Abi Colthrust introduces a local educational charity
I was lining up dominoes in the sunshine with a crowd of six excited children and Amir’s joy at his breakthrough moment was palpable: “I didn’t think that would work – but I’m glad it did!”
Seven-year-old Amir (not his real name) is one of more than 120 children we welcomed to our Easter projects last month as part of the government’s holiday activities and food (HAF) scheme.
As the newest recruit to Success Club, I’m fast learning that it’s a privilege to be involved in this amazing work in Enfield! Success Club is a children’s charity, which exists to support schools to empower children and promote their achievement, not only academically but socially. With a mission statement of “no child left behind”, the charity dedicates itself to the personal development of children and young people, paying particular attention to mental health and wellbeing.
Founder Tony Dallas explains: “I do this work because I want young people to understand they have a story to tell and a voice to tell it. I want to see change in the world and the only way we see change in the world is to change ourselves.”
Success Club only launched as a charity four years ago, but Tony’s experience with children and young people is extensive. “I aim to have people thinking differently within five minutes,” he says.
Success Club partners with a number of local schools in Enfield and beyond. We run a flexible range of interventions, which can take the form of small group work or one-to-ones, right through to workshops for entire year groups and whole school assemblies.
Our Easter projects this year were hosted by Suffolks Primary School and Kingfisher Hall Academy. It included an action-packed programme of drama, sports, arts and crafts, dance and even gardening and DJ skills – to name just a few! The programme was offered free of charge to all families entitled to free school meals and was fuelled by delicious hot, nutritious food provided by local caterer Smokey Okey.
Jude Ollivere, a member of Success Club and an English teacher at Wren Academy, added: “While we particularly target our clubs at vulnerable students at risk of underachieving, the personal development that Success Club offers is for the benefit of the whole community. We equip the community to support itself better.”
For more information about Success Club:
Email [email protected]
Visit successclub.org.uk
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