SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THAME
Annual Report
Thame Youth Projects Group (CIO) Registered No.1187553
Our priority for the last financial year has been building back to the services we provided for the youth of Thame before the COVID-19 pandemic. This last year has not been without its challenges, between working with changing guidelines and reconnecting with partners and supporters. Despite this we were relieved and enthusiastic to be able to reopen our youth groups and activities for the young people of Thame and surrounding areas.
As always, I need to start with a massive thank you to the incredible volunteers and committee who have dug deep over the last year to make everything happen. This year we have seen Aimee Gibson and Gordon Taylor step down as Trustees and Nick Francis leave the committee. All these individuals have inputted hugely into the development of Thame Youth Projects Group (TYPG) and will be missed dearly. We are working on analysing the structure of the charity committee to identify where we can bring in new skills to improve the services we provide for the young people.
Alex Pazik joined us at the beginning of this year as our Safeguarding lead. He brings with him a wealth of experience from his day job within educational safeguarding. He has instigated regular trainings for our Deputy Safeguarding leaders and joined us on activities days and provided support for all the team.
June saw us say goodbye to James Edney our youth worker. James will be missed by the young people of Thame, and we wish him well in his ongoing career to serve young people with Oxfordshire Youth.
Change always brings challenges but it also presents us with an opportunity to strengthen what we do in service of the young people of Thame.
Sadly, the first round of advertising for a replacement youth worker was not successful, and as we finish this financial year, we have readvertised the role of paid youth worker with an amended job description and look forward to welcoming applicants.
In the absence of our paid youth worker the volunteers, once again, stepped up and through their hard work we were able to continue providing vital support for the youth of Thame.
This year we introduced new and exciting events for the youth, including:
- Our Park life event started in May 2021 and took our youth provision to the Recreation ground in Thame. We provided activities included Laser tag, drama, pizza. Along with a Frisbee team providing coaching.
Thame Youth Projects Group (CIO) 8 North Close, Tiddington, OX9 2LT www.thameyouthprojects.org.uk info@thameyouthprojects.org.uk Registered Charity: 1187553
SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THAME
- We started our Youth Zone group which began in September 2021 and was a by weekly group aimed more specifically at our older youths (14–18-year-olds) The groups have been a great success and we are excited to grow this group for the young people in the upcoming year.
In October 2021 and February 2022, we ran youth activity days at the Guide HQ in Thame. We are grateful for the excellent support from local businesses such as Lucy Electric Ltd, Thame Youth Theatre and Invictus Gym. We provided fun-filled sessions which included building dancing robots, boxing for fitness, drama and dance.
The committee has been working hard in partnership with Thame Town Council on the development of a youth community centre for the youth of Thame. Following a feasibility study, the Town Council have voted in favour of the building being located on the Southern Road recreation ground. Architects Accanthus Clews have been appointed and are liaising with the working committee on the design, preplanning, public consultations while we work towards a planning application for the building. This is a very exciting next step for the young people of Thame and it is a privilege to be a part of building a better future for the youth of Thame and surrounding areas for years to come.
The motto of TYPG is that ‘young people are not a problem to solve but a wonder to behold’, and this mindset will be at the core of our work as we continue to develop, grow and build on the services and support we offer to the youth of Thame and surrounding areas.
Finance Report.
We have been extremely grateful to the support we have received from Thame Town Council not only with the annual grant which is key to ensuring we are able to meet the running costs but also the additional grants for the extra curriculum activities providing services to young people including half term events, specified support and welfare involvement.
We also have support from Oxfordshire County Council covering employment, detached work and other services. Many local groups and business also support us, Lucy Electrics, Aylesbury Lions, Invictus Gyms, Roundtable and Rotary, these local companies and groups show their concern for the young people of Thame, and we are grateful to them without it would be extremely difficult. Finally, SODC help through their young people support scheme, TVP with the Violence Reduction Hub all make a tremendous contribution to the functioning of the charity. See the attached accounts for financial details. I am grateful to Gordon Taylor for auditing the accounts, our new accounting system provided by NatWest Bank is a tremendous benefit.
Thame Youth Projects Group (CIO) 8 North Close, Tiddington, OX9 2LT info@thameyouthprojects.org.uk Registered Charity: 1187553
www.thameyouthprojects.org.uk
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THAME Y•UTH PROJEcrs SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THAME Thame Youth Projects Group ICIOI 8 North Close. Tiddington. OX9 2LT www.thameyouthprojects.org.uk info@thameyouthprojects.org.uk Registered Charity. 1187553