Lucy and Abira went down to check out the local netball classes at Sobell centre, these run on Tuesdays from 5-6pm and Wednesdays from 3.30-5.30pm. Here’s what they had to say… “If you’re interested in getting fit in a fun and friendly atmosphere, this is the place to go! The classes are free and provide the chance for you to play competitively with local schools, and if you are really interested you can train to be a coach. The young women that attend had the opportunity to travel to Liverpool to watch real matches and they were visited by one of members of the England netball team. The classes are easy to get to and a great way to make new friends so we had to give it a gold star rating!”
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St Mary’s youth club gets a visit from the peer leaders
2 AprLamar and Abira popped down to visit the St Mary’s youth club on Upper Street to see what activities they were running. This is what they’ve told us ‘’When we first walked in we were greeted by a big smile, Nick who runs the club made us feel very welcome and we instantly felt at home and comfortable. There was a street and break dancing class running at the time, if you’re a beginner or more advanced you are welcome to join. There is also a gym where a trainer can help you get fit. To access all the classes it just cost one pound but most excitingly you can have the opportunity to travel abroad! They have already visited Jamaica, Uganda and the USA. If you are interested in performing arts this is the place to be, great artists like Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke used to attend this club. They hold big shows in the summer that you can be a part of where you can perform to the public on the steps of St Mary’s church. We had to give this club a gold star rating!’’
B goes to Urban Hope!
2 AprLamar and Desara went for a visit to Urban Hope and had a lovely chat over a cup of tea and cake. Urban Hope has been around for 12 years, it is situated at the big purple door, on River Place, which is off Essex Road. It’s a welcoming, homely and spacious building, with a chill out room fitted with sofas, computers and TV. Urban Hope also has a massive hall space which has a number of transformations; from a singing room to a games room filled with table tennis and pool tables. They also have a room where they get the Wii out and do some energetic just dance! Above all of this they have a fabulous kitchen where they hold cooking sessions weekly.
Someone is at Urban Hope every weekday from 12pm and there are different clubs and projects to get involved with each evening. Girls go there to have singing lessons and take part in the Beautiful course (a beauty and self esteem course) and food skills workshops. In addition to projects and workshops, they do residential projects in the spring and summer.
Even though you can attend to do a project, you can also come and do your homework, or watch Eastenders whilst sipping a cup of tea. Urban Hope have a lovely family vibe, when you are there you feel like a family. Urban Hope work with girls as young as 8 years old with no maximum age. Once you are in the family you do not leave. The icing on the cake is that it is absolutely free to join and most projects are free to do. Urban Hope gets a SHINY GOLD B recommends.
The B Recommends guide starts here…
2 AprWe asked our lovely B peer leaders to think about what makes a project or activity great for young women. They came up with the criteria below and have used this to create the B Recommends guide to provision for young women in Islington. If the project fulfils two of these it gets a Bronze B, a Silver B if four are achieved and a wonderful Gold B if the project meets all six of the criteria.
- Is the venue easy to get to and accessible?
- Is the project at an appropriate time and day/s of the week?
- Is the session good value for money or free?
- Does the project have good outcomes of the session like accreditations, development opportunities, performances, signposting or portfolios?
- Is the project inclusive and welcoming?
- Is the project enjoyable and fun?
So if you’re thinking about getting involved in a project near you or want to take part in an activity very week, read the peer leaders’ reviews to find out what they offer young women…
The B creative projects are up and running!
5 MarB a part of brand new creative projects for young women aged 13-19 in Islington! Designed for young women, by young women!
Led by amazing female artists!
Learn new skills and create your own work!
Express your ideas!
B CREATIVE WRITING
Every Tuesday from 28th February
5 – 7.30pm
@ Freeword Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA
Buses: 63 on Farringdon Road, 19, 38 and 341 on Rosebery Avenue and 55 and 243 on Clerkenwell Road
B PHOTOGRAPHY
Every Wednesday from 29th February
4.30 – 6.30pm
@ Canonbury Project, Unit 3, St Paul’s Road, London N1 2PY
Buses: 30 and 277 on St Paul’s Road, 38 and 56 on Ball Pond’s Road/Essex Road, 341 and 476 on Newington Green Road/Essex Road
B DANCE
Every Friday from 9th March
5.30 – 6.30pm
@ Healthy Living Hub, White Lion Street, London N1 9PW
Buses: 274 and 394 on Barnsbury Road, 30, 73 and 476 on Pentonville Road/Upper Street
Coming soon… B Singing!
Visiting schools and colleges
1 MarOver the last couple of months we’ve spoken to over 600 young women in Islington. 600! Schools and colleges have been the main places where we’ve chatted to people and along the way we’ve found out loads about what young women like to do in their spare time. Here’s are some of our favourite responses to questions we asked young women about what they like to do:
I don’t go to youth clubs or activities because…
“I spend most of my time reading and doing assignments”
I enjoy attending youth clubs because…
“I enjoy it because I get to meet new people and explore places”
What would encourage you to go to more activities?
‘If there are any interesting activities to take part in”
What projects would be of interest to you if you could do anything?
“Volunteering abroad”
‘’More performing arts such as singing dancing rapping and acting”
What would be your ideal activity if money were no object?
“Travelling abroad to help the deprived build schools”
What would be your perfect evening out?
“Restaurant or cinema with friends”
Where do you want to be in 2 years time?
“I would like to be in university studying something I’m interested in”
We are feeding all the results of our information-gathering into exciting new provision!
Bus stop tour!
1 MarThe B Project started reaching out to young women in Islington in an innovative Bus Stop Tour last October. Our six Peer Leaders raced up and down Islington for a week to introduce other young women to the B Project.
We know young women love to hang out and catch up after school/college, so we thought we’d come down and have a chat and let you know who we are and how you can get involved in new opportunities.
We’ve also been asking lots of questions and finding out what young women love to do in their spare time. Many young women feel that with school, college, work, family and friend commitments you don’t have much spare time. Young women feel there are many things that would encourage them to go to provision outside of school and college;
-To be able to go with friends.
-To feel safe in their environment.
-To try exciting new projects and workshops, such as photography, street dance, live graffiti, event management amongst other activities.
-To not have to travel long distances.
Did you meet the B-team at one of these bus stops?
At Highbury Grove on 31st October
At Mount Carmel on 1st November
At EGA and N1 centre on 2nd November
At Nags head/Holloway on 3rd November
At City of London Academy Islington/N1 centre on 4th November
The B Project begins!
1 MarThe B Project has been set up to explore what young women aged 13-19 want, to introduce them to services that are available to them, to find out what’s missing and to influence what is provided for them locally. A team of young women aged 15-21, supported by local arts organisation All Change and Islington Detached Team are leading a brand new project for young women in Islington.
Over the coming months All Change will be working with young women and a team of amazing artists and youth workers, to explore ideas and to develop new projects and events.
v Be involved in new activities and changing your local young people’s services for the better
v Be challenged by photography, street dance, music, live/graffiti art and other creative activities
v Be part of flash mobs, processions, pop–up shops and publicity stunts
v Be pampered with nail art in our ‘B’ mobile
v Become involved in organising your own event, showcasing the skills, performances and art created in our workshops throughout the borough
v Become more confident in your skills and earn an Arts Award
B Project 