2024-03-31-accounts

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EARLS COURT YOUTH CLUB ANNUAL REPORT 2024

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................4

QUARTER 4: JUNE 2023 – AUGUST 2023 ...................................................................................................... 5 GIRLS FITNESS/FOOTBALL ....................................................................................................................................6 BESPOKE GCSE SESSIONS: ....................................................................................................................................7 A-LEVEL RESULT SUCCESS – HOT OF THE PRESS ..................................................................................................8 TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY .......................................................................................................................................8 QUIZ AND CONVO: ...............................................................................................................................................9 INTEGRATION PROJECT WITH WEST LONDON ZONE ....................................................................................... 10 ECYC MAKE OVER.............................................................................................................................................. 11 SUMMER HOLIDAY PROGRAMME .................................................................................................................... 12 A Day in Your Life Project ............................................................................................................................. 12 Reimagining Your Home Project................................................................................................................... 13 Pamper for an Afternoon ............................................................................................................................. 14 The Selfie Scavenger Hunt ............................................................................................................................ 14 Football and Fitness...................................................................................................................................... 15 ‘MET’ in the Summer .................................................................................................................................... 15 Ifield Road Mural Restoration ...................................................................................................................... 15 Summer Weekly Quizzes............................................................................................................................... 16 AR and VR workshops ................................................................................................................................... 16 ECYC Dining .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Other Summer Holiday Progamme Activites ................................................................................................ 17 QUARTER 1: SEPTEMBER 2023 – NOVEMBER 2024 .................................................................................... 18 UNDER 8 PROGRAMME .................................................................................................................................... 19 JUNIOR CLUB ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 SENIOR CLUB – FEMALE ONLY SESSIONS.......................................................................................................... 23 BLACK HISTORY MONTH ................................................................................................................................... 26 QUARTER 2: DECEMBER 2023 – FEBRUARY 2024 ....................................................................................... 27 JUNIOR CLUB ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 SENIOR CLUB ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Girls Football................................................................................................................................................. 30 Eat Club......................................................................................................................................................... 30 Holistic therapy ............................................................................................................................................. 31 Youth Council Social Action Fund ................................................................................................................. 31 EDUCATION ATTAINMENT AND MENTORING .................................................................................................. 33 COMMUNICATION IS KEY ................................................................................................................................. 34 PLACEMENT ...................................................................................................................................................... 35 REFRESHER TRAINING ....................................................................................................................................... 36 ELDERLY CHRISTMAS LUNCH ............................................................................................................................ 36 QUARTER 3: MARCH 2024 – MAY 2024 ..................................................................................................... 38 YOUNG LOCAL ARTISTS ..................................................................................................................................... 39 THE ACCELERATE PROGRAMME ....................................................................................................................... 40

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

ECYC Dining ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 GIRLS NIGHT ...................................................................................................................................................... 42 QPR WOMEN VS CAMBRIDGE WOMEN ........................................................................................................... 43 A NEW MET FOR LONDON ................................................................................................................................ 43 CHESS CLUB ....................................................................................................................................................... 44 FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB PLAYER VISIT ........................................................................................................... 45 FIRST AID TRAINING. ......................................................................................................................................... 46 EXPLORING THE IMPACTS OF SMARTPHONES ON CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ......................................... 46 YOUNG K&C ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE .................................................................. 47 CORE YOUTH WORK PROGRAMME ........................................................................................................... 49 CHAIR’S REPORT ...................................................................................................................................... 50 OUR THANKS ........................................................................................................................................... 51

PC Lee, local ward police officer who has helped young people to build a positive relationship with the police.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

INTRODUCTION

I am delighted to report that our membership has grown consistently over the last five years. In particular, we have made great strides in addressing gender inequality, with female membership now standing at an impressive 45%. This reflects our commitment to ensuring that all young people, regardless of gender, have equal access to opportunities.

At ECYC, we encourage young people to explore new possibilities while providing support to overcome obstacles that may stand in their way. Our youth work approach is centred on personal development, and this is complemented by a variety of recreational activities, group work, and projects. A key feature of our work is the youth-led approach, where young people are actively consulted about the issues they face, the interests they want to pursue, and the progress they aim to make. This helps foster a sense of ownership and empowerment among our members, allowing them to take charge of their own journeys.

ECYC serves as a social and cultural safe space where young people feel a sense of belonging and have the opportunity to learn more about themselves through the wide array of projects we offer. Some of our key achievements over the past year include:

Providing aspirational and achievable goals that have genuinely changed lives. This is evident through the educational success of our members, with 90 young people attaining higher educational outcomes in both GCSE and A-Levels.
Our ‘Cultural Capital’ programme has made substantial progress, particularly through the outstanding 'Day in Your Life' project, which culminated in a Gala exhibition at Cadogan Hall. Thirty-two of the shortlisted young people went on to win first or second prizes in their respective categories.
Supporting excluded young people to reintegrate into mainstream education, offering them a pathway to re-engage with learning and personal development.
Partnering with local police, including our Dedicated Ward Police Officer and the Youth Engagement & Diversion Team, to maintain low crime levels and ensure the safety of our community.
Addressing the ‘poverty of imagination,’ which often limits personal growth and achievement, by providing creative outlets and new experiences.
Celebrating Black history throughout the year, not just during a designated month, in order to raise awareness, foster inclusivity, and educate young people on cultural heritage.
The large monochrome portraits, taken by young people at ECYC, will be on public display at Warwick Road, visible from Earl’s Court Tube Station, with some portraits reaching up to 3.1 metres in height. This project showcases the incredible talent within our club and connects our young people to the wider community.

It can take years to build programmes with real impact as seen in the body of this AGM report and we remain concerned about the future of youth work in a fresh climate of government cuts. We continue to be grateful for the funding we do receive and for our dedicated management committee that works tirelessly to help raise funds, and we continue to rely on external charities and trusts to secure the restricted funds necessary to deliver our programmes.

Abdi Aden, ECYC CEO

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

----- Start of picture text -----
Quarter 4:
June 2023 –
August 2023
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120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

GIRLS FITNESS/FOOTBALL

Following the success of the Women’s Euros last summer, we knew it was important to continue grassroots football for girls here at Earls Court Youth Club (ECYC).

Historically it has been difficult to sustain a committed group of girls for weekly football training on our female only Fridays. This all changed when we changed our approach by focusing on increasing fitness levels which would allow the playing of a football match to be more enjoyable. We did this by breaking up the session into smaller bite-sized activities which culminated in a match.

The sessions now include 4 timed stations with the girls rotating around with just a 10 second break between each station. The stations included various exercises which challenged their cardiovascular health and also provided them with good strength and conditioning coaching. Following this, there would be another round of football-based stations working on dribbling, passing, shooting, attacking and defending 1v1. Each session would end with a game.

This new approach of fitness elements + game has proved successful, and we have seen an increase in the uptake and competitiveness of the sessions.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

BESPOKE GCSE SESSIONS:

Following below-average GCSE Mock Exam results (grades 1 or 2) from our members, our year 11 cohort expressed a need for tutoring in GCSE English Literature and Language. And so, in January 2023, we rolled out tutoring sessions three times weekly, with the hopes of improving grades before their exams in May. This was open to all young people, with a focus on those who had the lowest results. The session was booked on a first come, first serve basis with limited spots due to staff capacity. The young people agreed to certain terms and conditions to ensure full commitment and to help them understand the importance of accountability. The sessions ran on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 18.00-21.00 with 7 young people initially being tutored per session.

The sessions focused on both parts of the GCSE English exam and were structured in a way so young people were able to get the most out of the one-to-one feedback. Young people developed their writing structure, as well as their analytical and descriptive skills with them being assigned homework every week so they could continue honing these skills at home. We then shifted the focus to replicating this increased standard of writing in exam conditions.

A big focus during our tutoring sessions, was how to deal with exam stress and the impact exams can have on their mental health. By thoroughly preparing our young people, we helped reduced their anxiety surrounding exams and teach them coping methods. The Mental Health Youth Worker was also present at a few sessions, in order to help those struggling with the workload.

These sessions had a lasting impact on these young people with a massive improvement in their overall work ethic observed by all ECYC staff. Whilst they initially might have joined the tutoring sessions due to familial pressure and fear of failure; they have now demonstrated a commitment to not only their English exams, but all subjects. The young people have gone above and beyond; at times showing up earlier for a longer session. Whilst most were initially hoping to pass (grade 4), some have set their sights on grade 6 and 7s with the hopes of studying English at A-level. In August when the results were published, we are pleased to report that 24 out of the 29 participants not only gained at least a 5 but also successfully gained entry into their first choice sixth form.

A key recurring theme in the feedback we received was how much their confidence improved and in turn, the positive domino effect it had on their grades and mind-set.

“I got 6 in English lit and 6 English Language and as a result I’m able to continue onto 6 form- which seemed near-impossible back in September’’ DK

“I am pleased to inform you that MM had his GCSE results, which were an astounding success! And he has since gained admission into his 1[st] choice 6 form!” Mother of young person with SEND.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

A-LEVEL RESULT SUCCESS – HOT OF THE PRESS

Among ECYC’s senior cohort, 65 attend secondary schools within RBKC and neighbouring boroughs. This year, 35 of our members have attained an unprecedented feat of securing enrolment into twelve Russell Group universities . Aside from the fortitude and determination of the individual students, this achievement would not have been possible without the roster of holistic initiatives provided by ECYC - ranging from UCAS workshops, tailored work placements, and Masterclasses delivered by our dedicated partners who voluntarily offered to extend key knowledge in their respective fields.

TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY

In continuation with our partners at Mosaic Rooms, the gallery commissioned RESOLVE Collective for their 2023 Family Artist and Outdoor Play commission under the heading ‘Tools for Solidarity’ – this is the second time we have collaborated in the past 18 months.

Beginning in mid-April until end of June we ran 5 workshops with the objective of animating the ways in which children identify with solidarity, and senses of belonging and togetherness; using play in a more interactive and self-led manner. This project has already travelled worldwide with the description “f rom a School in Palestine to a Youth Club in the United Kingdom - the Earls Court Youth Club’’.

The workshops were facilitated at ECYC, every Thursday from 4.005.30PM and each week participants of the younger ECYC membership (6-12years old) were presented with a different task, working on the evolving play structure, by making, drawing and using other creative tools in order to explore the theme; ‘Tools For Solidarity’. This manifested into a semipermanent installation at The Mosaic Gallery; which was unveiled by ECYC members at a launch event

in June 2023 which included family workshops.

The idea is for the installation to evolve and grow throughout the summer, exploring cultural and social practices of solidarity within communities both locally and internationally. At ECYC, this project was a positive way of encapsulating children’s perceptions, particularly since the coronavirus has impacted on the themes highlighted within the project.

“I really enjoyed the workshop as it was fun, and I learnt different skills like using tools such as; drills, saws, hammers – which I have never done before” AM

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

QUIZ AND CONVO:

At ECYC, we introduced a programme ‘Quiz and Convo’ in order to challenge the pre-conceived notions of the young people. The quiz was created to elicit conversation on controversial topics within today’s climate and to educate the young people with topics ranging from mental health, sexual health and inclusivity including LGBTQ+ and Disability awareness. One of the more fruitful discussions focused entirely on the BAME females within the workforce where the young people considered the barriers to entry and how to overcome them. This inspired the girls to research their respective industries they were interested in and formulate their next steps.

The session ran weekly on Fridays, it was open to those over the age of 12 due to the mature themes that were discussed. There was a monetary incentive of £20 per week with 50p being rewarded for every correct answer. The gamification was designed to lower participant’s inhibitions while simultaneously raising awareness, the objective was to enable our members to navigate future social, educational and work place politics by being sensitive to the ever evolving society around them. It also allowed the facilitator to monitor behaviours and manage ignorant comments from the young people.

The quizzes were well received by the young people, most likely due to the monetary incentive, however as the topics grew more serious, we limited the number of participants leading to more meaningful conversations. Battling young people’s pre-determined opinions regarding the topics was a hurdle we faced, some being damaging stigmas which may have been influenced by their home life, upbringing, religion, social media or friendship group. By facilitating the quiz in a certain manner, we were able to evolve their views whilst also educating them on how to remain respectful.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

June 2023 – May 2024

AGM REPORT 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

A key principle throughout the administration of the session was that respect was a bare minimum. All young people upheld this principle and due to this we were able to create a safe space where they could share their views. The healthy debates amongst the young people fostered a good bond and relationship within the group. Due to this, we are introducing Quiz and Convo as a recurring programme with a new cohort in the new academic year.

Through this programme we were able to enlighten the young people in a fun manner whilst also fostering their competitive spirit. When engaging in the conversations, the young people showed great personal strides, as they were able to articulately convey their opinions in a calm, coherent manner. One young person mentioned that they had never considered the importance of mental health and had a preconceived notion that it was a sign of weakness. However, after the session, they understood how crucial it was to general well-being and how it can severely impact lifestyles. They also mentioned how discussing ways to improve your mental health was interesting and something they would explore further. This clearly illustrated the importance of these conversations, as by educating the young people we are equipping them with healthier habits and skills to translate to other avenues of their lives.

INTEGRATION PROJECT WITH WEST LONDON ZONE

The Lightbulb Trust Integration Challenge initiative saw West London Zone (WLZ) and Earls Court Youth Club, come together to deliver an inspiring programme, which sought to encourage good mental well-being, positive relationships, good progress, attainment, confidence and aspiration in the young people they work with and to help them gain the skills they need to socially, emotionally and academically thrive in adulthood.

The programme aimed to coordinate a wide variety of resources and activities to ensure that children WLZ work with, who are of the ECYC catchment area, have access to our services. The programme was supported by Link Workers from WLZ, who act as trusted adults and mentors, 'linking' children from Ashburnham and

Park Walk School and their families to the services already in place locally; such as ECYC etc.

13 young people from the above schools who the Link Workers believed would benefit most from the project were chosen and this formed the first partnership for ECYC and WLZ, with the programme running for 6 weeks.

The feedback from the children and young people who attended, suggested that the project enabled them to gain access to a service they may not have known about before, as well as, building on their social skills etc. so much so, that 5 joined ECYC summer holiday programme.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

ECYC MAKE OVER

ECYC received a transformational make over by Willmott Dixon as part of their Social Value scheme. Their dedicated team were able to:

🫧 Replaced all of our worn-out carpets, giving the office, computer and wellness rooms a fresh look and feel.
Completely repainted the centre, breathing new life into its surroundings.
Generously donated new chairs and a fridge freezer, enhancing functionality.
Improved accessibility.

Constructed a trophy shelf, to showcase the young people’s achievements.

Transformed the outdoor area, including the football pitch and benches, for enjoyable social use. Tackled damp walls and ceilings, creating a safer and more comfortable environment.

“I was much impressed with their work, children and young people are enjoying the fresh look of the youth club. It’s made it more enjoyable to use and it's an incentive to prompt the children and young adults to keep the spaces clean and tidy.” AA

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

SUMMER HOLIDAY PROGRAMME 24[th] July – 25[th] August 2023

At ECYC, we ran the longest summer holiday programme ever. It ran over 5 weeks with the aim of giving support to children and young people to explore their ‘hidden talents’ and gave parents a rest bite before school reopened in the autumn.

A Day in Your Life Project

Alison Jackson Studios facilitated photography workshops for children and young people during the summer. The sessions entailed posing in designer clothes from Stella McCartney, Adidas, and Vivienne Westwood etc. meaning they got to ‘feel’ like models, changing outfits every so often.

There was an opportunity for them to be photographers as well as models depending on their preference, as well as a chance to switch; in order to identify which one they preferred.

The project ended with 5 children and young people being given spaces at Pop School and Stage Academy, 15 young people being shortlisted for a casting call; this enabled young people and their parents to meet with talent agents/scouts and gain such experience.

As a final part of the project, budding photographers were invited ‘backstage’ of the Science Museum to take pictures of the employees, learn how to direct models, learn how to take pictures using different lighting, and the importance of using your body to portray different angles. Additionally, they also had exclusive access to the Museum’s studio; which is where they photographed all the artefacts at the Museum for their online catalogue.

This opportunity enabled young people to explore the many facets of photography and broaden their understandings and forming lasting skillsets.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

1 young person who stood out for his attention to detail, when taking pictures expressed:

‘ Before attending these photography workshops, I had no idea I was any good with a camera, and now the opportunities that have been facilitated, have shown me how much more I can achieve’. R.S

Reimagining Your Home Project

Over a decade ago, previous ECYC members participated in a project, whereby they created art dibond panels, and their work was showcased across the youth club ever since. This year, we felt it was important to facilitate the project again, to substitute the previous dibond panels, with some created by new ECYC members – it felt somewhat like a time capsule.

This year’s project was themed around ‘Reimagining Your Home’. Whereby young people worked in collaboration to explore the topics of memory, identity and the poetics of everyday and local architecture/city landscape, in and around their local area of Earls Court.

This inspired the creation of visual narrative and content, in tandem with young people’s voices and contribution around the proposed theme.

This dibond above is outside ECYC

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

Moreover, we were fortunate enough to be donated 4 outside benches, which the young people felt looked dull – thus we facilitated an art project; whereby the children and young people were encouraged to be creative and express themselves, by spray painting and painting thoughtprovoking words onto the bench.

Pamper for an Afternoon

Some of our female members who worked hard during the year to earn ECYC coins were unable to use them take part in the planned Summer Holiday Programme so as a way of celebrating the finale of GCSE and A Levels and farewell to those going to university outside of London, we facilitated a pampering session for 15 ECYC girls, which entailed beauty treatments of their choice.

The session was an opportunity for the young women to reflect on the year thus far; identifying some highs and lows, as well as, starting to mentally prepare for new endeavors come September.

It is worth bearing in mind, the importance of the positive relationships that are formed with children and young people at ECYC, and thus the need to inspire them in moving onto the next chapter of their lives, as well as, bidding them farewell.

“I was anxious at the idea of moving so far from my family, in order to study Neuroscience at Leeds University, but after a lengthy conversation with staff at ECYC, I felt encouraged and ready for this move” . R.M

The Selfie Scavenger Hunt

Alongside Police Officers from our local ward, we facilitated a weekly scavenger hunt around Earls Court, which required young people to team up and use professional cameras in order to take selfies of each answer, for the questions posed. This activity enabled them to learn more about Earls Court Youth Club; as all the questions related to a part of the our history.

“ As a new ECYC member, I really enjoyed this activity, as I did not know that the club had been around since the 1970’s and has been an asset to Earls Court ever since”. A.O

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

Football and Fitness

We facilitated football tournaments and training over the summer, focusing on equipping young people with good sportsmanship, teamwork skills as well as, supporting those who are keen on playing professionally. At ECYC, sport offers an outlet whereby young people are able to keep fit whilst having fun, the summer was no exception to this.

After recognising that some of our young people were not physically fit, but were keen on playing Football, we combined it with a fitness session, this enabled them to build on technical and coordination skills, as well as stamina.

Young people were given incentives, that were not focused on skillset; rather acquiring more humanistic values, such as being kind to others who may not have the same ability or strength etc.

‘MET’ in the Summer

For the fourth year running, our local ward Police Officers; PC Lee Overy and PC Danny Wright supported the facilitation of our summer holiday programme; from driving the minibus, to helping with wardrobe during photography workshops. This year, we were fortunate enough to also have the support of The MET Youth Engagement and Diversion Team – PC Andres, and two of his colleagues, who helped us serve food, facilitated chess club sessions and restorative art projects.

Their support has enabled young people to gain a relationship with the person behind the uniform, reducing the likelihood of stereotypes associated with the uniform; as well as, offering Officers an opportunity to get to know young people in a safe space where there are no power dynamics at play - particularly as the police officers get to know the young people on a first name basis rather than using their formal title such as PC Overy.

As a result, we have seen the development of positive relationships, which have already reduced crime on Ifield road - and the surrounding areas.

“When I first started this venture with ECYC the young people used to cross the road, not make eye contact and avoid me at all costs. Now they cross the road to come over and say hi and the are no longer worried about being seen with me in my full uniform. We all feel part of the same community.” PC Lee Overy

Ifield Road Mural Restoration

Murals have a history rooted in social, political, and cultural engagement, thus we felt it pivotal to restore a mural that plays a huge part of ECYC history, as it has been seen by generations of ECYC members in the playground.

The mural itself depicts the history of ECYC, thus when we were alerted to the damage, we sought the artist Teresa Paiva who designed the original mural to restore them with the assistance of young people. As previously mentioned, ECYC has a long standing history within the Earls Court area and we value the importance of archiving it’s impact on the community as a whole.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

Summer Weekly Quizzes

For the duration of the summer holiday programme, we facilitated weekly quizzes that covered a range of topics, such as: Health and wellbeing, the role of sport in development, the history of ECYC and surrounding areas, Chelsea Football Club knowledge and many more.

The quizzes were a non-educational, interactive way to assess what the young people have learnt from the workshops and activities, and encourage further learning. We have found at ECYC, that quizzes raise confidence and enable us to recognise progress made by children and young people.

We also used these as tools to encourage the participation of ‘quieter’ members and help strengthen relationships with staff.

AR and VR workshops

We ran a series of workshops covering (AR) Augmented Reality and (VR) Virtual Reality, as requested by ECYC members. Due to the success of the project during term time, the demand and appreciation for this project exceeded our expectations and has created an interest in this remit.

The session enabled an in-depth learning in this burgeoning field, as well as complementing skills acquired during term time.

"In the current phase - we tested out codes from robots - I enjoyed this part because I was able to test out different strategies, and able to see how long it will last on the platform. I would definitely participate in this activity again” IS

"I liked these sessions because they were creative; we were able to programme the AR. The interaction between using the iPad to move the boxes was cool and like nothing I have seen before - I would definitely do it again". AW

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

ECYC Dining

As always food continues to play a major role in underpinning children and young people’s ability to take the opportunities we present them with.

Our thanks to HAF funding for supporting the Summer Holiday Programme to be able to provide food to all the different age groups.

“The one thing I look forward to most, as well as all the other wonderful things at ECYC, is the food. I eat better here than I do at home. Thank you and see you in September.” KM

Other Summer Holiday Progamme Activites

Other summer activities included boxing, t-shirt making, fitness, weekly football tournaments with proper prizes, walking tours of London, further education next steps … too many to list but here are a few photos:

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

Quarter 1: September 2023 – November 2024

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

www.earlscourtyouthclub.co.uk

Our strategy this year is to focus on the poverty of imagination that stunts personal growth and achievement, which has acutely evident post pandemic and further exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.

The information referred to in this report details sessions, programmes, and activities which have formed the core of our priority areas this quarter and have been developed over time. In order to respond to our member’s changing needs whilst also inspiring imagination. We always seek to develop our work by trialling new ideas and approaches. Some projects succeed and go on to form part of our core offering, and others fail enabling learnings that contribute to the success of future projects.

Our challenge this year is to enable funders to recognise this innovation phase is vital to run alongside establish successful activities and ultimately this combination allow an organisation to flourish and have longevity and impact.

UNDER 8 PROGRAMME

There are now more than 7,000 under-11s in Alternative Provision placements, including those in state-funded pupil referral units and independent special schools funded by local authorities. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/05/loophole-vulnerable-pupils-englandrisk-alternative-provision-registered.

‘ A loophole is leaving the most vulnerable pupils in England at risk’ Amanda Spielman.

The under 8’s programme, is a new initiative at ECYC, born in 2021, out of the negative impact the lockdown had on children and young people alike. The idea behind the under-8 initiative, was to get children to start attending ECYC around the age of 6 years old, as studies show that the peer relationships formed by children, at that tender age, can have a significant, yet positive impact on their development.

These sessions were split into activities that sought to expose their senses to an array of stimuli and develop their fine motor skills. They included football fun, slime making, Play-Doh, arts and crafts, baking, LEGO, and beverage making.

By targeting physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing; we are encouraging confidence and fostering healthy habits, from a crucially young age.

We have seen this with one child, K.D.C :

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“She started attending the Youth club when she was 6 years old, and at that time she was very shy and did not like engaging with children that she did not know, or who did not share the same interests as her. This term, she has graduated from the under 8’s programme, to the junior club, where she has begun to build friendships and support the younger cohort, of which she was once a part of”.

The sessions allowed children to form and maintain relationships with their peers from an earlier age, allowing them to build foundations for later in life.

Research suggests, that for children and young people who have experienced adverse childhood traumas, tend to have greater difficulty in engaging with others as well as, the behaviours they exhibit. Thus, children attending the sessions allowed us to identify those who may require additional support i.e. SEND, referral to early help, social services or parenting courses etc.

Additionally, we found that when children and young people are exposed to fun and stimulating activities, it encourages their self-confidence, as well as, building on their emotional resilience.

Lastly, it is worth bearing in mind, that the under 8’s programme currently receives no funding. But due to issues mentioned in the previous report, we saw it necessary to provide this service, which financial restrictions limit us to just once a week.

The feedback from parents/carers has been overwhelmingly positive, and as such, has highlighted the need and impact the sessions have.

Unfortunately, we can no longer afford to facilitate this session, in the New Year. Our hope is that, we will be able to fund it again, in the future, if the opportunity arises. Originally, the service was attended by 5 children and now, on average 20 children attend every Thursday.

As we have been working with this cohort, for approximately, 2 years now, it saddens us that such a marvellous project may be discontinued. A Christmas party is arranged in December to not only say goodbye ahead of the holidays, but also celebrate the achievements of the cohort thus far.

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JUNIOR CLUB

Junior club continues to be oversubscribed at ECYC, as it supports a diverse number of young people across the North and South of the borough – one of the largest catchment areas for this type of service.

This year we observed the reluctance of parents to allow their children to transition from the junior club to the senior club at the age of 13/14 due to the hours the senior club runs (6-9pm) so we are considering lengthening the crossover period to allow the transition to take place when the evenings are light and pose less perceived risk for the young people returning home.

The impact of this change will be a need to deliver additional sessions so that there is no impact on the young people entering the service at 9 years old. We are currently seeking funding to enable this new approach.

We know that most educational attainment and employability is measured whilst the young people are at the senior club (ages 16+).

We know how important it is that young people and their parents/carers feel confident to transition, so that they can continue to be inspired and benefit from the opportunities that come through the club.

The prolonged interruptions brought on by the pandemic, significantly impacted the developmental progression of many of our junior cohort and we have experienced our members expressing feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety and worry etc, which reflect the same views noted this published report by Kings College, London: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/an-isolated-generation-the-impact-ofcovid-19-on-children-and-young-people

One observation has been that at age 13, those who ought to be moving up to Senior Club did not own the necessary maturity in to order to interact with those aged, 3, 4, or 5 years older than them. Our method to counter this, has been enacting a ‘Buddy System’, whereby, a young person transitioning to the senior session, will attend a few sessions with their allocated buddy/Young Leader; that will enable them to feel supported, as they make the leap from Junior to Senior session.

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Our Young Leaders also plan and deliver sessions alongside a coach for the junior club’s football activities. Such a task has the dual benefit of not only developing coaching and mentoring skills for the Senior Club member, but also allowing a chance to volunteer and ‘give back’ to ECYC. We have seen this play an important introduction for those considering future employment, not just in Youth Work, but other avenues as well.

We have always recognised that ECYC is home to some extremely talented young people, and our workshops and programmes always strive to promote this. In the current quarter, our team looked at the 5 developmental senses; see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Made famous by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget, who argued child cognitive development occurred in a series of stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.

At ECYC, our particular focus was at the preoperational stage; where the foundations of language development are taught. By focusing on this crucial aspect, we aim to hone in children’s ability to healthily engage with their peers, build on their mental faculties, and of course gain an important insight into how their minds and bodies function.

One of our young people, arrived in the United Kingdom, from Japan and joined ECYC. during the summer. R.N has attended almost every session, for the last 4 months. At the beginning he found it challenging to interact with his peers as he hardly spoke any English. The 5 senses project was highly valuable for him, even if he could not always understand instructions, signs and pictures went a good way in ensuring he did not miss out. Now, 4 months on, he has signposted ECYC to his peers, knows all staff and young people’s names, and has markedly improved in his English skills. He has won several competitions, built on his confidence and forms part of the ECYC family.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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SENIOR CLUB – FEMALE ONLY SESSIONS

The female only sessions started mid-2022, due to the former low turnout of female membership up to that point. At ECYC, we seek to empower all young people with the tools to thrive and succeed. The purpose of organising a female-only evening was to not only increase our female engagement, but more so, address the issues which proportionately effect girls more than boys. Such issues include increased anxiety, a higher reliance on anti-depressant medication, and a higher addiction to social media, among others.

As well as being female led, this programme was overseen by an all-female staff, which our team agreed would be the most effective way in achieving the projects goals: solidarity, confidence and self-esteem. In addition to this, we wanted to help the young women learn how to recognise and navigate certain behaviours for example: anger and resentment, fear and emotional withdrawal, as well as disappointment and pain processing. These particular sessions were conducted as a group to not only allow a space for attendees to share and benefit from one another, but also allow for debate, and exchange of views, which we believe is conducive to teaching young people how to manage conflict in a healthy manner.

A highlight of the project during this quarter was a two-night residential at Kingswood, Grosvenor Hall, from Friday 27[th ] – Sunday 29[th] October 2023. The venue was chosen on the strength that their facilities boasted great teambuilding activities and only a mere two-hour drive from London.

A coach collected 16 of us, comprising of 14 young women and 2 members of ECYC staff. The trip was good

in helping staff build a rapport, as well as allay any concerns with those young women, who were either new to ECYC, or who up to that point had never spent a night away from home before.

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Upon arrival at the site, we participated in a ‘Balance Beams’ game, which entailed the group to negotiate a see-saw plank, which could only be done via working as a team. The following day, they participated in Archery, which for many was their first experience of such a sport, and which all enjoyed- despite the heavy rain.

Unfortunately, the poor weather prevented a number of the scheduled activities, but our instructor was helpful in arranging for equally fun indoor activities like rock climbing, which they thoroughly enjoyed – some more than others!

However, the highlight of the residential, was the 3G swing: a high adrenaline activity, that encouraged them to set their own goals, height wise and challenge their limits, whilst building trust with their teammates. The group worked together to hoist two participants, in a harness, up in the air on the 3G swing, as high or low as they wished. When they were ready, the participants pulled the ripcord to release themselves and felt the G-force as they swung back and forth.

This tested many of them, although some had a fear of heights, it was overshadowed by the cheers of encouragement, coming from the Team – it could be heard 30ft up.

On the final evening we spoke with each young person individually, in order to check on their wellbeing, as well as gain feedback on the trip as a whole.

One young person’s remark stood out to us: ‘ The residential allowed us to grow closer, especially with the girls who we would not usually speak to – it also allowed us to get out of our comfort zone and try new things. As a result, I actually realised that we had so much in common. Can we come here again, this time next year?” R.M

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During these discussions, we asked the young women, to nominate someone from the group, who they felt was deserving of an award based on the categories:

Lady Can Do Award
Newcomer Award
Extraordinary Courage Award

This enabled us to use the trip to bring the cohort together and reward teamwork, bravery, trying new things and challenging themselves, outside of their usual perimeters.

Since our trip, we have noticed an increase in attendance from our female cohort, as well as, new forged friendships amongst the group and overall, more of a unity and sense of ‘sisterhood’.

Upon our return, we dedicated the first session, to facilitating an award ceremony – Pizza ‘N’ Prizes; where they were able to collect a certificate and a prize, in front of the whole cohort.

In the next quarter, the young people have decided the plan projects that seek to respond to global issues, such as homelessness, women’s safety and supporting children with long term health conditions. They will be supported by the Youth Participation Team, in order to apply for a Youth Council Social Action Fund grants, enabling them to have more autonomy as a group, on future projects, activities and trips.

All of these changes at ECYC, have enabled the organisation to grow in a way that continues to support children, young people and their families, ensuring that no one is left behind or falls through the cracks, throughout the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, but more specifically the Earls Court and Redcliffe Wards.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

At ECYC we know that black history is not something that should be celebrated for a month only and forgotten about the rest of the year. For this reason, we have decided to create a Black History Banner that will stay up for all 365 days, with the purpose of year-round education and awareness.

Black History Month is a brilliant time to learn about Black culture and heritage with our members, as well as making sure everyone knows that Black history is a part of history that can (and should) be learned about all year round.

In the UK, October is Black History Month. To help us celebrate, we’ve put on lots of exciting activities. During these four weeks, we have devised a series of workshops and projects for talking about race with young people. Two such activities which were very popular amongst our members were weekly quizzes and connecting history to young people, which allows for their new education to “stick” whilst making learning fun. We also used key pioneers in black history to invoke thoughts and debates with children and young people, regarding the changes that have occurred since that time.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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Quarter 2: December 2023 – February 2024

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JUNIOR CLUB

The Junior Club continues to be oversubscribed, we are currently running a waiting list of 60 children and young people. This term’s activities focus on the five senses: see, hear, touch, taste and smell; which enables children and young people to learn about the world around them and gain a deeper appreciation for its richness and diversity. Additionally, it helps children and young people develop their fine motor skills. These skills are essential for tasks like writing and drawing etc. Lastly, stimulating the senses fosters creativity and imagination. As children explore different textures, tastes, and smells, they develop a rich sensory vocabulary that fuels their creativity.

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The success of the Junior Club has in part been due to the consistent funding from The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust who have enabled us to increase scope and impact of the project to reach more Children and Young people as well as tailoring the provision so that we can attract more marginalised groups. For example we now have the highest ever percentage of female members since inception and we have encouraged the co-creation of activities to ensure they remain engaged and transition to the Senior Club.

In response to the parental and cultural barriers in place that impact Young People’s ability to move from the Junior Club to the Senior Club we devised a bespoke transition session, whereby they can ‘trial’ activities that would be available to them, during the senior club, with the support of their peers and a Young Leader from the Senior Club. This has enabled them to gradually become accustomed to the session, whilst being around peers and Young People they are familiar with and report their achievements back to the home.

During Easter and the summer holidays, the Junior Club cohort took part in ‘A Day in Your Life’, they had the opportunity to be a photographer, model or both. Through the workshops, we discovered that photography can help children develop their creativity, imagination, and visual literacy skills. Additionally, it can also help them to express themselves and their emotions, as well as, documenting their experiences and memories. They worked tirelessly taking pictures of each

other, cheering each other on and capturing snapshots of Earls Court as well as, members of ECYC. ‘A Day in Your Life’ photography competition hosted by Alison Jackson, was held this year at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea on Thursday 25[th] January 2024, from, 5-8.30PM. A total of 60 children from across ECYC’s Under 8’s, Junior and Senior Clubs were shortlisted for a prize based on both their photography and modelling entries. 32 of the shortlisted Young People went on to win first or second price in their category.

‘Thank you so much for encouraging my son to take part in the competition, and helping him to see a gift, we didn’t even realise he had. He won 6 awards and he wasn’t even expecting to win one!” R.S

“ My 6 year old had never even held a camera before, this opportunity allowed her to essentially build on a photography career – if she wanted to. The day after she got the camera, she took it to School, to take pictures of her surroundings”. A.M

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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SENIOR CLUB

Girls Football

We started the New Year with a hat trick – a first since the season started back in September 2023! We witnessed Lauren James (plays for Chelsea Football Club as well as the England squad), in action, at the Chelsea VS Manchester United womens football league, at Chelsea Stadium (Stamford Bridge) on Sunday 21[st] January 2024. We sat so close to the pitch, we felt immersed in the game. The game

was filled with females, young and old, cheering on either the blues or the red’s, depending on the side they were supporting.

“We got the chance to wave at Lauren James and when she waved back and recognised us it was the highlight of my day” IK

We value the importance of encouraging young women to take an interest in Sports, especially with the new strategy aimed at creating a more sustainable future within female Football. ECYC recognises the growth in female Football; and how it is breaking barriers and stereotypes, this in turn can encourage a bridge, in the gap between men and women.

Eat Club

We have been delivering cooking workshops, to young women, in collaboration with a national charity ‘Eat Club’; the aim of the sessions are to educate them on the fundamentals of cooking, the nutritional knowledge and the practical skills needed, in order to develop healthy lifestyle habits.

This is crucial, particularly as; approximately 3 million young people from ‘disadvantaged’ backgrounds, are either obese or tackling food poverty, as well as, social inequalities etc. the workshops run every Friday and young women dine together at the end of the session.

‘The first session was fun and interesting, I learnt how to cook food, that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access to, within my home environment etc.’ I.Y

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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Holistic therapy

ECYC is home to some extremely talented children and young people, who take their educational attainment extremely seriously, and at times, it can bear a negative impact on their mental health.

“I come to ECYC every evening to study for my exams, as I want to ensure I get into a top class University (Russell Group). But after a member of ECYC staff encouraged me, to have a massage, I felt so relaxed. I was able to make my own essential oil, of my choice. This helped my concentration a lot and really helped me sleep and feel new”. M.F

Debbie and Asha, are a mother and daughter duo, whose activities enable young women to learn coping methods, ways to de-stress, as well as, planning a ‘passion project’ and setting weekly goals. The workshops were co-created with young people, who liked the combination of a masseuse and a young female, who followed a different career pathway, than those they are familiar with.

‘ The massage was amazing and it really helped me to feel relaxed. The body scrub smelt so nice and relieved my stresses’. E.M

Youth Council Social Action Fund

The Youth Council Social Action Fund helps groups of young people in Kensington and Chelsea by funding projects and initiatives to be delivered in their local youth club or organisation.

The Youth Participation Lead, for RBKC, attended ECYC this quarter every Friday evening to support young women’s applications to fund projects they are interested in accessing at ECYC. The fund is designed to support the self-development of young people in the area, bringing them together to help improve their lives and address the challenges that are important in their communities. The fund is youth-led, and young people are asked to come up with project ideas, write the application, present their idea to a group of Youth Fund Assessors, and run their project.

Successful applications will need to show how their project fulfils at least one of the following themes: mental health and wellbeing, education, and youth choice. The grants are for up to £2,500 and are available for local youth clubs and organisations to facilitate the delivery of a project designed by, and for, Young People.

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In addition to, the female only Friday session, we have devised a timetable, that enables more female youth workers to be present at the youth club on other evenings of the week, to encourage more female attendance, on the days other than Friday; as we recognise the benefits of having a safe space for both male and female members to partake in activities together and build healthy friendships etc.

According to a government report by Youth & Policy, young women are underrepresented in youth clubs; the report highlighted a need for youth clubs to be more accessible and welcoming to young women. There are a number of reasons why young women may not engage with youth clubs, for example; some may feel that youth clubs are not relevant to their interests or that they do not have the necessary skills to participate. Whereas, others may feel that youth clubs are not safe or welcoming spaces for them – due to the higher ratio of boys. To address these issues, ECYC have cocreated programs and activities, alongside young females, that specifically meet their needs and encourage them to start attending youth club.

It is important to recognise the value of youth clubs in providing young people with a sense of community and belonging. Youth clubs can help young people develop important life skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. They can also provide young people with opportunities to engage in positive activities and build positive relationships with their peers and adult mentors.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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EDUCATION ATTAINMENT AND MENTORING

ECYC is one of the most sought after Youth clubS, with many decades of supporting generations of children, young people and their families, we recognise the impact our work has on our direct beneficiaries and the local community as a whole. Therefore, when young people requested tuition, we facilitated sessions with three ECYC alumni who specialised in English, Maths and Science, to support current members on a 1:1 basis, after school, in the hope of improving their educational attainment and their exam results, whilst we sought funding, to reach more young people.

“I come for tuition three days a week, and I have seen a big change in my grades and my concentration”. M.H

“I was failing English, and I told ECYC, they have been supporting me to get the grade I need ever since – I feel more confident in myself and my ability”. M.F

We devised a timetable as the demand increased, to ensure that all young people had access to the service, and that they took responsibility for their own learning. The demand increased so much, we have begun to recruit more tutors.

This initiative enabled us to identify that young people are struggling to not only acquire the knowledge for exam but also to manage the pressures surrounding exams, and so we have facilitated a safe space headed by our MIND Mental Health Youth Worker, who was able to listen as

they explained how exam stress was affecting them, and in turn offer the young people useful advise and techniques for managing this.

Future Ambitions and Exploration Opportunities

As part of our yearly programme, we have continued to run a Future Ambitions project which enables young people to explore opportunities, personal passions/interests, and learning a bit more about themselves as an individual.

We have devised a series of activities, one of which is a personality analysis (Meirs Briggs Test) which supported those who are unsure of what they wanted to do in their future by providing them with a list of traits and possible affinities to professions depending on the result of their test.

One member who had lost interest in sixth-form/college education had taken part in these activities including the MBTI Test. The actives had given him an insight into some possible routes of employment that he may be interested in. Horticulture was given as a suggestion, and at first the young person was sceptical. Having tried the Landscape Gardening / Horticulture project with a local

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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employer, his interest has developed to the point he is now considering it as a long-term career. Another cohort of young people completed a course on business mapping & modelling. They are now in the process of developing their own clothing line. Furthermore, fifteen members are working with specialised staff to identify different university pathways: upgrading and improving their CVs and UCAS applications. Many young people were given advice on securing placements, part-time jobs, shadowing opportunities, and mass emailing local businesses to observe jobs that they are interested in to find out if it is for them or not.

“ I have always wanted to be a chef. Having a week work experience in a three-star Michelin restaurant, I have discovered that I no longer want to follow this passion and I am now pursuing the profession of personal trainer and chiropractor. ” – KK

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

This is a new initiative for ECYC and mental health has been identified by our members as a significant subject that impacts their life so for now, we have teamed up with the national charity MIND to address some of the root causes of mental health in young men. Studies show that mentoring programmes can prevent violence by reducing subsequent incidents by 21%. “It does show that we could make a colossal difference if we wanted to,” (J. Yates, Head of Youth Endowment Fund (YEF)). Half of teenagers in England and Wales have witnessed or been victims of violence, study reveals | Crime | The Guardian

Youth violence is a significant difficulty facing young people, particularly in London, as the above article suggests, this has various impacts on the day to day of adolescents. Though some initiatives can make a difference and this pilot is aiming to address these difficulties at an early, preventative stage via communication. Communication is a key factor influencing how we express emotions positive and in effecting our relationships which in turn, as evidence suggests, have a significant impact on mental health – hence the name of the programme: Communication is Key. The aim being to foster a different more positive approach for adolescent boys to express themselves rather than choose violence. The participants had chance to establish their own specific goals to consider how to apply the skills and strategies to their circumstances and their personal challenges.

Eight ECYC members actively engaged in a six-week programme titled Communication Is Key, a specialised segment derived from the Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescent Skills Training initiative facilitated by our partner, the MIND Charity. Throughout the programme, the members demonstrated commendable openness and honesty, fostering a collaborative and confidential environment by sharing personal experiences with a professional therapist. Notably, their exceptional empathy and support for friends in achieving their goals, coupled with a commitment to personal growth, was evident for all to see.

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The young people's reflective abilities regarding interpersonal interactions and the impact of relationships on mental health underscored their insightful approach. Despite some members reluctance to admit that they found this transformative, we have noticed an improvement in their relationships with family members. In a particular case, a mother wanted to learn more about “communication is key” stating that her son has “become less aggressive and more considerate towards his siblings”.

Throughout the sessions, the members acknowledged and debated the stigmas around mental health difficulties and with their engagement and openness they actively challenged the stereotypes around male mental health. The outcomes display the hard work, commitment and effort both in and out of the sessions. This shows the changes in attitudes to conflict and communication generally as well as the progress made by all members in their specific communication-based goals.

John, Mental Health Youth Worker – programme facilitator “This Programme began with 14 young people, each taking part in an initial assessment and goal setting session. From here eight of those young people chose to take part much in line with ECYC’s value of being young-person led.

This speaks volumes of the young people: one for those being able to voice that this was not the right time or mode of support for them. And two, for those who took it upon themselves to acknowledge that this support may be beneficial and to open themselves up to it. Discussing mental health and emotions can, by nature, be very difficult, it can be tough with a professional and even tougher with peers though this is the challenge these young men took on.

I can only give my thanks to those who took part and to ECYC for being open to this group and led by their young people in giving it a go.”

PLACEMENT

ECYC has worked very hard to support members to embark on paid placements. One example of this is Ali, who has managed to enter a year in industry during his university course. Ali has lived in the Earls Court area for most of his life and ECYC advocate for exemplary young people who do not have a significant network that will allow them to realise their ambitions.

As part of his 7-year architecture course, he needed to find a placement in an otherwise extremely competitive industry. It is worth noting that these placements are offered to graduates as opposed to someone who is just beginning their third year at university. ECYC reached out to our supporters in the hopes of finding an organisation that would give him an interview. We are happy to report that we have been successful in helping Ali to secure a paid placement which he is very much enjoying now.

“ I have been a member since I was nine, and I have come to appreciate the opportunities on offer as I got older and knew that I can come to ECYC when I wanted to explore a passion. Thanks to Abdi for his perseverance and I am now working on some really interesting and big architectural projects that include Euston and King Cross station to name a few “

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REFRESHER TRAINING

As we continue to upskill staff and volunteers at ECYC, it was crucial that we further develop their understanding of Youth Work, and the needs of children, young people and their families, in this current climate. The training looked at, personal, professional and environmental boundaries, keeping yourself safe online, and reflective practice. This gave staff a chance to ask questions and ensure that they understand the parameters of their work particularly as we are aware that Youth Work is a bespoke field. At the end/beginning of each school term where we are not delivering face to face services we are training our team, so their knowledge can be refreshed and kept up-to-date.

Local Safeguarding Children Partnership delivered a training at ECYC, for all staff, looking at the ways in which children and young people use the internet, new and emerging online harms, risks young people may encounter online, bullying, online radicalisation, as well as, providing access to resources, that enable practitioners to support, signpost and advice parents/carers.

ELDERLY CHRISTMAS LUNCH

On 18[th] December 2023, ECYC hosted a fabulous 3 course Christmas lunch for 60 of our elderly community members. Prior to the arrival of our senior citizens, 5 ward police officers were on hand to set up and extensively decorate the club in true festive spirit and also meticulous prepare and serve the food. It was truly a meal to remember!

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Holidays can be a lonely time for the older members of our community and this special initiative allowed them to reconnect with the community in what is a time of love and togetherness. Christmas carols were sung, and secret Santa gifts were exchanged. Further provisions of food were needed due to the high event turnout but the police officers were on hand to purchase more supplies to be prepared and served. Good food, good company and lots of laughs sums up the lunch perfectl

A reminder of what we can achieve because our members are tenacious, creative and resilient. Our thanks to Nicola Butler at Young K&C and Alison Jackson for this opportunity.

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AGM REPORT 2024

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Quarter 3: March 2024 – May 2024

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YOUNG LOCAL ARTISTS

Young Artists' is a dynamic photography program and competition founded by BAFTA and multi-award-winning artist Alison Jackson.

ECYC has played a leading role in the project, in partnership with Young K&C and other local youth clubs.

Portraits captured for the programme will be on display at Warwick Road for next year, facing the Earl’s Court tube station. The large monochrome portraits, most of whom were taken by young people from Earls Court Youth Club reach up to 3.1m tall.

Look out for the young people’s photos as you come out of Earls Court Tube – they look absolutely amazing and showcase the talent and hard work of ECYC members.

Previously displayed in the A Day in Your Life exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, as part of Alison’s annual programme to celebrate creative talent from under-represented backgrounds in Kensington and Chelsea, this installation represents another chance to see works created by ECYC members - young, budding artists in our communities.

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THE ACCELERATE PROGRAMME

Accelerate is a bespoke course designed for young people keen to explore the suitability of a potential career in the built environment sector. This programme specifically targets sixth form students from under-represented groups who are eager to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in fields such as architecture, engineering, planning, and design.

The programme included ten creative workshops held on Saturdays, along with work experience opportunities hosted by some of London’s top architecture and built environment practices. It is run by the charity Open City and hosted by three leading institutions: UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture, UAL's Central St Martins and Kingston University.

Accelerate provides participants with:

Skills development workshops in a university environment
Visits to iconic sites around London
Peer to peer learning with university students
Public exhibition
Guidance workshops on portfolio production and university applications
Mentoring with an architect at their London office.
Optional Arts Gold Award earning 16 UCAS points

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The programme started October 2023 and ended May 2024. The Earls Court Development Company partnered with Open City to enable 5 young people who live in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and 5 young people from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea to join this programme.

Of the five spaces available for RBKC, four young people from ECYC were selected after a rigorous application process. These participants were immensely proud of their achievement. Notably, all four pursued the Arts Gold Award, earning 16 UCAS points. The multifaceted approach of the Accelerate programme has significantly enriched our members' educational journeys, preparing them for future academic and professional endeavours.

“The Accelerate programme provided me with the invaluable opportunity to meet and be mentored by world-class industry professionals. This experience has significantly contributed to my personal development and greatly enhanced the quality of my personal statement for university applications." - D.K

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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ECYC DINING

We believe that encouraging children and young people to eat fresh wholesome food, together can help young people lead happier, healthier lives. As such, we aim to also use food to foster good relationships between young women; particularly, as preteens and teens seek independence from their parents, they often turn to their peers for guidance and acceptance. While some find healthy groups to click with, others may join cliques that offer security at the expense of individuality and values.

For more information and research by Oxford University into how social eating connects communities see https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-03-16-social-eating-connects-communities

GIRLS NIGHT

Every Friday evening, we host a "Girls' Night." These popular, weekly femaleonly sessions provide a dedicated space for young women to gather, share, and learn without the complexities that can arise in mixedgender settings. This exclusive environment encourages open discussions on topics such as selfesteem, personal growth, and women's health, fostering a sense of camaraderie and understanding.

Girls' Night is particularly valuable as it offers girls and young women the

opportunity to engage in activities and discuss topics they might not feel comfortable addressing in mixed sessions, such as sports and health issues specific to young women.

With membership growing, we are pleased to announce the recruitment of a new female coach. Danielle has been an incredible addition to the team, successfully engaging all the girls in football as well as other sports like volleyball and badminton, which they have thoroughly enjoyed.

To further encourage unity among the female cohort, we organised a trip to our local Nando's, allowing us to dine together outside of ECYC and observe any impact this might have. Research

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

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suggests that eating with others provides both social and individual benefits; those who eat socially more often feel happier, more satisfied with life, and more engaged with their local communities.

QPR WOMEN VS CAMBRIDGE WOMEN

On a rainy Mother’s Day (10[th] March), ECYC accompanied 16 young girls to watch QPR Women’s play against Cambridge Women’s at Loftus road stadium.

The trip was part of our continued efforts to encourage more female participation in Football. We also felt it was necessary to experience Football from the lenses of a grassroots organisation.

Although it rained the entire day, the girl’s spirits remained

high, throughout the 90 minutes! Thanks to QPR in the Community and Young K&C for the tickets.

A NEW MET FOR LONDON

The Youth Independent Advisory Group (YIAG) is a voluntary group made up of young people who are independent from the Police; who review and challenge policing practices in a constructive way, which in turn, helps improve the police service for the public. 6 young people from ECYC were chosen to sit on the advisory group for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to support them to identify priority areas relating to young people around police and crime, as well as, consult other young people on policing priorities.

“The New MET for London event helped me gain an insight into the reality of ‘stop and search’ and how they are trying to crack down on selective searches to make all citizens feel safe”. D.M

The ‘A New Met for London’ initiative aims to change and improve service to local communities and build confidence that the Met is listening and changing.

On Thursday 9[th] May 2024, young people from ECYC were invited to attend ‘A New Met for London’ event at Kensington Town Hall, the event was well attended by a hierarchy of Officers within the RBKC Police; ranging from Sergeants, Constables, Youth engagement, Community Support Officer and Superintendents etc.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

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The forum offered an opportunity for young people – particularly BAME young men, to provide the Officers with a snippet, into what policing in London looks like for them. It was very impressive to see how much of the law they understood, but also a shame to hear their negative encounters with Officers. But their ability to articulate their grievances to a room full of Met Police was breath-taking – so much so, they have been asked back for further conversations with the Met’s hierarchy.

Opportunities such as these, continue to further bridge the divide between local young people and The Metropolitan Police.

CHESS CLUB

What may have seemed like an ordinary chess club was, in fact, a pretext to build relationships and provide young people with a platform to discuss issues related to local policing and understanding their rights.

I was delighted to witness our dedicated Youth Engagement Police Officer, Andres, facilitating the weekly ECYC Chess Club. These sessions were highly engaging for everyone involved.

The young participants were able to multitask, simultaneously learning the game of chess and engaging in conversations about local issues and politics.

Many remarked on the valuable lessons they learned regarding the importance of forethought and concentration.

The harmony and cross polination of ideas that flow seemlessly between ECYC and the Met Police Force is a masterclass in building trust, breaking down barriers and keeping the local community safe.

“I firstly wanted to thank you on behalf of us all for showing us in no uncertain terms what a truly successful Youth Club is all about. It was inspiring to say the least.” Chair of Safer Neighbourhood Board | Lucy Smith-Ryland

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

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FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB PLAYER VISIT

ECYC was honoured to be the host site for a visit from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), eager to understand the impactful work we’re undertaking through the Million Hours Fund. This initiative, generously funded by DCMS and The National Lottery Community Fund, enables ECYC to provide crucial support to at-risk children and young people through two Senior Club Sessions every week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 PM to 9 PM. These sessions are a lifeline, offering a safe and supportive environment to help deter young people from anti-social behaviour.

On Wednesday, 8th May, we were privileged to welcome Calvin Bassey from Fulham FC to ECYC. Calvin, an inspiring figure who has risen to football stardom from humble beginnings as an African young man raised in a single-parent household, shared his compelling story with our young attendees. The young people were captivated not just by Calvin's impressive green Porsche, but by his candid recounting of the challenges and triumphs he faced on his journey to becoming a professional footballer. His presence made a significant impact, especially when he participated in our Football Skills Development session.

Calvin enthusiastically engaged with the young people, running drills and sharing valuable tips.

For our budding footballers, this experience was nothing short of exhilarating. Learning directly from a professional player, especially one from a local club they admire, was an unforgettable opportunity. It fuelled their passion and dreams, demonstrating that with dedication and resilience, they too can achieve greatness.

This visit, and our ongoing efforts through the Million Hours Fund, underscore ECYC’s commitment to making a real difference in the lives of young people, guiding them towards brighter futures.

Some young people were fortunate enough, to speak with Calvin 1:1, this was their feedback:

“Don’t doubt yourself and talent can only take you so far, but with determination, you can make it in any career”. K.K

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

AGM REPORT 2024

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FIRST AID TRAINING.

First aid is crucial because it can save lives and reduce suffering during emergencies. Three ECYC staff members participated in a three-day Level 3 Paediatric First Aid training on the 18th, 19th, and

20th of March.

ECYC was delighted to host the training on behalf of Young K&C, welcoming youth workers from all over the borough to train together in our building.

The training was essential to our work, allowing us to identify and adapt to changes in our practices. This was particularly crucial for our first aid training, ensuring that our

team is always prepared and capable of providing immediate and effective assistance in

emergencies. The training enabled staff to become more confident in their response to injuries and better equipped to react to incidents when they occur. We are proud to announce that all three members of staff successfully passed the course!

EXPLORING THE IMPACTS OF SMARTPHONES ON CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Lilah Parson, a former ECYC volunteer and a prominent London presenter, DJ, producer, and journalist, recently filmed a captivating documentary at ECYC. This project delves into the profound impacts of smartphones on children and adolescents. Currently pursuing an MA in Broadcast Journalism at City, University of London, Lilah created this short documentary as a crucial part of her research.

In a world where the narrative about smartphones often overlooks the perspectives of young users, this documentary provides a unique platform for their voices to be heard. According to Ofcom's 2024 report, an astonishing 9 out of 10 children own a mobile phone by the age of 11. Despite this, much of the discussion around smartphone use fails to centre on the children themselves.

The documentary aims to shed light on what it truly means for today’s youth to grow up in an era dominated by smartphones. It captures their thoughts, habits, and reflections on how these devices influence their lives. The young participants share candidly about their daily interactions with smartphones, whether they have considered altering their usage, and their views on how these ever-present gadgets are shaping their world. Through their stories, Lilah’s documentary strives to illuminate the often-unheard experiences of a generation growing up in the digital age.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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YOUNG K&C ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

On Thursday 22nd May, Young K&C hosted their first Achievement Awards: Celebrating Excellence!

The ceremony took place at Cine Lumiere, The French Institute and was aimed at celebrating the outstanding standard of service provided for children and young people in Kensington and Chelsea.

There was an opportunity for organisations, children, young people and their families, to nominate a Young K&C member for the work they have done to support children and young people this year.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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We are extremely proud to say that; Aurnela, was honoured with the prestigious Youth Worker of the Year Award, while Daisy, our Chair, was celebrated as Trustee of the Year. Additionally, we were recognised for our outstanding commitment to investing in our staff, receiving yet another commendation. The evening was further distinguished by the presentation of a Special Recognition Award for our partnership work, marking an extraordinary achievement for our small youth club.

“It was nice to be amongst other professionals within the sector, to meet organisations we had yet to be acquainted with, as well as, finding out more about the amazing work being done by our peers”. A.M

We even got the chance to take some pictures with the Mayor of RBKC and feature on his Twitter!

Congratulations to the whole Young K&C Team for beautifully hosted and impactful event.

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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Core Youth Work Programme

As well as facilitating the above projects and partnerships to not only open opportunities for members but to educate them, we also ran our regular youth work programme. The key purpose of youth work is to enable young people to develop holistically, working with them to facilitate their personal, social and educational development, to enable them to develop their voice, influence and place in society and to reach their full potential.

Children and young people were consulted and involved in the designing of services on offer at ECYC. Our aim is to ensure our services meet the needs of members and it is inclusive, relevant, cost effective, improve things and is accessible. We are able to check all these things are met by involving children, young people & their families in the process of continual improvement.

Please see the activity timetable below as advertised to members for the very last quarter of this report.

Age Range	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Junior Session (9-12years)	Tekkers Tuesday 3:45pm – 5:30pm (all abilities)	Football Skills Development 3:45pm – 5:30pm transition years ONLY (ages 13-14)		Football Tournaments 3:45pm – 5:30pm (all abilities)
	Visual & Expressive Art 3:45pm – 5pm	Table Tennis Club 3:45pm – 5pm		Quiz Show 3:45pm –5pm
	Chess Club 3:45pm – 5:00pm	Themed Film Afternoon 3:45pm – 5pm		ECYC Voice 3:45pm –5pm (Young people shapingthe future)
	ECYC Dining 5:00pm -5:40pm	ECYC Dining 5:00pm – 5:40pm		ECYC Dining 5:00pm – 5:40pm
Senior Session (14-19years and up to 25 with SEND)	Study Space Available 3:45 – 5:45pm	Study Space Available 3:45 – 5:45pm	Study Space Available 3:45 – 5:45pm	Study Space Available 3:45 – 5:45pm
	Communication is Key 6pm – 8pm	Opportunity to Explore 6pm – 8pm	Career Development 6pm – 8pm	Limitless Pop-Up 6pm-8pm RBKC Youth Participation Team
	Conditioning for Boxing 6pm – 8pm	Football Fitness 6pm – 8pm	Football Tournament 6pm – 8pm	Wellness & Pampering 6pm – 8pm
	1:1 Tutoring FULLY BOOKED 6pm – 8pm	1:1 Tutoring FULLY BOOKED 6pm – 8pm	1:1 Tutoring FULLY BOOKED 6pm – 8pm	Cooking classes 6pm-8pm
	ECYC Dining 8pm – 8:30pm	ECYC Dining 8pm – 8:30pm	ECYC Dining 8pm – 8.30pm	Female ECYC Dining 8pm – 8:30pm

120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

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CHAIR’S REPORT

As Earls Court Youth Club approaches its 48th anniversary, it is truly inspiring to reflect on the profound impact this incredible institution continues to make in the lives of young people. Over the past year, ECYC has adapted remarkably well to the evolving societal challenges we face—from the cost-of-living crisis and youth unemployment to school exclusions and the widening educational divide. I am proud to report that the youth club has not only met but exceeded all its targets, demonstrating a level of excellence and resilience in youth work that deserves recognition.

The range of activities on offer has been exceptional, catering to the diverse needs and interests of young people in our community. This success is a testament to the dedication and passion of our staff, volunteers, and young leaders. Their tireless commitment to ensuring that children and young people have access to every possible opportunity has been instrumental in the achievements we celebrate today. They truly embody the values of youth work, acting as role models for our members and playing a vital role in the overall success of the club.

Youth work is a demanding and relentless field, requiring a full-time commitment from our Chief Executive Officer and the entire team. This year, we have seen a significant expansion in the range of services and activities offered at ECYC, resulting in rewarding and meaningful outcomes for our members. Every visit to the youth club leaves me in awe of the creativity and artistic expression that thrives here. From award-winning photography by our young members to striking stencil art, Dibond panels, and intergenerational art projects, the club has become a hub for artistic talent and innovation.

Despite our successes, we have faced significant financial challenges this year. We felt compelled to deplete our reserves because our core government funding and charitable grants were awarded prepandemic, pre-cost-of-living-crisis and pre-increase in refugees to the local area. These funds no longer covered the costs of delivering a world class, ambitious service that responds to the urgent and emerging needs of our community.

However, there is hope on the horizon. We have been working hard to secure new funds that reflect the current delivery costs, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has moved away from a tendering process towards grant-making in partnership with Young K&C. This change within RBKC means we can now bid for the true costs associated with our Senior Club, and for the first time, we can apply for funding to support our Junior Club.

In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Abdi Aden and everyone involved in ECYC—our staff, volunteers, young leaders, and supporters. Your unwavering dedication has been the driving force behind the club’s continued success, and I together with my fellow trustees and committee members are confident that together, we will overcome the challenges ahead and continue to provide a positive, safe, and empowering space for the young people of Earl’s Court.

Daisy Gili, ECYC Chair

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Our Thanks

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all our funders and supporters. Your generous contributions have been instrumental in enabling us to provide vital services and to adapt to the ever-changing needs and challenges faced by our communities.

We are deeply appreciative of the unwavering support from our sponsors and partners. Your commitment not only empowers us but also strengthens the fabric of our community, allowing us to make a meaningful impact.

Thank you once again for your invaluable support. We look forward to continuing our work together.

Alison Jackson

All Child (Formally West London Zone) Earl’s Court Community Trust

Foyle Foundation

John Lyon’s Charity London Film Academy London Sports Trust London Youth Million Hours Fund

RBKC City Living Local Life funded RBKC Voluntary Sector Support Fund St Mary The Bolton The Earls Court Development Company The Feathers Association The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust The Julia Rausing Trust The Lightbulb Trust The Mosaic Rooms The National Lottery Community Fund The Linbury Trust The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Redcliffe Ward Councillors

Young K&C

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120 Ifield Road, London SW10 9AF * 0207 3737970 * Centre Manager: Abdi Aden * abdi.aden@ecyc.co.uk President: The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot * Registered Charity Number: 1203387 formerly 273199

EARL’S COURT YOUTH CLUB

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 March 2024

Charity Registration Number 1203387

These Accounts are for the first 9 months of the New Charitable Incorporated Organisation of the ECYC

Approved by the AGM 23 Sept 2024

Approved by the Accountants 18 Nov 2024

F.ARL'S COURT YOUTII CLL,B ACCOUNTANTS, REPORT YEAR F.NDF.D 31 March 2024 I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024 and sei oui on pages 2 10 7 RF.SPECTIVE RF.SPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER The tharity's trustees arc resp0115ible forthe preparntion of the accounts. The charity's trustees Considerth an audii is notrequired for this J'ear under 5eciion144 of the Chariiies Aci 2011 llhe Charities Aci") and an independenr examIn10n is needed. li is mv reskN)nsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Chariiies Aci; lo follow the procedures lakd down in the general dirfftion5 given by the Charities Commi55ion (under section 14515b) of th¢ Chariti¢s Ad: and io state whether particular maners have come to m) aneniion. BASIS OF INDEPENDF.NT EXAMINER'S STATEMEYT MN examinatioll was Caled out in accordance with genernl direciions given by the Chariiies Commission. An examination include5 a review of ihe accounting records kept bi. the charity and a Comparison of the accounts presented with those records. li 150 includes considerdtion of an). unusual iterns or di5c105ure5 in the and seeking explanaiions from the $e$ concerning an) such matters. The procedure5 undertaken do noi provide all the evidence thai would be r¢quired in an audir and consequenily no opinion 15 giTren &$ to whether the accounts pres¢nt a'lwe and fair. view and the report is limited to those matters sei oui in the sia¢emeni below. IYDEPF.%DENT F.XAMINERS STATEMENT In connection wilh my examination. no matter has come to m). attentith.. I I which gives me reasonable cause 10 believe thai in any material reset the requÉrem¢nts'. io ke¢p accounting records in accordance with se¢tioft 130 ofthe Charities Act: and to prepare accounES which accord with the accounting records and cornply with the accounting requirernents of the Charities Aci have not been mei.. or ?) io whieh in my opinion. attention Should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts io be reached. Andre Haggard FCA Haggards CroM1her Independeni F.xaminer Heaihmans House 19 Heaihmans Road London SW6 4TJ

EARL'S COURT YOUTH CLUB FIIYANCIAL ACTIVITY 2023-2024 FOR JULY 12023-MARCH 312024 Notes Total INCOMING RESOURCES Donations, gifts and fund raising 94.430.12 Government & l.ocal Authorily grant 86,878.00 Total Ineoming Resourees 181.308.12 RESOURCES EXPF.NDED Direct charitable expenditure Management and Admin 208,642.53 28.8.14.27 Total Resources expended 237,476.80 Ne¢ Incoming R¢sourees (56,168.68) Bought Forward Balance from old Club 126,749.00 Total funds carried forward: 70.580.32

EARL'S COURT YOUTH CLUB BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 March 2024 4¢ 31st Mar¢h 2024 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank Tre&surers Acct C ash at Bank Deposit Acct PLtI)' Cash 11,174.16 65.508.12 200.00 Total Current Assets 76,882.28 CURRENT LIABILITIES AcLruals Pensions 5971.75 330.21 Total Current Liabilities 6301.96 NF.T CliRRF.NT ASSF.TS 70.580.32 F.QUITY Nel SurpluslDefi¢it Nel sury)lus IDLfiLit Prior year Net surplus /Deficit curreni year 70.580.32 6.116.70 64.463.62 TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS 70.580.32

EARL'S COURT YOUTH CLUB NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATF.MF.IYT YEAR ENDED 31 Mar¢h 2024 Basis of Preparation These accounts have becn prepared under the historical cost convcntion w'ith ilLms recoginised al cost or transaction value unless c)IhL'fwisL' 51aled in the relevant notL(sl lo these accuunts. The accounts have been prepared in aLcordance with: the Stalement ol. Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting hy Charities preparing their accounts in ac¢ordancL' W'lth the Tr inancial RL'P()rting¥ Standard appliLable in the IIK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102}. issued on 16 July 2014; the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (I,'RS 1 021; and with the Charities Acl 2011. Accounting Policies a) Tran%ition t(1 FRSI 02 'I'hLSL slalLII)Ll)Is ¥omply wilh F RS 102. b) Government Gr¥n15 I'he charily has received governmenl grants in the r¢porting' period. c) Income from interest, rDy4ltieq and divid¢nd5 1.his is included in ihe accoun15 when receipt is probable and the amounl reueivable can be measured reliably. d) Cr¢dilors The charily has ¢reditor5 which arc measured at sLlllcmenl amoun15, less any Ir(Ide discounls.

EARL'S COiiRT YOL TH CLLI YEAR ENDED 31 March 2024 NOTES TO THF. ACC"OLNTS {CONT ncoming Resour¢es Charitable grants, dontions and fundraising Million I luurs F und 2?.862.00 Donations 100.00 Jll Rausing trust Christmas JD Tooley Young K&C The Lightbulb irust The l.inbury Iru51 Earls Court Partnership West London Zone 8000.00 675.00 12.000.(K) 35.000.(K) 4.0(X).00 I O.IMX).00 1.785.00 Bank Int¢resl 8.12 94.430.12 (¥overnmcnt and Loc41 Au¢hori¢)' %ranls Public SLLlor InLome- KIJKL 86.878.(K) 86.878.00 Totl Incoming Resources 181.108.12

EARL'S COURT YOUTH CLUB YEAR ENDED 31 March 2024 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONT) Fixed Assets a) The cosl of the Club Building amounting to £49.996 has not been capitalis¢d nor sho on the face of the balance sheel. The land on which ihe building stands is leased from ihe Royal Ilorough of Kensington and Chelsea and a new 20 year le&s¢ was signed in 2019 with a licence agreemenl currently at a peppercorn renl of £1.. b) Since l April 1989 the Club"s policy has been to TIl¢ off fully fixtures and filling5 at the cost of equipment in the year of purchase. Direet Charitable Expenditure Wages 152.635.22 Volunteers 1.580.00 Employers Nai Insurance 3.925.16 Pension 1,518.97 Transport 4.320.80 Consumables for sessions 9,464.70 Food for sessions and Kilchen Supplies Christm&s Vouchers 27,197.68 8,000.00 TOTAL Direct expenditure 208,642.$3

EARL'S COURT I'OL TH CLL,B YEAR ENDING 31 March 2024 NOTES TO THE ACCOLINTS {CONT Management 4nd Administration Note.. No direclor or trustee rtteived any remunerdlion during the year. One employee earned over £30,000 r annum. Rates 5.225.15 Insurance 2.029.09 Printing EquipTnenl and IT Audit and Accounlancy Professional Fees 2.762.22 7.180.10 2.994.00 3.873.17 Repairs Bank 4179.15 2.08 Subscriptions 589.31 Total M*nag¢m¢nt and Administration 28,834.27 Affiliated clubs Club is not a}lIaled 7th an}. other clubs

EARL’S COURT YOUTH CLUB

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 March 2024

Charity Registration Number 1203387

These Accounts are for the first 9 months of the New Charitable Incorporated Organisation of the ECYC

Approved by the AGM 23 Sept 2024

Approved by the Accountants 18 Nov 2024

AGM REPORT 2024

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Table of Contents

AGM REPORT 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024

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INTRODUCTION

Abdi Aden, ECYC CEO

AGM REPORT 2024

AGM REPORT 2024

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GIRLS FITNESS/FOOTBALL

AGM REPORT 2024

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BESPOKE GCSE SESSIONS:

AGM REPORT 2024

June 2023 – May 2024

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A-LEVEL RESULT SUCCESS – HOT OF THE PRESS

TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY

AGM REPORT 2024

QUIZ AND CONVO:

AGM REPORT 2024

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INTEGRATION PROJECT WITH WEST LONDON ZONE

AGM REPORT 2024

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ECYC MAKE OVER

Constructed a trophy shelf, to showcase the young people’s achievements.

AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024

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Reimagining Your Home Project

AGM REPORT 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024

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‘MET’ in the Summer

AGM REPORT 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024

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UNDER 8 PROGRAMME

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AGM REPORT 2024

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JUNIOR CLUB

AGM REPORT 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

AGM REPORT 2024

AGM REPORT 2024

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JUNIOR CLUB

AGM REPORT 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024

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SENIOR CLUB

Girls Football

Eat Club

AGM REPORT 2024

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Holistic therapy

Youth Council Social Action Fund

AGM REPORT 2024

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AGM REPORT 2024 June 2023 – May 2024

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EDUCATION ATTAINMENT AND MENTORING

Future Ambitions and Exploration Opportunities