ATF Receives Multiple Awards
Recognition for providing exceptional community support
Since the holiday activity and food programme launched in 2021, Active Essex have been continuously working with Achieve Through Flourish (ATF), supporting them to deliver a number of holiday activity and food clubs during each holiday period across locations in Essex.
Engaging hundreds of young people each day, ATF are experts in providing a safe, fun, educational and supportive environment within the local community. Clubs provided are based in areas of high deprivation and fully inclusive, engaging a large number of school aged children who are eligible for benefit based free school meals. They also offer specialist clubs for young people who are involved in or at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
Activities offered at their clubs include horse riding, fairground games, animal experiences, go-karting, ice-skating, roller skating, and skateboarding. They also offer different trips such as rock climbing, outdoor adventures and theatre shows.
ATF hugely embed themselves into their local community and offer unemployed residents’ further opportunities to volunteer and gain training qualifications, as well as paid opportunities at clubs with local partners including roles in coaching, admin, promotions and catering.
During the 2023 HAF summer programme, ATF piloted the Leaders In Training (LIT) programme, giving young people, many who are struggling with their mental wellbeing or feeling socially isolated, the chance to attend clubs as leaders, as well as supported parents of children who attended clubs through the Multiply Maths initiative, developing their maths skills for future employment.
In order to keep a consistent relationship and build trust with young people and their families in the local community, ATF also provide term time, weekly activities which replicate the HAF provision, so residents can keep a consistent routine to support their wellbeing.
ATF take an ‘Asset Based Community Development’ approach and before delivering clubs, they put on a ‘Discovery Day’ in the co-design of the programme to build initial trust with local residents.
Due to them being a pillar in many communities, ATF was recognised at the 2023 Department For Education HAF Awards, winning the ‘Special Recognition Award’ and ‘Regional Award’ for the East of England. Furthermore, ATF’s success was also highlighted in the Essex County Council Levelling Up weekly report.
