Teenage kicks

Thousands of young people have benefited from more than £800,000 which has been shared between 320 different youth projects across Hull – and more money is available

Left: Becky from the RAPP project and (main picture) as Sandy in Grease. Far left: the whole cast from the show

After being bullied at school Becky (13) was shy and lacked confidence.
She didn't feel good about herself and wasn't very good at making friends.
But now she is "really loud" (her own words), has loads of friends, and is discovering her talents as an actress through classes at Hull's Northern Academy of Performing Arts.
So what was the turning point?
Becky was one of a group of young people who were helped by Hull's Rights and Participation Project (RAPP).
The young people were all living with special circumstances in their lives.
Some have a disability, or had been the victim of bullying or were not doing very well at school.
After a discussion with RAPP workers, they decided that something they really wanted to do was to stage a production of the musical Grease.
They put together a bid for funding to the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) which gave them £3,450 to pay for set design, costumes, transport and artists.
And after weeks of hard work, giving up their free time to learn song and dance routines, the show was performed to parents and some of the city's top politicians and officials.
"Becky took on the leading role of Sandy, and since then everyone's seen her confidence improve dramatically," says Dean Davis, area manager with Hull City Council's Youth Development Service.
"Not only that, but she's found new friends and a new way to express herself and she's now looking for more opportunities to perform."
Ian Bolton, development worker with RAPP said: "The whole cast was absolutely fantastic and showed the world what young people can really achieve when they are given the opportunity."

By young people for young people

Above and below: a panel of young people meet at the Quality Hotel Royal to decide which projects should get backing

The above project was just one of 320 different ventures which have received backing from the YOF or YCF (Youth Capital Fund) in the past two years.
A total of more than £800,000 has been given out to a wide variety of projects from DVD making, to staging music gigs, to setting up recording studios where young bands can record their talents, to buying IT equipment to set up a cybercafé, to building a challenging new trials bike course.
And the really remarkable thing is not only that all the ideas for projects have been dreamt up by young people themselves (who also submitted the funding bids) – but that the decisions as to which projects get backing are also made by young people.
"There's a panel of around 60 young people, from a range of different backgrounds, who make the key funding decisions," explains Mr Davis.
"They ask a lot of questions and often want more information about projects before awarding funds.
"They want to know how the money is going to be used and who's going to benefit.
It's great for the development of their decision-making and communication skills.
"And it's great to see the energy and creativity in the young people who bid for grants."

About the funds

Applications can be made by any young person aged 13-19 (plus people up to 25 years with specific disabilities) for grants between £100 and £5,000 Young people from all backgrounds are being encouraged to apply, including black and minority ethnic communities, the disabled, young offenders, travellers and refugees, but the bid must be planned and led by young people.
There must also be proof that a project will benefit young people or the local community in some way.
Both the YOF and YCF come from central Government.
The key agency which has developed young people's involvement in YOF is the Hull Youth Development Service in partnership with Hull Youth Council, Hull Children's Fund and Hull Coalition.

Success stories so far...

• The Wannabes Young Motorbike Riders at Hull's Two Wheel Centre, off Chapman Street, gained money to buy new motor bikes and to landscape their track (pictured below).
• A group of five lads from Bransholme's Astra Youth Centre received a grant to attend DJing workshops, buy sound equipment, and create their own DJing area in the centre (pictured below).
• Around 600 young people have kept active using a Tonic Youth Card which gives them a wide range of free and discounted activities at leisure facilities.

A group from Bransholme's Astra Youth Centre received a grant to attend DJing workshops and buy sound equipment	"Before we just had two small bikes and we'd just go round in circles." – a young rider

info

For more details, or to apply, visit www.hullcc.gov.uk or contact 300300 and ask for Hull Youth Development Service.