Local voluntary and community organisations have come forward to deliver the Your Spaces programme, designed to support young people in their local area.
By filling parks, multi use games areas and open spaces with free activities, Your Spaces aims to encourage positive use of these areas, reduce anti social behaviour, improve perceptions of safety, and increase community ownership and pride.
The project, led by Wolves Foundation in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council, the Premier League Foundation, and local stakeholders, will initially target 4 areas that have become associated with nuisance behaviour and low level crime.
The first phase is now underway, with activities every Wednesday and Friday evening at Long Ley, Heath Town, and every Thursday and Saturday evening at Peace Park, Whitmore Reans.
At Long Ley, young people can join in with multi sports, basketball and football delivered by partners including Hope Community Project, SLAM Basketball and Wolves Foundation.
Meanwhile at Peace Park activities include multi sports, cricket, football, art in the park, an outdoor gym, graffiti workshops, delivered by partners including Kixx, Community First, Mandem Meetup, TLC College, Beatsabar, and Wolves Foundation.
Activities will follow at Weddell Wynd in Bilston and Tennyson Road, Scotlands, in due course.
These locations have been chosen using crime and community data that highlight long standing concerns about safety, visibility and the need for more positive neighbourhood activity.
Tom Warren, Wolves Foundation General Manager, said: “Our open spaces should be places where young people feel safe, welcome and able to be themselves.
“Through this initiative, we’re working alongside local community organisations to bring positive, visible activity into parks and green spaces that matter to local people. By using activities as a way to connect, we’re helping communities reclaim these spaces and build a stronger sense of belonging.”
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, added: “Local communities can look forward to enjoying a range of activities designed to encourage people to return to these green spaces, with residents helping to shape what is delivered in each area to ensure activities reflect their interests and needs.
“And, as well as creating safe, vibrant, and welcoming community spaces, having a regular presence from local groups, outreach teams and volunteers will reduce the likelihood of criminal or antisocial behaviour at these locations.
“We’ve had a fantastic response from more than 30 local community groups and organisations which want to play a role in helping deliver the Your Spaces initiative, and it’s not too late for others to get involved.”
Wolves Foundation secured match funding through a successful Premier League application, allowing it to lead the programme while working in close partnership with grassroots organisations city wide. The ambition is to build a model of collaboration that can be replicated across the city, giving residents more chances to connect, participate and shape what happens in their communities.
Community organisations have the opportunity to play a central role in the project, with voluntary and community groups invited to submit expressions of interest to join Wolves Foundation in delivering activities over a 6 month period. For more information, please visit Youth Engagement and click on the ‘Your Spaces’ tab.
