Centre Manager's Report
A year working in the Voluntary sector is never dull, but always challenging and very rewarding especially when you are dealing with the increasing demands and expectations of young people and an ever more difficult funding situation; 2008-2009 has seen an overall decrease in funding from the vast majority of our supporters due to their own cuts, combined with the effects of the global recession.
Despite this the last year has been one of the most impressive in our 47 year History. Because we are so multi everything - functional, dimensional and active. We have had an enormous number of additional considerations to ensure we continue to be the first for Informal and Community Education in Kirkby and Knowsley. The rewards have been the increase in the number of children, young people and community groups that have accessed the Centre and who have commented on the value Centre 63 has give them in working with them so they could move to a more positive place in their lives.
The Centre lost a major Service Level Agreement (SLA) worth £42,000 with Knowsley Borough Council (KMBC) due to changes in the contacts and the introduction of Commissioning so we not only had increased competition from within the voluntary sector, but also faced competition from national organisations working with Kirkby. The outcome was very serious for us and the Centre lost almost half its income in the process. Although we did secure this contract we are expected to deliver even more for less money.
Despite these difficulties there are many really positive outcomes from the various projects and more specifically real benefits to the young people accessing the centre:-
Training
All relevant staff are fully trained in the Common Assessment Framework; also all of our YES Project staff are trained in Needs Risk Assessment and Support Planning and Safeguarding. All of our staff team are trained to Level 3in Informal and Community Education and several are undertaking degree courses.
Projects and Developments
Y.E.S Project
This project continues to go from strength to strength which you will read about further into our report. The development of the Skills for Life Project which came out of a small group of young mums and has now grown to 24 with young men also accessing the project. The initial group are currently setting up a Community cafe as a Social Enterprise.
Volunteers Project
This has also grown beyond belief working with over 50 young people securing Vola and Future Jobs Contract and developing strong partnerships along the way.
Youth Club
Steadfast and refreshing to see Youth Club children and young people taking the lead, using their initiative planning and presenting funding applications and exploring a range of diverse activities including Cultural visits and residential which you will read about in their report.
To our delight The Bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones became our Patron following his visit to the centre, which he was very impressed with: he paid particular attention to our Y.E.S Project and spoke at length with service users.
After his visit he contacted us to say, “I was so impressed by your commitment and by relationships you had with the young people I met, it’s good to see young people gaining confidence and self esteem quite simply because you believe in them, they could believe in themselves.”
To Summarise
Despite the financial dilemma in 2009 Centre 63 still continues to offer a quality and valuable service to the community of Kirkby, we have taken the lead in many key initiatives and seen an increase in the number of service users and activities we deliver. These activities have not only encouraged empowerment, but have had a massive impact on the health and well being of our service users,
Our key partnerships have strengthened and we have developed new ones, partly out of financial necessity and also to create a centre that has become a hub for the community with a diverse range of services available to a wider range of people. Partners within the centre include:- KPIAS (Knowsley Pensioners Advocacy and Information Service), LYBRO (Local Young Bike Riders Organisation), Age Concern Knowsley, KDVSS (Knowsley Domestic Violence Support Services), Connexions, Mersey Pathfinders, Specialist Skills and Training, Cross Links, Condition Management (PCT), and Prism. These partners have helped us develop as an organisation and continually reflect and learn on shared experiences in order that we move forward as an organisation and as a community.
Centre 63 and all staff recognise the importance of continual development and the centre is currently working towards the Matrix Accreditation Standard, which is a national standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and guidance on learning and work. We are also working with Knowsley Council on achieving Participation Standards for young people accessing our services.
