About the project

The venue is a grassroots football club that provides opportunities for local people of all ages to take part in sport, training and community activities.
The club plays an important role within the local community by creating a welcoming environment for players, supporters and visiting teams, while encouraging participation, teamwork and healthy lifestyles through grassroots football.

The project:
VIY delivered a series of improvement works to help upgrade and maintain the club’s facilities, creating a more welcoming and functional environment for players and visitors.

Key works included:

• Replacing missing and damaged guttering
• Repairing and replacing rotten fascia boards and soffits
• Preparing and redecorating external areas of the building
• Refurbishing the away team changing room to improve appearance and usability
• Replacing inefficient light fittings with more energy-efficient alternatives

Together, these improvements have helped protect the building from further weather damage while creating a cleaner, brighter and more welcoming space for everyone using the venue.

39 YP referred by Bramfield House School, Bure Park Academy, Community Education Academy, DWP – Coastal Cluster, East Coast College, Horizon Community Training, Inspire Suffolk, Lapwing Education, Novaturient, Lowest and Waveney Family Support Team – Suffolk County Council, Suffolk County Council Children and Families Services, Suffolk Youth Justice Team, independent referrals

• 85% of learners had a physical disability, learning difficulty/disability or mental health condition
• 26% of young people were NEET, 72% were EET at Risk, 2% were EET Not at Risk

31 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations were achieved;
28 in Introducing Paint Finishing Skills, 3 in Introducing Site Carpentry Skills

A Youth Engagement team member shared the following feedback from one participant

“Cody enjoyed his 3 days with VIY. When I collected him after his first day he told me that …. We are volunteering helping the football club out and in return, instead of getting paid, we get a qualification. Very insightful I thought.”