Sector Partnerships
Another crucial and growing area for Oarsome Chance is working more closely with other organisations and groups working with young people in the local area. We can’t over emphasise the importance of collaborative work to ensure the best support networks for young people with high needs.
Motiv8, Hampshire Active Health Programme and EnergiseMe
After a lot of planning and collaboration, we are very excited to be a part of Motiv8‘s successful application for funding to the Hampshire Active Health Programme towards an afterschool and holiday activity scheme. We have begun delivering weekly afterschool activities for local young people in each of our centres, coordinating with Motiv8 who are delivering activities on different days of the week. The joint work, with each organisation signposting young people to the other organisation’s programmes, will be a fantastic boost for local young people – the aim is to encourage more physical activity for young people aged 11-16 years, who are less likely to engage with out of school activities than their younger peers.
We are looking forward to plenty more joined up working with Motiv8 into the future.
The Saints Foundation
Oarsome Chance welcomed our first group of young people from the Saints Foundation, who took part in a programme of our usual Oarsome blend of workshop and physical activities, from making music to paddlesports, during the Easter break. The Saints Foundation worked with OC to design a programme which would offer enrichment activities to the high needs students they work with over school holidays, and it proved to be a big hit: “… it felt like Christmas coming home with everything they’ve made. They (and we) have had a fantastic few days, thanks so much for having us and for your patience and time with the students.” Alternative Schools Coordinator, Saints Foundation.
With the success of this first day we are looking forward to designing and delivering similar activities for The Saints Foundation students over the Summer and beyond.
Havant Borough Council
Oarsome Chance’s students have been getting involved in our local community through the fantastic Havant Borough Council project, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It. Oarsome Chance students worked hard on the allotment plot near Leigh Park, laying railway sleepers and assisting with preparation for planting.
The students built raised planters for the project, using life raft casings, donated by the Royal Navy, building timber supports for the barrel shaped casings, providing a perfect solution for areas of the allotment that are less well drained. These have been so popular, we’ve been commissioned to build more!
Such a great way to combine environmental and social benefits – while also delivering great skills learning for Oarsome students. Not just skills in the workshop, but also learning how to work with others, including the people they have met out in the community.
A growing network
Our collaborative network continues to grow, with for instance training and use of facilities for paddling with our old friends Cobnor Activity Centre, and making planters and plans to restore wooden benches for the Rowner Community Trust. Plus local organisations for training our staff, including Hepworth Cycles for Mountainbiking qualifications and bike maintenance skills, and the Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy for non-contact boxing coaching skills.
