The WIRE project

The Wire Project (Wick Information Recreation & Education) was a charitable organisation charity based in England

Aims

The project's stated aim was to work alongside existing community projects and develop new initiatives for the children, young people and families of Wick, Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Achieved through:

History

The Wickbourne Centre, on the site of the former Wickbourne Chapel

The Wire Project was founded by Paul Sanderson MBE in 1996 as a direct response to recognised issues involving drug and alcohol addiction, high teenage pregnancy, low literacy levels and low ‘community esteem’ in the community of Wick, Littlehampton, West Sussex.

The project acted as a vital link between Schools, homes, Police and Social & Caring Services providing advice and intervention for young people and families.

The charity provided activities, support and advice for children, young people Activities run by the WIRE included parenting courses, playschemes, night-clubs for 14- to 18-year-olds, discos for 7- to 13-year-olds, afterschool clubs, toddler groups and the Festival of Wick.

The WIRE was part of Spurgeon's, a children’s charity who provided the managerial, administrative and financial backbone to The WIRE’s work. Together with the locally formed UnderWIRE Advisory Group, The WIRE gained long-term stability and support to help strengthen the foundations of the project.

Other support came from The Salvation Army, The Rank Foundation [1] and The Body Shop Foundation

The project was so successful that similar projects were set up around the country, including Crawley, Portslade near Brighton, Bognor Regis and Oxford.[2]

The WIRE was based in two different locations. In 1996 it was in a port-a-cabin on the car park of the then Wickbourne Chapel. When the new Wickbourne centre opened in 2005 half the team moved from the temporary office that became their permanent office at Flora McDonald Junior School.

In July 2006 Paul Sanderson was awarded an MBE for his work with this and other similar projects.[3]

In 2007 The WIRE Project came to an end due to funding changes, but its legacy lives on in the form of many other organisations and activities that started up during those 10 years.

Activities

The MIX

An inclusion project working with young people at risk of Social Exclusion. By working in groups, one-to-one and in the home with families, the team rewarded good behaviour, positive attitudes and school attendance. It covered both junior and secondary schools ensuring a smooth transition from one to the other.

Dance Fusion/Nation

An after-school dance class for young girls, which taught modern dance routines to current chart music for one hour each week. As well as having fun, the club built self-esteem and tackled relevant issues such as bullying, making new friendships and exercising, the girls are also taught about healthy lifestyles and got the chance to perform their dances at various shows. Fresh fruit and drinks were provided. Now continued by Arun Community Church

Young Carers Workshops

Offered support and opportunities for young people who look after a family member with an illness or disability. In partnership with West Sussex Social & Caring Services, young people got social opportunities to meet, support each other and have fun.

The Crew

An after-school activity where young people went on various trips and activities within the local area. Regular trips include swimming, hiking, bowling, and exploring the countryside. The team picked them up from home in a minibus and dropped them off around two hours later. Many of the young people on the Crew had social or behavioural difficulties and were referred through schools or Social & Caring Services. The emphasis was on fun, interaction and fostering relationships between the young people.

Art Attack

Every week for an hour and a half, the Art Attack team led a creative adventure trying out fresh artistic ideas! For all junior aged children, this activity allowed them to build, glue, staple and paint both individually and in groups with many projects based around relevant issues such as healthy eating and recycling. Fresh fruit and drinks were provided. Now continued by Arun Community Church

Breakfast Clubs

Every morning during term time, selected pupils of local schools had the opportunity to attend Breakfast Clubs. Run in partnership with the schools and providing a nutritional start to the day, the children learnt how to prepare their own breakfast, socialise and eat healthily. Studies prove that children are more receptive to learning and better prepared for the day if they have had breakfast,[4] so starting an hour before school, the clubs also allowed time for structured play. Now continued by Arun Community Church

Summer Soccer School

Run in partnership with a local football team, the Summer Soccer School occurs late July for 3 days on Flora McDonald Junior School, Wick, Playing Field. With around 70 places the event always proves hugely popular. Open to boys and girls of all ranges and abilities aged 8 to 11, the training helps them develop their football skills. The School finishes off with a World Cup style Tournament. Now continued by the new project LA-UK

The Jump

A fun-filled disco for junior aged children, which included music, games, competitions and refreshments. The Jump was usually held on the last night of the Live Wires Playschemes and allowed space for large numbers of children to socialise with one another and enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

Live Wires

These children’s playschemes ran during school holidays and were always packed out with up to 350 children at a time! For children aged 5 to 11, the games, songs, stories, drama and craft were just part of the experience, including the children's favourite the gunge tank. Of course, as well as having a lot of fun, the children learnt new skills; increasing their confidence and experience teamwork. Running from 10am to 12:30pm between 1 and 5 days, they had around sixty volunteers who were trained in a variety of issues including leadership skills, communication and child protection. Now continued by the new project LA-UK & Arun Community Church

The Festival of Wick

This was a week-long celebration of the community of Wick, bringing together local businesses, voluntary organisations and the public. Events and activities were held during the day and in the evening, for the very young through to the more senior residents. With over 1,500 people attending events staffed by over 100 volunteers it gave a much-needed boost to the community spirit of the area.

For several years the festival even had its own radio station "Wick FM" complementing the festival and promoting other activities in the area, it trained people of all ages in the media and several young people went on to work in the radio industry.

The Present

The spirit of The WIRE project lives on through various organisations such as LA-UK, The Wickbourne Centre, Sure Start and West Sussex County Council.

The Festival of Wick has now a become an annual week of events in the Wick area on a smaller scale known as "Wick Week".

References

  1. ↑ http://rankyouthwork.com/agencies/r-wire.htm
  2. ↑ http://victorians.westsussex.gov.uk/theme/wscc-theme-2/ccm/content/your-council/news-room/press-releases/2006/2006-07/paul-gets-mbe-for-work-with-the-wire-project.en; |West Sussex County Council press release
  3. ↑ http://victorians.westsussex.gov.uk/theme/wscc-theme-2/ccm/content/your-council/news-room/press-releases/2006/2006-07/paul-gets-mbe-for-work-with-the-wire-project.en; |West Sussex County Council press release
  4. ↑ http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=910544&jid=BJN&volumeId=90&issueId=06&aid=910532

External links

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