Basic HTML Version
Positive Futures
14
HAWTONVILLE
‘OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET’
Tracey Francis, Nottinghamshire’s Head of
Community Sport, has outlined ambitious
plans to launch a three-year project in
Newark aimed at improving the aspirations
of school-aged children living in the town’s
Hawtonville estate.
The project, born out of a commitment
made to Nottinghamshire County Council
as part of a series of conditions attached
to a £900,000 grant towards a second
permanent replay screen atTrent Bridge, is
based on the model used to transform the
opportunities that exist for young people
in Cotgrave which has been credited
with delivering a dramatic reduction in
youth crime.
Preliminary meetings with community
representatives and partner organisations
have identified both a need for a renewed
effort to encourage community cohesion
whilst also pointing out that some of the
challenges in Hawtonville are entirely
unique.
“Our success in Cotgrave has helped to
establish our credentials but the social
challenges facing the Hawtonville estate as
well as the settled traveller community are
entirely different,” said Tracey.
“The travelling community is very proud
of being self-sufficient and has existed for
centuries by following their own instincts
and maintaining their own principles.
“This could be our biggest challenge yet
but we want to turn it into our biggest
success story.”
Preliminary meetings with local residents
have drawn sympathetic caution for the
Club’s plans.
The Royal College of Nursing has reported
that the travelling community remains
the most at-risk health group in the UK,
with the lowest life expectancy, and health
inequalities are one of the concerns that
the scheme hopes to address through
education and signposting towards partner
organisations.
Problems with integrating travellers with
the wider community after they have settled
into Hawtonville remains another key
concern and the scheme will also seek to
assist long-term estate residents.
“We have been told a few cautionary tales
but our biggest piece of advice was to ensure
that our schemes are genuinely relevant and
can help all those in need to enhance their
own way of life rather than telling them how
to live,” saidTracey.
“Our scheme will target all of the young
people who live in the area regardless of
their background and those who take part
will have a big say in the direction of the
project.”
Mark Clifford, the ex-professional footballer
who led the Positive Futures Scheme in
Cotgrave, knows from experience that
gaining the trust of those participating in the
scheme will be fundamental to any success.
“No two areas will ever share the same
circumstances but we didn’t start
the Cotgrave programme with any
preconceptions,” he said.
“The one thing that the two areas do have in
common is that people are queuing up to tell
us that we are attempting mission impossible
but that will strengthen our resolve.
those who
take part will
have a big say in
the direction of
the project
tracey francis
Mark Clifford has gained plaudits
for his leadership of Positive Futures