The Aston Villa Foundation have acted as the Lead Coordinator for the Youth Endowment Fund’s (YEF) Neighbourhood Fund in Lozells and Newtown for over 12 months.
The YEF’s Neighbourhood Fund was set up to understand how empowering local people to make decisions about their own neighbourhoods can prevent children from becoming involved in violent crime and anti-social behaviour.
Headed by the Foundation’s Neighbourhood Lead, Fady Ghobrial, Birmingham’s steering group is made up of 12 residents and working professionals, who are responsible in making the decisions on who decides where funding and resources are needed and distributed.
Since the steering group began work in April 2023, several key target points have been achieved to facilitate a community-led action plan.
This plan focuses on empowering individuals to work collaboratively, supporting them to deliver programmes and services that respond to the needs of the community and positively impact the lives of those living there.
Three Birmingham-based organisations, MADE CIC, Huda Centre and Essence Youth Mentoring, have been awarded a £10,000 grant through the Community Chest Grant.
Combined, all three organisations have engaged with over 300 children and young people in the areas of Lozells and Newtown to promote positive diversionary activities, while numbers continue to grow with more funding provided from the grant.
The next step for the project sees the development of working groups to award funding for two action plan themes, specifically in family advocacy and environmental improvements.
Ghobrial, Neighbourhood Lead for the Aston Villa Foundation, shared: “The past 12 months have been full of high moments for the Foundation and YEF, seeing young people in Lozells and Newtown benefit from the funding available and gain access to well-needed provision from local organisations. It also had some quite challenging moments working with those who have been traumatised from serious youth violence and the domino effect it has in communities as a result.
“What I strive for every day in my role is working collaboratively with those involved, driving the programme forward to break the cycle that communities are suffering from and create a cohesive change that will inspire many programmes to follow our footsteps.”
Find out more about the Youth Endowment Fund’s Neighbourbood Fund here, or contact Neighbourhood Lead Fady Ghobrial.
