A look back at the summer season with OFOB

We planned an extensive programme full of exciting workshops and activities to ensure youth engagement and progress over the summer months.

Our valued partners included Chalkhill Community Centre, Chey’s Baking School, Connect Stars, Elite Tigers, Fun Functional Fitness, Jason Robert Foundation, and Life of Her.

Growth and personal development were key elements of the summer programme. Children and young people engaged in activities that supported their mental health, built employable skills, built new relationships, and kept them engaged over the summer holiday. Not only did the young people get an insight into those areas, but they also created new friendships and built strong connections with Brent and the communities within. Ice-breaking activities encouraged the youth participants to get to know one another.

“We held a year 6 leavers project over two weeks during the summer break, for the children in the Church Road and Harlesden area,” says Mathew for Sport at the Heart. “This gave the young people a chance to meet new faces, get a head start exercising their social skills, gain new experiences on trips and engage in challenges to put them on the edge of their comfort zone,” Mathew adds.

Another summer partner, the Jason Robert Foundation, partnered with the Met Police to increase the knowledge and awareness of crime and violence. The workshops provided the young participants with information on how to keep themselves safe and away from trouble in their environments. The survey conducted afterwards confirmed the importance of cutting crime through education: 68 per cent of participants said they learnt something of value from these sessions, and 40 per cent said they felt safer and more secure.

“Through mutually supportive interactions, the young people fostered a sense of unity and companionship. The collective experience of pushing through shared fears and challenges catalysed the formation of connections.”

Teambuilding sessions organised by Connect Stars helped the participants face their fears, specifically related to heights. The groups provided a safe and nurturing environment where individuals could be supported and motivated; this mutual support significantly contributed to the overall positive experience during the activities.

Using relatable touchpoints has been central to boosting engagement in Ultra Education’s programme. The organisation co-designed a programme with the young participants that resonated with their aspirations or subjects they liked. This fostered genuine interest and empowered the youth, making them stakeholders in their learning journey.

After a successful summer season full of engaging programmes and activities, we have announced a new round of partners to collaborate with One Flow One Brent on enhancing the lives of children and young people living in Brent. Our mission goes beyond keeping young people occupied; it is about forging connections, shaping futures, and building stronger communities. We believe that a sense of belonging is the foundation of a strong community. The new partnerships bring another opportunity for Brent to experience a vibrant change and positively impact the youth in the tri-state.