European Social Fund in England

Community initiative helps motivate the people of North Staffordshire

Cutting through the red tape to access funding and experiencing the benefits it provides can often be a struggle for small local groups of the community. In North Staffordshire actions have been taken to address the problem. This has evolved in the form of COINS - a scheme managed by Voluntary Action staff that distributes grants from the European Social Fund.

One of the projects that has benefited from the COINS scheme is the 'Motivating People Initiative'. Conducted through the YMCA in Stoke-on-Trent, the initiative is committed to providing quality housing to disadvantaged groups of people who are homeless and in danger of social exclusion.

Home to approximately 400 residents annually, all are encouraged to take part in motivational residential courses which focus on motivating individuals and increasing their levels of self confidence and self esteem.

Sharon Richard of Stoke YMCA states, "This is a considerably successful initiative. The people who take part are normally extremely disadvantaged with pretty low self-esteem. Experience shows after attending this course they have been able to achieve objectives for themselves that in the past seemed impossible"

To date of the 40 beneficiaries who have attended the residential courses, 13 have entered further education, 12 have secured employment and 4 became Volunteers.

One resident recalls their personal account of participating in the 'Motivating People Initiative'. "I moved into the YMCA when I was 17 because I could not live at home any longer. This was a very hard time for me and I felt really lonely and had no confidence or belief in myself. I was assigned a key worker and started to take part in some of the activities that were available and soon started to make new friends.

Eventually my key worker persuaded me to go along on a residential that helped to build confidence and various skills. During the residential we got involved in lots of teamwork and games and without knowing it we developed new skills. I also attended a one to one session with the project leader were I was encouraged to think about my future, what I wanted to do and the steps that would enable me to get there - this information was also given to my key worker to help develop a plan.

I have now been resettled and I have a job. I put a lot of my success down to the hard work of my key worker and the staff at the YMCA but also the opportunity of experiencing the residential and having fun, being motivated to do something and to start thinking about my future"