Barnet Homes’ support to improve facilities for young people on the West Hendon Estate has led to a steady increase of numbers joining the new West Hendon Youth Project – with the project now hoping to extend the age range from 11-years-old to 19 years of age.

As of January 2015, the Junior Project (ages 5 – 11) has 37 registered members. The Youth Project has recently set up a Senior Project for older children on the West Hendon Estate (ages 11-17), which is also creating a buzz with new recruits.

With the new West Hendon Youth Project off to such a positive start, Senior Community Youth Worker for Stonegrove Estates Youth Project, Jim Ball, says he is keen to really build on provisions for young people in the area:

“We have around 37 members from ages 5-11 and I am hoping to build on those numbers by building relationships with parents and promoting the flyers at local primary schools,” says Jim Ball. “We are working at introducing new ideas and initiatives each week – including Wii games to promote health lifestyles and exercise, music and dancing. We want to encourage some junior leaders and start a youth forum very soon.”

The West Hendon Youth Project has also received funding from Barnet Council to start an art and history project – the creative efforts of which will be showcased at the West Hendon Community Fun Day on 1 September.

And the West Hendon Community Group has approached another charity, John Lyons, to bid for additional funding of 28k to secure a football coach and extra youth worker.

Further plans for West Hendon Youth Project include creating a safe environment for older children to take part in competitions like football, table-tennis and pool against other youth projects in the area to encourage young people across different areas of Barnet to get to socialise through healthy competition.

Derek Rust, Director of Operations at The Barnet Group says: “The West Hendon Youth project provides a much needed outlet for young people on the estate. Barnet Homes is pleased to support the project as much as we can, to enable young people to have community activities and events they can be a part of through the youth club. Further helping local young people achieve their aspirations for future goals.”