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Celebrating Together Fund! Horden Youth and Community Centre

by | Apr 24, 2023 | News

Through Together Fund, Sport England and the National Lottery are providing community organisations with extra support to help local people get active.

County Durham Sport supported Horden Youth and Community Centre with their successful Together Fund application; this is their story.

Horden Youth and Community Centre provides a warm and friendly hub for the local community. They offer advice, signposting and support, as well as a space for community members to socialise and enjoy activities. Through Together Fund, they have provided free exercise classes to help residents get moving again following Covid-19.

We asked Horden Youth and Community Centre to reflect on how things have been going.

What’s been going well?
People from Horden and surrounding villages have loved attending the fitness sessions. Horden Youth and Community Centre is delighted that participants continue to attend each week. Not only are residents accessing other activities and support groups in the centre, but they are making friends and meeting up outside of sessions. The centre management team has also joined in, which has enabled attendees to get to know them on a more personal level.

Residents have significantly benefitted from these classes. One participant – who has learning difficulties and early onset dementia – has seen a big improvement in his memory and coordination as a result of taking part. He feels happy to be amongst people who accept him for who he is and thoroughly enjoys the activities.

What’s been challenging?
Previously, the centre has struggled to get residents interested and keep them engaged. However, they have been amazed by how eager and engaged the residents have remained throughout this project!

What have you learned?
With the help of their partnerships in promoting the sessions, they have developed a greater understanding of how collaborative working can help to reach the wider community and those who are isolated.

What should happen next/in future?
The centre has received further funding to help keep the sessions going, which attendees are delighted about. They plan to bring along more family and friends to join the fun! Horden Youth and Community Centre has also invested in opening an onsite gym available to all. Moreover, with residents’ newfound interest in personal health, they are hoping to bring weight management classes to the centre.

County Durham Sport is proud to be able to support organisations like Horden Youth and Community Centre to make a difference to the lives of County Durham communities. Join us in celebrating the amazing impact of this Sport England/National Lottery funding by sharing your story on social media with the hashtag #TogetherFund.

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