What we do: Projects for young people

Our vision is to be an inspiring place where all children and young people enjoy living, learning, developing and achieving together whilst feeling secure.

Offering young people meaningful and fun activities

We value young people at Dartford YMCA, and we offer them a range of programmes to keep them safe, give them positive things to do and keep away from crime and antisocial behaviour.

When young people come to our centre, we help them to choose the right programmes for them.

We direct them to our accommodation and support, skills training and other programmes, depending on their needs.

Detached work with young people

Detached youth work is when youth workers go to where young people are - where they meet and hang out.

The aim of this is to work with young people who would not usually take part in youth projects.

We run an Alternative Curriculum project in partnership with Swan Valley School and Entry to Employment (e2e) courses.

e2e is a training programme for 16 to 19 year olds, where they can learn essential life and job search skills.

Sport and physical activity

We understand how important sport and physical activity is to young people and we have our own football club in Dartford and run a Primary School League in Woolwich with links to Charlton Athletic.

We have a long and established connection with football - Glen Johnson of Chelsea and England used to play for Dartford YMCA's football club.

At our training sessions, young people learn skills, work as a team, and have fun. We are looking to start a team for people under the age of 11, working with local schools.

Music and performing arts

We offer music and DJ workshops for young people aged 13 to 19, and we host events for them to show off their talents.

Current Projects:

Get Real Outreach/Detached Team (Dartford and Greenwich) currently work with young people who we at risk of or already involved in antisocial behaviour. The projects main aims were:

• To help Re-Focus Young people's lifestyles and consider the consequences of criminal activities.
• To get ex/offenders back into education or work with the aid of e2e or other training programmes.
• To offer young people positive role models and mentors who have successfully made positive changes and refocused their own lives.
• To forge partnerships with the following agencies: YOT, Probation, Youth Justice Board, Connexions, PCT, KCC Youth and Community, Community Safety Partnership, Local Police. This enabled us to have an integrated approach to this project and really had an impact on our local community namely Temple Hill and Stone (including Swanscombe) due to the high no of incidents involving youth crime.

Dartford YMCA F.C is continuing to thrive with 9 teams entering the League in the forthcoming season 2006/07. Over the past year we reached 127 children and young people between 5 and 15years old with the majority participating in Sunday League Football. Our committee of volunteers has grown to now include a Fundraising Committee who has raised funds of up to £1000 through events over the year. Two young people on our e2e programme progressed onto a College sports qualification and have joined the Football club as coaches and now manage our Under 7’s and 8’s football team Both have achieved their FA Level 1 and are currently gaining their FA Level 2 football coaching cert.

Que-Music is funded by Connexions Kent & Medway and has been running successfully for the past 2 years. The age group the workshop caters for ranges between 13 - 19yr olds. The workshop enables young people to express themselves in a creative, diverse, and safe environment. The workshop aims to encourage young people to reach their potential and to raise their aspirations within a supported environment. The project itself contains a fully functioning studio, with the latest software packages. Que-Music provides support, advice, and guidance within the music industry. The project involves basic skills which include: breathing techniques, song writing skills, vocal development, confidence building, and team working skills. The Que music project has reached 200 young people and regularly worked with 70 over the course of the year.

Clubs in Greenwich are run from Woolwich

Primary School Football League

Find out more about our youth projects, call 01322 220521 or drop in to The Roundhouse, Overy Street, Dartford, DA1 1UP.