Time for a good news story
Yes, it’s been a very difficult and dark week. You could have been excused for turning off your social media feeds altogether but, even if it’s just a welcome distraction, we have some good, local news to share.
Energize has been awarded funding by Children in Need to run holiday programmes for young people in Lincoln for the next 3 years.
You may know that Acts are celebrating their 15th year in existence. For 15 years Acts has been working in Lincoln to see “empowered people living in thriving communities” through alleviating physical, emotional and relational poverty. What you may not know is that Energize has been a part of Acts since day 1, when a great friend and local hero, Dan Hargreaves, launched a series of football tournaments for 100 or so young people on the Ermine estate back in 2006.
Holiday programmes for young people have always been integral to part of Acts’ mission and we’re delighted to have the funding secured to keep these going until 2025. These will include a mix of local activities; including football tournaments, creative workshops, games, crafts, inflatables and recreational trips.
Our schemes have 3 aims:
Young people will leave activities happier than when they arrived
Young people will build new friendships and strengthen existing friendships
Young people will feel more confident about being themselves
Simple, straightforward differences. We know that young people need a space to have fun, try new things, stay safe and meet new friends during (what can be) quite long and even dull school holidays. Not everyone is able to get away on holiday or sign up to weeks of tennis clubs or summer camps, so we want to give young people a chance to build happy memories here in Lincoln.
“We’re thrilled to be able to be running Holiday Schemes again right across Lincoln. These weeks away from school are a great chance for young people to catch their breath, do something different and meet new people. By running Energize Summer Schemes we can help ensure young people can have positive experiences with positive role models, be encouraged to make good choices and return to school invigorated and motivated.“
– Simon Hawking, Acts Trust CEO
Holiday schemes, along with other Acts Work, always need extra support though. You can support our work by giving a small amount each month as part of our 15 year giving target, and you can do so here.
Acts was started through the generosity of a few individuals and you can be a part of our story!
