A PRIDE OF READING award winner has another reason to celebrate: they’ve received a Covid-19 grant from the John Sykes Foundation.
Grassrootz is a new initiative that launched in 2020, and now runs five youth club sessions each week across Reading.
Earlier this month, John Sykes, founder and chair of trustees of the Foundation, visited the youth club at Hexham Road Community Centre in Whitley to present a cheque of £1,000 to Kelvin Husbands, founder of Grassrootz.
This will be used by Grassrootz to purchase a computer and DJ equipment.
Also in attendance was Amanda and Stuart Stephens, parents of Olly Stephens and advocates of local youth clubs, as well as Redlands Ward Councillor Kathryn McCann.
Grassrootz was initially founded in Coley and now runs within three venues each week; with two sessions in Whitley, two in Coley, and one in Caversham Park, seeing youths from eight to 16, with more clubs based in other areas of Reading on the horizon.
Mr Husbands was delighted with the grant.
“The money we have received from the John Sykes Foundation is going towards new equipment for the club including a computer and DJ equipment, so the young people can produce music, do their homework, browse the internet, make art projects, and will help to take the club to a new level,” he said.
Grassrootz’s clubs also have a team of volunteers who assist in creating a safe space for young people to learn new skills, such as DJ’ing and cooking, to playing board games and having a safe place to complete homework.
Mr Husbands said: “The older youths that attend are also given the opportunity to become Young Mentors which gives them the chance to take on some responsibility, engage with the younger members from the younger groups, and to help out with their siblings or younger children who may be a little wary of attending.
“The clubs are thriving, every week we see the same children return, along with new friends. We’ve received such positive feedback from parents and schools. It’s so great to see.”
Mrs Stephens said: “Grassrootz offer safe places for our children to have fun, in an innocent and fun way, as we did when we were kids.
“At the Youth Club the children and young adults can enjoy games, music, fun, and outside activities in the warmer evenings.
“Our children need to be children, without online social media pressures, and Grassrootz offer them that opportunity and routine of a great night each and every week. With mentors available at every session, our children have the protection and freedom of speech that they need with fantastic role models to help them.
“Thank goodness for GRYC as they offer the love and care that our children need”.
And Mr Sykes also appreciated the work that Grassrootz is doing.
“So many children need places where they not only feel safe but are noticed, not judged, and are allowed to flourish, where they feel loved and where their achievements are celebrated. Grassrootz have brought this to fruition,” he said.
“It was great to see the children engaging with a manner of different opportunities that the Youth Club has made possible, such as mixing music (which my 14-year-old son loved), playing board games, and for a number of youths a safe place for the evening.
“Young people have identified these services as important to their wellbeing and growth, and we need to do what we can to encourage this further.”
If you or someone you know would like to attend Grassrootz Youth Club please visit their Instagram page for more information – https://www.instagram.com/grassrootz.ltd/
If you work or belong to a local Charity or Organisation and would like to know more or apply for a COVID-19 Relief Fund Grant, our deadline has now been extended to 31st December 2022, visit: www.johnsykesfoundation.org
