Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor

Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor
Founded 2008
Type Non-governmental organization
Focus Youth, Mentorship, Community cohesion
Location
Area served
Surrey
Key people
 Maria Angel
Website www.thenfactor.btck.co.uk

The Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor was founded in the United Kingdom in July 2008, and launched in January 2009 to help combat the increasing incidents of youth crime in Normandy, Surrey and its surrounding hamlets.

History

After a gap of not having an area youth club for over two decades Mrs Maria Angel, a college teacher, recognised the lack of out of school hours youth leisure facilities within the parish of Normandy, Surrey.[1] She founded the "Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor" to help combat the increasing incidents of youth crime in the community.[1] The group is based out of Normandy Village Hall[2] and caters specifically to youth aged eight to 18 years of age.[3]

Aims, Objectives & Initiatives

The youth club encourages all children and young people to become more socially included within the rural community of Normandy.[1] The organization is a voluntary, rural community youth club that does culturally sensitive youth work and has concentrated its efforts in targeting young people from disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Normandy and its surrounding hamlets, including those from the minority group communities (such as Gypsy, Irish Travellers and Showman).[4] It provides Not in Employment Education or Training (NEET) support and mentorship programmes for volunteer supervisors and members.[5]

Creative-based youth club programmes have included adopting the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) 'Walk a mile in my shoes' initiative, which embraces the principles of the 'Rights to Dignity and Respect'. The Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor creative art workshops, provide a platform to interpret and express those principles through art, film and photography. Opportunities to showcase the children and young people's talents, have been organised through Summer art and photographic competitions[6] thereby positively raising the profile of and engaging its young members with the rest of the community.[1][7]

Recognition

The Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor has been recognised for its work towards "community cohesion," both locally and nationally. The youth club has also received many national community awards and was recognised by the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah in 2010.[8][9][10][11]

Awards, Recognition and Achievements

Year Organisation Award Achievement
2009 High Sheriff of Surrey High Sheriff Youth Award "Contributed towards making your community safer and stronger, by reaching out and helping others. The Award also conveys the gratitude of all those who live in Surrey for the way your project helps to reduce and prevent crime amongst young people in the country".
2009 Borough of Guildford Mayor The Mayor's Award for Community Service "For recognition of their outstanding contribution to the community".
2009 Surrey Police Surrey Police Local Heroes Award "The Community Cohesion category and thereby receives the grateful thanks of Surrey Police and the citizens of the county for their actions and dedication to help create safe neighbourhoods in Surrey".
2010 Tesco Tesco Community Mum of the Year Award "National recognition for serving the community".
2010 10 Downing Street Breakfast Reception with Sarah Brown "National recognition for serving the community".
2010 High Sheriff of Surrey High Sheriff Youth Award "Contributed towards making your community safer and stronger, by reaching out and helping others". "The Award also conveys the gratitude of all those who live in Surrey for the way your project helps to reduce and prevent crime amongst young people in the country".
2010 Women of the Year Lunch Women of the Year Lunch "Recognition as a Woman of Achievement 2010, on the basis of her own merit and achievement and is nominated by a member of the Woman of the Year Nominating Council because of her special contribution to society or the workplace".
2011 BBC BBC First Click Digital Champion "Providing the BBC First Click beginner’s computer courses at Normandy Day Centre Internet Café from the launch of the BBC campaign".
2011 Guildford Honorary Remembrancer Women of the Year "Honoured for her outstanding contribution… has changed the community’s attitude towards youngsters in the area. ...that there are people who feel socially excluded".
2011 Surrey Life Magazine Surrey Life Community Hero "Inspiring people who are already making a big difference in our communities… who you feel really make an impression on the quality of life in Surrey". The driving force behind the N-Factor youth club and the Normandy Day Centre Internet Café in her village".

Communities served

In 2010, the Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor made the transition from the Normandy Royal British Legion to Normandy Village Hall, allowing the project to serve a much wider geographical area (including the various hamlets within Normandy parish):

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mum of the Year; article at Tesco Magazine on-line; retrieved January 2013.
  2. ↑ Business alumna awarded Tesco Magazine "Mum of the Year".; 30 March 2010 article; Brookes Alumni Magazine on line; accessed 02 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Mum of the Year: Maria Angel".; Tesco Magazine on-line; accessed 02 November 2013.
  4. ↑ The Surrey High Sheriff Youth Award 2009 and 2010.
  5. ↑ Userfiles; Surrey Youth Focus on-line; retrieved January 2013.
  6. ↑ Photo Competition; Surrey Community Information; on-line; retrieved January 2013.
  7. ↑ Surrey Life Community Heroes 2011; Great British Life article; retrieved January 2013.
  8. ↑ Good Practice Projects at cohesion institute; retrieved 10 February 2013.
  9. ↑ Local Heroes Honored; Surrey Advertiser Get Surrey Group news on-line; retrieved January 2013.
  10. ↑ Award for Mother Who Transformed Her Village; 18 October 2010 article; at Surrey Advertiser Get Surrey Group news on-line; retrieved 30 January 2013.
  11. ↑ Guilford Government siteBorough of Guildford; retrieved January 2013.
  12. ↑ Funding; Surrey Advertiser Get Surrey Group news on-line; retrieved January 2013.
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