AGM Report 2022-23
www.thewayzyouth.co.uk
Annual General Meeting 24.01.2024
About The Wayz...
The Wayz is a fun, safe and welcoming place for young people from across Bracknell Forest to attend. There are a variety of projects available in order to cater for a wide variety of young people. These young people attend in order to enjoy and partake in leisure time activities, as well as gain the opportunity to try new things. We feel our role is to support and empower them through their own development; through a consistent and positive pathway of new opportunities, challenges, experiences, training, self– reflection and awareness. All of which is designed to develop each young person in regards to their own needs and aspirations. This provides an arena to help support young people gain the confidence and understanding when dealing with current issues and challenges in their lives.
Current Projects Running consist of:
Juniors, Inters, Seniors, Chill Out, Hang Out, Day Camps Activity Scheme, Volunteer Programme, 14-17yr old Offer, Community Programme and our Mobile Youth Hub, working in schools and detached within the community.
The Wayz has continued as an offer which enables and empowers young people to engage and take ownership of a number of responsibilities. The young people continue to drive the programmes which are important to them. Through activities and informal discussions, the young people contribute in identifying topics and create a programme which helps tackle the challenges but also offers opportunities for young people to attend and have fun. Through discussions the young people have held individually, or as a collective, they have identified their own focus areas; as well as the impact on the community around them. This promotes engagement and prevents young people being excluded from the group or programme. The Wayz strongly believes young people have interests so it is important to encourage young people to exercise that interest in some form which integrates the group and benefits and supports their personal, social and educational development. It has been a very different and challenging year. Our offer has allowed our team, young people and community to witness some great events, activities and contributions from our young people and supporters. We hope that this highlights the potential to other young people and community stakeholders of the opportunities which are/can be offered by The Wayz and its young people.
The Wayz Management Committee Board
David Seward (Chair), Bianca Askew-Gallipoli (Vice Chair), Carol Staniford (Trustee), Cllr Chris Turrell (Trustee), Katrina David (Committee Member), Louise Gould (Trustee), Wendy Austin-Bush (Trustee)
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The Wayz Youth Worker and Centre Manager
Centre Admin & Data Manager Sessional LIC
Co-Worker
Volunteers
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The Wayz 2022-23
503 4025
Different Young people
Session Engagements
engaged in offer
320+
Detached Hours
215
Day Camps
Engagements
31
Volunteers Youth Volunteers
102
Agency Referrals
314
Mobile Hub YP
“Creating Opportunities for Youth Development”
“I love coming to The Wayz, its good fun and I get away from school and home.
I am looking forward to doing the trips and one day, becoming a volunteer”
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Chair of Trustees Report
2022-23 was another great year for the Wayz. Following on from Covid and all that forced upon the centre, it is great to see that number using the Centre and our youth programmes returning to prepandemic rates.
We have to always have one eye on the future and as investment in youth work declines year on year we are delighted that Bracknell Forest Council has continued to support our youth work offer, fully appreciating the true value of prevention saving the public purse in the long term. Also investing now means that the young people of the Wayz have the best opportunity to engage in positive activities, to try new things and take part in a whole range of offers made available not just by the Wayz team but through our partners.
Berkshire Youth has continued to play a pivotable part in supporting the programmes with staff and funding providing further opportunities for The Wayz to expand its service.
The Trustees of The Wayz have been thrilled to support the project, recognising the great contribution the leadership team, staff and volunteers make to the community. As we expand our programme and engage with more partners there is always the opportunity to further engage members of our community and you can play an important part in the offer of the centre.
If you think you can make a difference, then why not come along and make contact with us to look at how you can get involved.
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Youth Worker’s Report
The Wayz offer has continued throughout this year, engaging and supporting young people across Bracknell Forest. Our youth workers have provided a range of youth focused activities, mentoring and training opportunities.
Centre Based - Working with young people through our evening sessions, holiday schemes and activities programmes.
Volunteer and Community - Creating opportunities for young people to learn and apply skills and training into their community; either through a Wayz lead programme or event, along with any local opportunities which are available.
Mobile Youth Hub - Support in schools and the community, offering detached and one-to-one support, working with community partners to optimise the support for young people and communities. Schools Programmes - Focused programmes to support groups in school, including Youth Achievement Awards, Fusion.
454 Different Young People (10% increase on previous year)
4025 different engagements (90% increase on previous year)
102 Referrals from outside agencies (117% increase on previous year)
Centre-Based
Evening sessions have continued across the existing evenings. Within each session there has been a range of activities including cooking, consoles, sports, topical support around safety, relationships, managing emotions, confidence and achievements. As well as evening sessions we have seen Day Camps run as normal throughout holiday periods. Again this has had a good level of engagement with The Wayz supporting the Holiday and Activity Scheme (HAF) which enables young people to access positive activity and food through school holidays.
During the holidays, we offered a range of activities for 13-17yrs, including beach trips, London, camping, Paddle-Sports, Go-karting, Thorpe Park, Graffiti, Sports, and Aldershot lido. This was well received with good engagement throughout. Following on from the previous year we supported the local Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) offer
Volunteer and Community
Our Volunteer Programme has continued, with new young people coming along to get involved. With limited funding we have successfully managed to provide Leadership training along with a residential for young people. Young people have been able to support sessions, day camps and community events throughout the year.
This year saw the return of our community fun day, providing opportunities for the community to come together to enjoy and support The Wayz and future activities and programmes.
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Youth Worker’s Report
Mobile Youth Hub
This has continued to reach out and support young people in schools and the community. Existing relationships and have supported the 1:1 youth work support for young people. Our work has been very strong with schools and professionals, we have delivered youth work support through schools and the community, providing a range of approaches to support behaviour and well-being. We have again, seen an increase in 1:1 referrals from outside agencies compared to last year. This year we have supported 73 young people being referred from professionals and parents, along with the following schools— Brakenhale, Garth, Easthampstead Park, Edgbarrow, Sandhurst, Harmans Water and Holly Spring School.
As part of our Mobile Hub, we have delivered over 320 hours of detached in the community and in school. This work includes ‘checking in’ with young people and promoting opportunities. Our teams engaged with young people in their spaces and supported them through a number of approaches. Some young people were still struggling with the transition back to school and getting into low-level trouble in the community so we engaged them through creating structured activities in the community and encouraging onto programmes.
Working with Berkshire Youth and the Police and Crime Commission, we have delivered a Safer Streets programme in Bracknell offering support through three different approaches, to this point, there has been a focus on Detached work, which as seen an increase in hours.
We have also developed a relationship with Crowthorne Parish Council to support some of their detached work within the Crowthorne Area, offering two hours per week, attending community events to support young people and their safety and opportunities within the community.
We have continued to work with partners across Bracknell to optimise the offer and resources we have. We have to share thanks to those who have supported our offer during this period.
Schools Programme
Our Fusion Programme has continued to be offer into primary schools, with Harmans Water being the focus school to deliver in. PR has evolved the programme to support a more well-being focus in the programme. With talk with Holly Spring to run the programme in there. From the group-based programme, those needing extra support have been identified and supported.
The Wayz has again, continued to support young people across Bracknell Forest, on many occasions our team has demonstrated the commitment we have to ensuring a range of safe, fun and engaging activities are accessible to young people. I would like to extend a thanks to the staff, committee, volunteers, partners , families and especially the young people for a great year.
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Statement’s
Seniors:
“ Attending The Wayz has helped my mental health and dealing with issues. It has improved my social skills and helped me get a job. I have recently got a Full Time job in a kitchen which is great.“
“The Wayz has been a great place to meet new friends, Gareth has helped me through life questions that schools don’t teach. “
“I have loved going to The Wayz, it is my fav part of the week because I get to see all my friends and play pool. I love the trips too. The Wayz has supported me as I suffer with bad mental health and The Wayz has supported that. I now have a part time job. “
“From coming here, I am leaving more confident and I can now cook! Lol. I have got a full time job with the staff support which is great”
Day Camps - YP Feedback:
‘ I like the staff at the Wayz.’
My son loved it and had a great time.
The breakfast and lunch clubs were such a saving grace when money is tight. The activities wonderful and the extra provision for the rescheduling of the Lido trip was faultless.
" The relationship GM has really supported this young person, thank you for the updates its so important that we understand what they are thinking" (CAMHS) Gareth has built such a positive relationship and seems to be the one the YP is engaging with, then we should support that (Social Worker)
Parent Feedback
My son has been diagnosed with autism and adhd and is unable to be without an adult outside. This means that B can actually enjoy a relatively normal life being with his friends there. The staff are amazing at coaching him through his negative behaviours and at first I was nervous that he would be in trouble all the time and I would constantly be called in but the staff have handled anything negative in a positive way.
His behaviour and social skills have improved massively as a result of youth club.
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Theory of Change iii 11 Illl I
Accounts TWO IIIVkllS ACCOUNTANCY I report on the •cwuntsof thecharltyfur the year ended 31" M•rth 2023. R•spKthe re5wnllhSdtrYJ1#Slffld The ch•rity'stri15tee5 are tespwslbleforthepreparation of ihe¥c¢ounts. The charbtV5 trustées coTrder thlton audlt15 not requlred forthlsyear Undef settn 144121 of the Ch•iities knt 1011 Irhe 2011 Actl andthat gn Independent wmination b needed. ft15 my reskx)nybllltyto: eN•mh)¢th¢ xcounts undersertknn 14501the 2011 Att,. to followthe procedures lald (k)wn In the Gener¥ Okertlr#)sir¥en bythecharlty Comm158w)n UT)der serti 14515llbl of ihe 2011 Att,. •nd tostatewhrther PartIwrmans havecometo myartthtfjDn. tsdlnthpethd•rf•xarnlnerf#rep My exJmirtallon was carried out In accordJnce with thefjeneral Directknn5 &YÈn by ihe Ch&iityCommlssSon. An examifatK>n iludeS • fLwlew of the ¥c¢ountlng records kept by Ihe charlty ond J comp¥lson of theactovTrts presented whhthose iecord5. n a150 indude5conshlerk)n ol any unusual item5 or dlstlosures In the accoullts, and the seeklD8of explanatlons from you astiLbStees coh¢ernlrti any such rnaue¢s. The procedure5 undertaken do provlde •ll theerfidenceihit would be required ID •n audlt and. consequently no opinlon15 glven ès to whether th• counts we5ent •'iruand falrwe' wnL1 therep0rtts4mfttoth m•tter55ErtJt iththe 5t•tement be. In Connect my eumlnatlon, no mitter h¥5 come to my attentkn.. . whlth 8Nes me re8Sonabc3usett+Wth ih& In rpe¢ therew1r. eep xcountkn8fUTds kn a(torfancewrtl 5tttion 130 ofthe ZOII Att.. 8nd to prÈpareaccouniJ whkth with tht KcountrecNds •ndtocompty yh the•cwvnVni requirements of the 2011 A have not been met.. or 2. to thKh, In my wnIw.•ttenrsPthl be ltrawn in ordertoen•We a wgper underst¥ndln8ofthe accounts to be reached. DÈlia Allott FCCA Two RNers Atcountancv 38 Eton Wkk Road Eton Wlck Windsor erkshtyt Date.. .zz-. ..i...i.- z
Accounts ¢4 Q ) r4
Gareth Mepham
The Wayz Youth Centre
Area Youth and Community Worker
E: gareth@thewayzyouth.co.uk
T: 07928 816 186
Calfridus Way Bracknell Berkshire RG12 9ET
T: 01344 483596
www.thewayzyouth.co.uk Registered Charity No. 1181340
Acknowledgements and how to get involved
As a centre, The Wayz is highly reliant on community investment and genuine support towards our intentions, focus and young people. When I refer to investment it is obvious financial investment is reassuring, however it is often the investment in people’s time and openness to work with us and commit to our young people. The Wayz has made a great impact towards the community and young people over the years, with each year getting stronger. Whilst we hope for this to continue I think it is important we recognise the contributions made over the past 12 months.
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Bracknell Forest Council
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Rotary Club of Easthampstead
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Bracknell Town Council
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Crowthorne Parish Council
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Cadence
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Berkshire Youth
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Involve
As our offer moves forward we welcome support and input from others to ensure the quality on offer to young people. If you would like to be involved in supporting us, we are very happy to explore this with any individual or organisation that may have something to offer our projects. We are very proud of our members, volunteers, staff and supporters and are excited moving forward. For more information please refer to the contact details above.
The Wayz Offer is Supported by...
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