Led by Community Development Manager, Rachel Gault, Thorntree-based charity Community Ventures has worked on a number of projects to support the You’ve Got This movement, helping local people become more active in their daily lives.
Thorntree in Middlesbrough has some of the highest levels of deprivation and unemployment in the Tees Valley and is amongst the lowest in life expectancy.
“The negative impact these barriers have on local people’s mental health, wellbeing, aspirations, and finances are extremely high. The charity’s mission is to support and empower local people to add real and lasting change to their lives and the community.”
From its support hub in the centre of Thorntee, Community Ventures provides a base for voluntary and support organisations to deliver training, outreach activities and support. It also runs grassroots job clubs, employment programmes, art groups, after-school clubs and other community-led activities. These are made possible by a team experienced in working with disadvantaged communities, including Rachel, who oversees the day-to-day management of the charity and is responsible for expanding, improving, and developing services within the community.
Community Ventures wanted to be involved with the You’ve Got This movement to help educate and demonstrate how people can make small changes to become more active in their everyday lives, regardless of their local demographics.
“We see You’ve Got This as a positive catalyst to promote behavioural change techniques through collaboration work and expertise. The You’ve Got This movement matters to Community Ventures because empowering people to decide and make small changes for themselves will have a positive impact on the individual and the community as a whole.”
With support from You’ve Got This, Community Ventures has made valuable connections with other local organisations, resulting in collaborative projects including:
The success of the projects run by ABC East Middlesbrough and Community Ventures has led to an increase in team size, with plans to move to a larger building to meet demand.
“Community Ventures strives to make a difference now by listening, encouraging, and motivating our community. Working collaboratively with the YGT movement supports our vision in empowering people to make changes themselves to achieve positive, sustainable outcomes.”
To continue to meet the demands of the community, Rachel and her team are looking to secure more space and capacity to deliver additional services that allow local people to get active in varied ways.
Since becoming involved with You’ve Got This, Rachel has actively promoted local projects and organisations. She has also researched behaviour change theories and used her findings to explore new project ideas that encompass physical and mental wellbeing.
South Bank ‘Alley Action Day’ was a culmination of collaborative working between You’ve Got This (YGT), Redcar & Cleveland Borough …
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