Berkshire Youth
Berkshire Youth supports youth leaders and young people aged 10 to 18 through challenging life transitions/events to help them make the right choices, grow resilience and mature as individuals and members of society through:
- Activities to encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and grow in confidence and self-esteem
- Training for youth workers, volunteers and young people
- Action through volunteering, encouraging young people to take positive action within their own community, involve others in shaping services for young people and to grow into the next generation of leaders
- Club support for the many clubs for young people across Berkshire, including affiliating our members to Ambition and UK Youth
Paul Presents | Berkshire Youth with David Seward and Tom Holmes
David Seward first updates us on what has been happening at The Waterside Centre and with Berkshire Youth, before Paul speaks to Berkshire Youth’s Charity Ambassador, Tom Holmes, a first team player from from Reading Football Club.
Everyone at Berkshire Youth was very excited when Tom came on board, and what a fantastic year it’s been! Tom has been a great champion for the charity, helping to raise awareness of their important work supporting, empowering and inspiring Berkshire’s young people.
Aware of the benefits of bringing quality activities and experiences to young people, Tom arranged for a group of young people to take part in the half time penalty shoot-out at Reading FC’s 150th anniversary match in February, and they absolutely loved it! He has also delighted young fans by popping along to some events, including a couple of football training sessions at a local club, where he took part in mini matches and presented awards to those who had raised the most money for Berkshire Youth this season.
Tom has reflected on his year with Berkshire Youth: “When Berkshire Youth first got in touch with Reading and Reading came to me about the idea of becoming Berkshire Youth ambassador it was a bit of a no brainer for me really. Growing up in Reading and coming through at RFC, such an important part of the community, I have always felt it is my responsibility to give back and appreciate the community and area that has done so much for me and many others whilst growing up. Becoming part of the team at Berkshire Youth was the perfect way in which I could do that. I have really enjoyed working alongside the brilliant staff and it is clear to see what such a fantastic job they are doing with Berkshire’s ‘next generation’. I hope that this year is the first of many for the relationship between Reading FC and Berkshire Youth and it has been an honour to be the first ever Charity Ambassador to come from RFC to help bridge that gap between two such important cornerstones in the Berkshire area.”
Julie MacLean, Berkshire Youth Marketing Manager, said: “We are thrilled to work with Tom. He’s a local lad and really genuine guy who the young people we work with respond really well to. Tom has shown huge enthusiasm for our work, is a great role model, and has been brilliant at amplifying our key messages about the importance of investing in our young people. We couldn’t ask for a better Charity Ambassador!”
Guest Blog Berkshire Youth
RETURN OF THE HAREY 8
Hungerford Hares Running Club is delighted to announce the return of its Harey 8 race on Sunday 12th June.
The event has not been held since 2019 due to the Covid 19 pandemic and members and runners alike are thrilled that the race is back on the running circuit.
Entries are now open for the race which will start at 10am with runners setting off from the Triangle Field at Hungerford Rugby Club. This year, the club is teaming up with Berkshire Youth as its charity partner. This local charity supports, empowers and inspires local young people aged 10 – _18 as they transition from childhood to young adulthood. Berkshire Youth works with more than 12,000 young people each year across the county, providing specialist on-the-street youth workers, youth clubs, training, education and access to activities which support young people’s personal tdevelopment. Many of the young people Berkshire Youth works with are vulnerable or disadvantaged and unable to access help elsewhere.
The Harey 8 is one of four races in the Run West Berkshire Series. The other races in the series are the Chieveley Chase, the Kintbury 5 and the Inkpen Gibbet Challenge.
The start and finish of the race will be the Triangle Field. The route will then take runners a loop of the field before heading out to Hungerford Common. From there the runners will head to Port Down Common before descending towards Templeton and Trinity Studs. The route then follows a circular, clockwise direction on footpaths taking in stunning views of Combe and the surrounding countryside. The runners will then return via the Common to the Triangle Field.
The kids won’t miss out either with races beginning at 9.30am and a 2-kilometre open fun-run which starts at 10.05am.
Club Chair Mandy Waldon said: The return of the Harey 8 is the final step toward the club being fully up and running so we are very excited that the race is back. We have missed staging the event it but in the meantime, we have continued with our club sessions (post Lockdown). Our membership has grown as we continued with our popular beginner’s programme and new, more experienced runners have also joined since restrictions have eased.
“We are very pleased _ _to be holding the Harey 8 in partnership with Berkshire Youth. We always try to ensure that we work with a local charity each year and we are extremely grateful to all our supporters especially the West Berkshire Sports Injury Clinic who have sponsored the trophies this year.
Berkshire Youth Marketing Manager Julie MacLean said: we are really grateful to the Hungerford Hares for choosing to support Berkshire Youth. The past couple of years have been particularly challenging for local young people, and we have seen a large increase in the number of requests for our help. The money raised will help us to help local young people to access engaging and fun activities where they can feel safe and make friends, whilst also accessing support from our qualified youth workers. Our team are really looking forward to supporting this excellent event, some running eight miles and some to marshal.
Race information and details on how to enter are available via the Hungerford Hares website http://www.hungerfordhares.co.uk or at http://www.runwestberks.net
Ends
For further details (media only) please contact: Hilary Murgatroyd on 07891010501, hilary.murgatroyd@btinternet.com or at hungerfordhares@outlook.com
About Berkshire Youth Berkshire Youth has been serving the young people of Berkshire, delivering excellent and efficient youth support services for 80 years. Berkshire Youth supports clubs and groups to provide safe environments in which young people can explore new ideas, activities and opportunities. We do this by building on local agendas, responding to the needs of young people and local communities, offering support to local partners and direct provision as appropriate. We are proud of our track record and committed to building on it over the coming years to support young people make successful transitions from childhood to young adulthood. https://www.berkshireyouth.co.uk
Contact: Julie MacLean, Marketing Manager, Berkshire Youth, telephone: 0118 909 0925 or email: julie.maclean@berkshireyouth.co.uk
The Waterside Centre
Waterside Centre boasts inspiring facilities, including a climbing wall, dance studio and water-based activities.
- Waterside Centre
