Uncategorised - Highfields Centre https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk Enhancing Lives | Empowering Communities | Enterprise for all Sat, 19 Jul 2025 12:57:47 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 Project HOPE Survey – Voices of the Youth 2024 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2024/04/09/voices-of-the-youth-survey-2024/ https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2024/04/09/voices-of-the-youth-survey-2024/#respond Tue, 09 Apr 2024 02:45:24 +0000 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/?p=3846 Welcome to our latest blog post, where we dive into the findings from the Highfields Centre’s Project HOPE Survey. This survey provides invaluable insights into the community’s views on education, employment, and the arts. As we explore these findings, we gain a deeper understanding of the community’s needs and aspirations, helping us tailor our programs […]

The post Project HOPE Survey – Voices of the Youth 2024 first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]>

Welcome to our latest blog post, where we dive into the findings from the Highfields Centre’s Project HOPE Survey. This survey provides invaluable insights into the community’s views on education, employment, and the arts. As we explore these findings, we gain a deeper understanding of the community’s needs and aspirations, helping us tailor our programs and services at the Highfields Centre to better support and engage with our members.


Survey Findings:


  • 29.5% view the Highfields Centre as super awesome.

  • 27.4% think it’s pretty good, while 35.8% consider it OK.

  • 68%-70% of respondents expressed a desire to be part of a team that decides on the activities and projects at the Highfields Centre.

  • 26% have tried and loved arts activities in the past year, with a significant interest in digital and creative arts if they lead to job opportunities.

  • 37.9% find it very hard to find work or training gigs, with a lack of awareness about available opportunities.

  • 37% are interested in specific skills like video editing, graphic design, and DJing.

  • 50% are interested in sessions to boost confidence and social skills.

  • Major community challenges include mental health issues, drug use, bullying, and depression/isolation, with a strong call for support and resources.


Conclusion: The survey from the Highfields Centre’s Project HOPE paints a picture of a community eager to engage, learn, and overcome challenges. Much like a mosaic, each piece of data represents a part of the community’s collective experience, revealing a complex but hopeful landscape. With a significant number of individuals looking to play an active role in shaping the center’s future, it’s clear there is a vibrant energy ready to be harnessed. By addressing the expressed needs for job-related training, mental health support, and more inclusive decision-making, we can pave the way for a more empowered and connected community. Together, we are building a brighter, more resilient future, one initiative at a time.


Please see survey results below more detailed information. 

Forms response chart. Question title: How old are you?. Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: How cool would it be to have easy access to learning stuff outside school, college, and uni etc, like at community centres?. Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Ever tried any artsy stuff like painting, music, or drama in the past year? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: On a scale from ‘tech wizard’ to ‘tech newbie’, how would you rate your digital skills?. Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Do you think there are enough jobs or training gigs for young people around here? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: How often do you hang out at places like Highfields Centre for fun or learning? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: What do you think about us hosting sessions here at the Highfields Centre to boost confidence and social skills – yay or nay? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Interested in getting tips from a digital employment mentor and work coach? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Would you join creative arts and digital arts sessions if they could lead to real job opportunities? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Do you think the projects or sessions offered in the Highfields Centre helps people stay out of trouble and help make better life choices? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: What kind of challenges do you or people you know face? (tick all that apply all that apply). Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: How easy is it to find help for these challenges?. Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Do you or anyone you know that is struggling or has struggled due to challenges like ADHD, anxiety drugs, isolation depression bullying etc? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Rate how awesome the Highfields Centre are in helping young people: . Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Want to learn cool stuff like video editing, graphic design, or DJing if they could lead to a job or career?. Number of responses: 95 responses.

Forms response chart. Question title: Do you know of other community centres or organisations that you can access to get support and helping finding employment, workshops, and training etc? . Number of responses: 95 responses.

A pie chart with different colored circles Description automatically generated

List 3 things or ideas you would like to see here at the Highfields Centre. 

None

Basketball

more basketball sessions

more activities for children, more sports & easy access

more basketball, less kids & refreshments

basketball sessions, different age groups & more sessions

basketball, football & gym activities

indoor football, swimming & summer camp

sauna, Steam room & swimming

more basketball

more free sessions

more sessions

more basketball sessions, football & table tennis

youth basketball, futsal sessions & video editing classes

Job opportunities

Job opportunties More Sport sessions Help in getting jobs Services for struggling families

Music Festival Football More outdoor trips

Gym open on the weekends

Sports Job opportunities for younger years(13+)

More football More sport opportunities More Youth Clubs

Football Gaming

Sport activities Music festivals Food stores

More sport sessions More volunteer opportunities Developing relationships with other organisations to help with running services and to increase popularity

Leicester satelite training Trips: Go karting Water world Dubai

Basketball Football Gym activities

More activities for kids More sports Easy access

More basketball Less kids Refreshments

Basketball sessions Different age groups More sessions

Football Swimming Summer camps

Suana Swimming Steam room

More sessions

Town center More free sessions

Basketball for youth Futsol Video editing club

More football Employment fairs/events Badminton sessions

Basketball 

More basketball Session Football Table tennis 

LGBTQ+ Representation Dance shows Art projects/adventures

Help to get jobs Improve to help others More cool stuff

Hair and Beauty Engineering Nails

Different jobs Activities

Exercise/Nutrition Info Music Male support

Badminton Arts&Craft

Big tech cameras Gaming PCs Anything to do with content creating like youtube

Gym Swimming Archery

Farming Dawan table

Beauty Sports

Digital tech skill Strongly on Admin and codimg

Self defense lessons English lesson

Short,easy projects

Volunteers

POST CODES OF PARTICPANTS

None

LE1 2GX

LE2 1DE

LE4 0BN

LE4 5HU

LE5 4OE

LE1 2FU

LE4 2FX

LE3 1NS

LE5 2AZ

LE2 0FU

LE2

LE5

LE3 9SE

Not provided

LE2 6ID

LE5 0ET

LE4 5LE

LE2 1BP

LE2 0FF

LE5 6GE

LE2 0EA

LE1 2GJ

LE2 0FN

LE3 4SE

LE1 2QX

LE2 6LD

LE2 0FA

LE4 5DE

LE5 0EL

LE3 1EW

LE3 6AN

LE4 0SJ

LE3 9HE

LE3 5GR

LE5 1SF

LE2 9RD

LE3 2UT

LE4 0QW

LE2 6LP

LE2 8PA

LE3 1RR

LE3 1DS

LE2 6LH

LE2 6QJ

LE4

LE4 2IX

LE3 8BG

LE2

LE1

LE3 2XB

LE3 1RF

LE2 1GG

LE18 1AJ

LE5

LE3

LE4 7ZS

LE9 6BF

LE5 0PB

LE2 1PH

LE4 9EB

LE4 6ET

LE2 1GD

LE5 3SA

LE5 0EZ

LE1

LE5 3DN

LE3 9PN

The post Project HOPE Survey – Voices of the Youth 2024 first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2024/04/09/voices-of-the-youth-survey-2024/feed/ 0 Revitalising Leicester’s Garment Industry: A Path Forward https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2024/01/11/revitalising-leicesters-garment-industry-a-path-forward/ https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2024/01/11/revitalising-leicesters-garment-industry-a-path-forward/#respond Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:10:36 +0000 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/?p=3833 Revitalising Leicester’s Garment Industry: A Path Forward Introduction In the bustling heart of the UK, Leicester’s garment industry, once a beacon of thriving commerce, faces a pivotal moment. Recent challenges have brought to light a need for change and revitalisation. The Shifting Landscape The exodus of major fashion brands from Leicester has marked a turning […]

The post Revitalising Leicester’s Garment Industry: A Path Forward first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> Revitalising Leicester’s Garment Industry: A Path Forward

Introduction

In the bustling heart of the UK, Leicester’s garment industry, once a beacon of thriving commerce, faces a pivotal moment. Recent challenges have brought to light a need for change and revitalisation.

The Shifting Landscape

The exodus of major fashion brands from Leicester has marked a turning point. Driven by concerns over working conditions and negative media focus, this shift has left a void, resulting in diminished work opportunities and economic strain.

The Impact

  1. Job Losses: The departure of brands has led to a sharp decline in work, causing widespread job losses and economic challenges for many local families.
  2. Economic Ripple Effects: The downturn in the garment industry impacts not just the workers but also the local businesses and suppliers, contributing to a broader economic challenge.

A Call for Revitalisation

This situation presents an urgent need for action:

  1. Attracting New Business: Proactive efforts are needed to attract new brands and businesses, highlighting Leicester’s potential for high-quality, ethical garment production.
  2. Investing in Skills: Upskilling the workforce is crucial to position Leicester as a hub for ethical and skilled manufacturing.

FAB-L’s Advocacy

FAB-L stands as a critical advocate in this revitalisation effort. Key initiatives include:

  1. Improving Working Conditions: Championing Leicester as a model for ethical practices to attract conscientious brands.
  2. Community Engagement: Garnering local support to create a unified appeal for bringing businesses back to Leicester.
  3. Policy Influence: Collaborating with policymakers to create incentives for brands to operate in Leicester.

Conclusion

The need to rebuild Leicester’s garment industry is clear. It’s an opportunity to foster a more ethical, sustainable future. FAB-L is dedicated to leading this transformation, ensuring that Leicester reclaims its place as a proud and ethical centre of UK manufacturing.

The post Revitalising Leicester’s Garment Industry: A Path Forward first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2024/01/11/revitalising-leicesters-garment-industry-a-path-forward/feed/ 0 Open Mic Youth Event 16th December 2022 Young Futures – Open Mic https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2023/03/01/open-mic-youth-event-16th-december-2022-young-futures-open-mic/ https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2023/03/01/open-mic-youth-event-16th-december-2022-young-futures-open-mic/#respond Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:24:41 +0000 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/?p=3729 Our youth Workers arranged an end of Term and Celebration event to Launch our newly funded Project By Violent Reduction Network and Leicestershire PCC -Young Futures. The aim of the event was to encourage local youth to showcase their talents, get on stage and perform, sing & rap and provide them with a platform to […]

The post Open Mic Youth Event 16th December 2022 Young Futures – Open Mic first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]>

Our youth Workers arranged an end of Term and Celebration event to Launch our newly funded Project By Violent Reduction Network and Leicestershire PCC -Young Futures.

The aim of the event was to encourage local youth to showcase their talents, get on stage and perform, sing & rap and provide them with a platform to show off their skills to a supportive and lively audience.

We had a super fantastic turnout of local youth attending our open mic night and it further allowed us to engage new youth from the community and invite them to our youth development sessions.

It was positive to see local artists to come and perform their music, which then inspired many young people to also pluck the courage to perform on the night. This has now also sparked a further interest from young people who attend weekly music & digital art sessions as part of our current youth offer.

Young people’s contributions were further recognised by the youth workers by giving them a free meal during the event and cash prizes to the best performers on the night.

The post Open Mic Youth Event 16th December 2022 Young Futures – Open Mic first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2023/03/01/open-mic-youth-event-16th-december-2022-young-futures-open-mic/feed/ 0 Blog – Youth Residential at PGL Liddington (October 2022) https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2023/03/01/blog-youth-residential-at-pgl-liddington-october-2022/ https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2023/03/01/blog-youth-residential-at-pgl-liddington-october-2022/#respond Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:09:24 +0000 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/?p=3690 Our work with young people is all about focusing on young people’s character development. Last year, we took 12 young people (8 young men aged 14-18 years and 4 young women aged 13-19 years on a 3-day residential to PGL Adventures in Liddington, Wiltshire. As well as the physical health benefits, our youth residential trips […]

The post Blog – Youth Residential at PGL Liddington (October 2022) first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]>

Our work with young people is all about focusing on young people’s character development. Last year, we took 12 young people (8 young men aged 14-18 years and 4 young women aged 13-19 years on a 3-day residential to PGL Adventures in Liddington, Wiltshire.

As well as the physical health benefits, our youth residential trips have proven to have a positive effect on children and young people’s self-esteem and confidence levels, thereby improving their emotional health and wellbeing.  We encouraged our young people to explore their newer and greener environment, take responsibility for creating their own beds and practice good housekeeping and hygiene, and generally teach them how they can sustain themselves with minimal adult interventions to promote independence and be more aware of themselves and their abilities.

The 3-day residential trip further helped young people relax, take part in physical activities such as zip wire, raft building, team building activities, giant swing, buggy building and climbing the Jacob’s Ladder. 

Young people had the opportunity to take stock to make their own decisions and discover who they are by facing such tasks and challenges when undertaking these outdoor activities by themselves or working as part of a team.

Our youth residential trips offer a unique opportunity for local young people from Highfields to gain their independence, make their own decisions and build new friendships. 

Undoubtedly, our youth residential trips has brought about positive, long-term change to young people and our youth workers, both in and out of  a conventional youth club setting. Young people and youth workers work together and overcome physical and emotional challenges in outdoor spaces and connecting with greenery and river activities. This has helped with building positive relationships, supporting and encouraging each other to overcome their fears.

This residential trip increased young people’s confidence, communication and team building skills. It provided them with an opportunity to overcome obstacles; build resilience and gain first-hand leadership skills. These key skills will help them in the future, and allow them to use these to overcome real life situations and adversities.

Young people chose specific activities that were physically challenging which required a methodical approach, as well as working together within a group to successfully complete each activity. Everyone needed to focus and make conscious decisions to push personal boundaries by overcoming their fears and having a real desire to succeed. Young People supported each other and identified leaders within the group to make important decisions regarding the weekend’s programme. They also took part in two workshops, the first one was on knowing their rights for stop and search with the police and the other workshop was identifying why youth club settings add value to their lives and how to shape future services according to young people’s current needs. Overall, it was a thoroughly productive weekend and thanks to all our participants for making it so!

The post Blog – Youth Residential at PGL Liddington (October 2022) first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2023/03/01/blog-youth-residential-at-pgl-liddington-october-2022/feed/ 0 Yes Media Project https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2022/11/01/yes-media-project/ https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2022/11/01/yes-media-project/#respond Tue, 01 Nov 2022 14:54:57 +0000 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/?p=3434 The YES Project supports young people living in Leicester and Leicestershire aged 15-24 who currently aren’t in any type of paid work, training or education – facing barriers such as serious mental health illness, low self-esteem, disabilities, being in care, and language and cultural barriers. The YES team is a partnership of seven youth organisations […]

The post Yes Media Project first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> The YES Project supports young people living in Leicester and Leicestershire aged 15-24 who currently aren’t in any type of paid work, training or education – facing barriers such as serious mental health illness, low self-esteem, disabilities, being in care, and language and cultural barriers.

The YES team is a partnership of seven youth organisations and charities, offering one-to-one support to every participant on the Project. In December 2019, we were successful in becoming a service delivery partner for the YES Project, with the latter joint funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund, delivered and managed by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire.

The support offered by the YES Project is adapted to meet the participants’ individual needs. Across the partnership, we offer the following to young people furthest away from the labour market to enable them to find work, move into a job search or further education.

Young person producing their own music for the first time!

As part of this consortia, we are offering the YES Media Project which is specific knowledge and training around using different forms of media and practical learning to improve chances of employment.

YES Media Project helps participants through focused learning in all basic forms of Multimedia, including:

  • Graphic Design
  • Video Editing
  • Online Marketing
  • Photography
  • Communication
  • Music making, Instruments and Audio Interfaces
  • Beginners guide for virtual working using different programmes and live streaming

Confidence grows with each session.

Since our delivery of YES Media Project, we have successfully recruited 13 NEET participants to fully complete the 5-week course and this is a great achievement, as all the participants we recruited were furthest away from the labour market and suffered from hidden health conditions.

In total, we have engaged with over 36 young people who are economically inactive and provided support through our outreach hours, as well as offering support via virtual platforms. Our Information, Advice and Guidance sessions took place every Wednesday between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. These mentoring sessions were open to young people aged 15 to 24 to help with making informed choices around education, training, and employment. Our experienced youth workers offered a range of services within an informal environment and offered the following services:

  • Build confidence and improve self-esteem (Group work, Ice Breakers)
  • Drafting CV’s, completing job applications
  • Support with relevant training and identifying voluntary placements
  • Improve confidence, communication and writing skills
  • Create bespoke action plans, goal setting and identify training needs
  • Training on use of social media and job vacancy sites to enhance digital engagement.
  • Undertake role plays, mock interviews, and promote peer learning.
  • Refer and signpost to service delivery partners to increase participation and chances of employment.

YES, Participant Case study

To understand how this project has made a difference to young people, we asked a young person to comment on their experiences when accessing our YES Media Programme.

Person H had this to say………

I am currently in the third week of the Yes Media Project and so far, I have been involved with developing a story board with others that have joined the project more recently and we have worked on Directing, Filming and Acting to produce a short video that we are planning to edit and showcase to other young people.

This is helping me learn new skills and has given me the knowledge around the behind-the-scenes work involved in creating movie scenes and directing films. Our facilitator is super cool and full of energy and enthusiasm, and he motivates me and other to explore our skills and passion.

This project is helping me get into a routine, especially following the coronavirus lockdown. I was starting to feel quite anxious and depressed from being indoors all the time and lacking any sort of purpose. By giving a purpose to achieve, the project has allowed me to start learning new skills and connections that will hopefully help me become more employable in a city that I had just moved to.

The biggest difference that I have noticed is that I am so much more comfortable than before starting the project and I think that’s because of the friendships that I have made during the time at the studios and the mentoring that I have been given has provided me with the support to seek employment and the development of my skills and abilities.

I would recommend this programme to anyone that is unemployed and lacks the confidence to attend mainstream education, as they really do help and support you, and you should try it even if they’re unsure, as you would most likely gain skills that you would’ve never thought you’d learn from a project like this.

The post Yes Media Project first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2022/11/01/yes-media-project/feed/ 0 Highfields Youth Inspiring Futures https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2022/10/26/highfields-youth-inspiring-futures/ https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2022/10/26/highfields-youth-inspiring-futures/#respond Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:39:52 +0000 https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/?p=3637 We have a 30-year track record in delivering high quality youth interventions and we host a range of indoor and outdoor Youth Activities for children and young people aged 8-19 years old.  Our youth sessions consist of a variety of different activities such as:  Pool, Table Tennis, Music, filming & Photography  Sports- Football, Basketball, Dodgeball […]

The post Highfields Youth Inspiring Futures first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]>

We have a 30-year track record in delivering high quality youth interventions and we host a range of indoor and outdoor Youth Activities for children and young people aged 8-19 years old. 

Our youth sessions consist of a variety of different activities such as: 

Pool, Table Tennis, Music, filming & Photography 

Sports- Football, Basketball, Dodgeball and Badminton.

We often arrange and host disco roller skating as well as plan regular outdoor trips to the cinema, Theatre, theme parks, beach days and fun weekend residentials so young people can participate in meaningful activities as well as build young people’s confidence and self- esteem by meeting new people and encountering positive relationships by accessing our services. We provide young people the opportunities to volunteer with us and access training and education in an informal setting to enhance their mindsets

Our Youth development sessions further give young people to access AIG (Advice, Information & Guidance) which focuses on giving support to individuals who struggle with achieving whilst they are in education or have barriers to employment. Our youth workers support young people with the aim to build and develop them through engaging them on to our different programmes whether it be the young person having an interest in music, filming, or sports. The youth team will use a young person’s specific interest to engage them initially and then identify any gaps in their development and support them to reach their full potential during their time here with us.

We offer support to families/parents who are struggling or who have had a relationship breakdown with their child. We build trust with young people so they can voice their concerns and give them the opportunity to have a say on issues and decisions that affect them. 

Our Youth sessions focus on supporting young people which enable them to learn new skills, have a closer connection to their surroundings and the community as well as stay safe and get the best outcomes in life.

Our Current Youth Sessions run: 

Tuesday 4-6pm 

Friday 6-9pm

The post Highfields Youth Inspiring Futures first appeared on Highfields Centre.

]]> https://highfieldscentre.ac.uk/2022/10/26/highfields-youth-inspiring-futures/feed/ 0