Question 1

Accepted Answer

We've had tremendous support from funders, locally, regionally and nationally. I'd perhaps single out one in particular for special praise, and that is BBC Children in Need, who've been generous in their support for 23 of our first 25 years. The Project has enjoyed an excellent partnership with Northumberland County Council's Youth Service and housing services, although sadly like so many Local Authorities, the Council is finding it increasingly difficult to support organisations such as ourselves.

The Project has enjoyed an excellent partnership with Northumberland County Council's Youth Service and housing services, although sadly like so many Local Authorities, the Council is finding it increasingly difficult to support organisations such as ourselves. In 1998 we had a grant of over £600,000 from the National Lottery, a crucial step towards the target of £1 million we needed to build our premises in Golden Square. This became operational in 2001, and has been a splendid base for us ever since.

Way back in the mid-1990's a few local worthies dismissed the idea of a Youth Project - "It'll need bailed out by the residents", "It won't last two years", they said. Please forgive me in pointing out that since 1994, the Project has brought over £5 million of inward investment into the town, has consistently recruited, trained and employed local staff, has developed excellent working relationships with funders and partner agencies, and has avoided any notion of financial crisis. In addition, of course, we've delivered a valuable service used by around 10,000 young people, many of whom were in significant distress and seeking help.

I think our staff team reflect the core values of the Project very well. Four (Debra, Merrick, Jackie and myself) of our five current full-time members of staff have between them 80 years of service. Most of our staff have joined as volunteers and undertaken a high level of training during their involvement, and their dedication to young people has been exemplary. Others have been with us for shorter periods of time, but each has left their mark on the service, and I offer my sincere thanks for their creativity, loyalty and commitment to helping young people in need.

Our evolution as an organisation has been steady and constant, always with an eye on how to do our work more effectively, to respond to changing themes, or simply to do more of the things we do best. We're currently investigating the possibility of refurbishing a redundant community centre, to provide more housing options and rooms for general community use. Watch this space!

John Bell

Project Manager 1995 - present

Question 2

Accepted Answer

Between them they discussed a possible response to the needs of local young people. A public meeting was called, a committee formed and the project planned out, taking some inspiration from the Basement, a successful Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Service in central Liverpool. BBC Children in Need was the first supporter on the new BYP Charity, with an initial offer of a two-year grant to help launch the Project. With the help of local businesses, the Youth Project opened its doors on 29th May 1995, from a rented shop property in Castlegate, Berwick.

In those first ten months over 240 young people visited the Project, many seeking a safe space to socialise and find out about new opportunities. Others came in crisis, and in desperation. The Project represented the needs of young people to other services and brought issues to wider attention. One of these was young people’s accommodation, and in 1997 the Project worked alongside Johnnie Johnson Housing and Berwick Borough Council to open its Quay Walls accommodation ‘Quay Steps’. This provided five young people with a safe place to live and a full-time worker was on hand to help them learn the skills needed to thrive independently.

The Project was also taken ‘on the road’, using a caravan to reach parts of the rural Borough. Some Parish Councils took special interest in this, leading to more permanent, independent provision in Wooler, Belford and Seahouses.

Soon afterwards the Project started a fund-raising campaign to build a permanent home in Berwick, and a site was identified in Golden Square, close to the town centre. Architects and staff worked together to create an imaginative new home, providing superb facilities for an Information and Support Service, the Beehive Young People’s Café, and six additional units of Supported Accommodation. The National Lottery Charities Board contributed 60% of the £1million construction costs, and the new building opened in 2001.

Since then, the Project has cemented its place in the Berwick landscape, helped by a small number of long-serving staff and committed Trustees, several of whom have been involved since the beginning.

Since 1995, the Project has brought over £6 million of inward investment into the town, and its finances have been consistently well managed and solvent, despite an ever- challenging financial climate. It has recruited, trained and employed local staff and has developed excellent working relationships with funders and partner agencies. In addition, of course, we've delivered a valuable service used by around 10,000 young people, many of whom were in significant distress and seeking help.

The Project’s evolution as an organisation has been steady and constant, always with an eye on how to do its work more effectively, responding to changing themes, or simply to do more of the things it does best.

The First 30 Years 1995-2025

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