award is something to SHOUT! about
A Spurgeons’ project tackling antisocial behaviour, encouraging community cohesion and improving intergenerational relations has won the 2010 TPAS Southern Region Award for ‘Best Practice in the Community’.
Spurgeons’ SHOUT! is a youth and community project working across four Oxfordshire neighbourhoods, in partnership with OCHA (Oxford Citizens Housing Association), and since its establishment in 2006 complaints about anti-social behaviour and reported crime have reduced significantly.
SHOUT’s success is partly credited to the fact that while children and young people are the main focus, youth and community workers like Jo Dowden recognise they don’t exist in a vacuum and aim to engage with all sectors of the community to improve the quality of life for everyone.
By using tools such as befriending and mentoring, Jo has build trust and provided direct support to individuals and families, and her consistent presence, and the numerous activities she’s facilitated, including a play bus, literacy support, sports sessions, self-esteem workshop and parenting classes have had a major impact.
Speaking after receiving SHOUT’s award, Jo (pictured in a green dress) said: “I’m pleased and honoured to accept this award, not because it recognises us as individuals, but because it highlights the value of the work and the impact it’s having on people’s lives and the value of building relationships in the communities.
“I hope it will raise the profile of people’s needs and demonstrate that, working in partnership, together we can meet these needs.”
Having won the Southern Region award, SHOUT! will now compete against the winners of the Northern and Midlands regions at the TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) Awards national final in July.