Dudley
Project: St Andrews Residents Trust (StART), Community Hub
Grant awarded: £33,154
Date: January - December 2009
About
St Andrews Residents Trust (StART) aims to support residents in and around the Old St Andrews Ward in the Borough of Dudley. Formed in August 2007, their purpose is to co-ordinate resources that will enable all residents to participate in the regeneration of the area, and support activities that increase educational achievement, employability and the reduction of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Funding for the ‘Community Hub’ was awarded by Fair Share Trust to develop support and training, encouraging more people to become involved and the provision of trips and holiday activities for young people and for the elderly, where young people become involved as carers for the day.
Activities have included litter picks and churchyard maintenance, involvement with Volunteers Week, provision of support and advice in setting up a new youth club, sourcing and maintaining computers for an After School Homework Club and Job Club, and working closely with the local Police Community Support Officers enabling the police to become more involved in community matters.
There has also been an underlying problem with bullying at local schools, so the group has linked up with ‘Big’ Dave Gauder, the well known campaigner against bullying, gun, gang & knife crime to run a programme in the area addressing the problem and training local champions to work in the schools. This programme has been funded through a separate grant, at no cost to Fair Share Trust.
This project stands out thanks to the total dedication of the core group of volunteers, their willingness to acquire skills that can be passed on to others and the support they give to other groups within the area. All those supporting StART are gaining new skills, confidence and experiences that were not available before the group was founded.
Back to top