The Vine is a much-needed and welcomed community project which reaches young people and children, older people and young families in a deprived area of Bradford. They run a thriving youth and children’s work programme and an older people’s project with a day care centre.
What was needed
As council funding has diminished in recent years, it became necessary to seek alternative funding sources to continue the Vintage Vines work, which offers 40 places every week to older people within a day care setting. Run by two workers and a team of volunteers, Vintage Vines offers a nutritious lunch, activities, games, transport, home visitation and trips to address the impact of isolation that many older people experience, and support continued independent living. However, this valuable resource was vulnerable due to its reliance on council funding which has become increasingly insecure. A sustainable stream of funding needed to be developed, particularly as the Vine had no reserves to speak of.
The Primetime youth work programme needed new streams of funding to support the costs of the team of workers. The team had developed a young leader’s training resource, supporting young people with their self-esteem and identity development through 18 weeks of training and volunteering. This excellent resource presented the possibility of generating a sustainable stream of income and deserved to be shared across Bradford and beyond.
What we achieved
Futurekraft has helped develop alternative sources of funding for Vintage Vines so that the project is more secure, including a contractual arrangement with Clarion to support local older people.
The project has also employed its own cook and has established a café to operate alongside the day care centre. Parents and toddler groups run three times a week. The income generated from the café increases the sustainability of Vintage Vines. The Vine has built up reserves and the carry over from the last fiscal year presented a healthy picture.
Since Futurekraft has been supporting our organisation, we have gone from strength to strength. Thanks to this support, not only in fundraising but also in management support for governance, we are in a stronger position as we continue to grow going forward. We are confident of a strong and successful future for the Vine with their ongoing support.
– Rosie Dixon, Primetime YLN National Lead
Funding success has enabled the development of Primetime’s young leaders’ resource making it available to other youth agencies. What is now known as the Young Leaders Network was launched. Already various partners are using the material to impact the lives of young people. The intention is now to raise the national profile of YLN.
The Vine has seen success with its key projects experiencing growth and financial blessing. The next step is to see the Young Leaders Network equip some of the most vulnerable young people in the UK.