to be with them and support them on their journey into employment.

Looking Back on Summer Fun with TDC’s Youth Team

Summer already feels far away, but some of our best memories of this summer are of TDC's Summer Holiday Club. We had a wonderful time hanging out with young people in East Brighton Park and at the 67 Centre. We teamed up with Albion in the Community, The Durban Curry Club and The Bevy so all the young people got the chance to take part in a fun activity and got a delicious free meal too.

The range of activities offered included bike maintenance, boxing, football and all kinds of crafts. Also the summer club provided a valuable chance for young people from Moulsecoomb and Whitehawk to hang out, chat to our experienced youth workers, let off steam and have fun.

Over the summer the two schemes were fully booked with 176 participants and over 500 total contacts made across the community.

It was a packed summer. To give you a taste of what went on, here's a selection of some of our favourite photos of amazing young people and TDC's youth workers doing what they do best.

Dance, Dance, Dance 💃

As part of the fabulous Ageing Well Festival this year we brought a delightful dance event to Woodingdean with Rosaria Gracia Dance. Local people over 50 were invited to come along and enjoy refreshments, a raffle and a fun seated dance session led by Rosaria.

Dance, dance, dance blended gentle stretching exercises with simple dance moves, all special designed for older people to enjoy. The event took place on a glorious sunny day, with the light pouring in through the windows of Woodingdean Community Centre, adding to the magical atmosphere.

We loved being part of Ageing Well's brilliant festival which ran from 20th September to the 4th of October and featured a wide range of events for older people across the city, all centred on the theme of Creative Ageing.

If you would like to find out more about TDC's work with older people, please contact our Project Manager Sue Sayers on 07412 709 310 or email [email protected]

September Sun Shines on the Welcome Return of Tarner Festival

The much-loved annual Tarner Festival was one of so many events that couldn't take place in 2020. This year the celebration was pushed back to September, where it was finally able to return to the delight of the community.

The Festival took place in Tarner Park and featured a live music stage with wide range of talented local acts. South East Dance performers transformed the playground, while older kids had fun creating a graffiti wall backdrop to the spectacle. Stalls offered free giant jammie dodgers and local apples. More apples were pressed and transformed into juice before festival goers eyes.

Meanwhile, indoors animal lovers could meet a range of amazing creatures from hedgehogs to pythons.

The celebration of the Tarner community felt all the more magical after such a long wait to be able to come together. The last Tarner Festival took place in July 2019.

The local TDC team were delighted to be part of the event as ever. We were there with our stall and our Community Development Workers on hand to discuss what's going on locally and our Healthy Neighbourhood Fund.

To find out more about community events in Tarner, please contact our Community Development Worker Emma Reeves on 07411 251 969 or email [email protected]

Brighton Streets project a hopeful for prestigious national awards!

The Brighton Streets project is announced in the Finalists shortlist of the prestigious 'Children & Young People Now Awards 2021' in not one, but two categories - the 'Youth Work Award' and 'Partnership Award'!

Validation

Sue Feighery is TDC's Brighton Streets Project Manager. She said "Being Finalists is some really lovely validation for the incredibly hard work put in by the local partners to meet some really complex needs".

Adam Muirhead is Director of Youth Work at the TDC and supported the establishment of Brighton Streets in 2019.

He commented "This is a reflection not just on those delivering the project but all the incredible people and organisations who have been involved in commissioning it, setting it up, delivering training, making our film, evaluating the project, and being open to working with Youth Work teams in new ways. We can all own this".

More on Brighton Streets

To help explain a little bit more of what we do and why it works, please have a look at our Brighton Streets film, made in Spring 2020:

Brighton Streets was externally evaluated twice in the last year. Read the full evaluation here to find out more and hear the voices of some of our beneficiaries.

There is a clear and plausible causal link between [Brighton Streets] youth workers' support and a reduction in young people’s involvement in negative, risky and potentially violent behaviour

The Centre for Education & Youth, May 2021

The Brighton Streets Projects is considered to be effective and is well regarded by well informed, professional stakeholders

C.Co – June 2021

The Children & Young People Now Awards ceremony will take place on the 25th November (online) where we will find out the results.

Meet TDC’s New Peer Educators

TDc's Sayanti Banerjee, Israa, TDC's Maha Mustafa, Juhaina and Mohammed at TDC's office on their first day.

I'm very excited. I can't wait to get involved with other people and encourage them to get the vaccine.

New Peer Educator Israa

In an exciting new initiative this week, TDC welcomed three new Peer Educators to work with us on our Vaccine Confidence Programme. The new scheme will see them out and about with the Mobile Vaccination Unit, helping to make it more welcoming for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, including visitors, migrants and refugees. The Peer Educators are recruited from communities that our programme supports and will be trained by TDC to confidently support their peers to access the vaccine.

Between the three of them, the Peer Educators speak Arabic, Farsi and Kurdish. From today they will be on hand at the Mobile Vaccination Unit to chat to their peers and respond to any concerns they have about the Covid-19 Vaccination.

+ More

We look forward to the next one!

Validation

More on Brighton Streets

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